You didn’t think Velo Cult would go quietly, did you?
The legendary shop, tavern, and community event space sadly announced the closure of its brick-and-mortar retail operations last month.
If you missed the farewell party and still need one last fix of the bike-loving vibes this place was famous for, there are two events you should put on your calendar right now: A used bike sale this Friday through Sunday and a big bike show on August 18th.
As a kid I rode a succession of wrong-sized bikes and loved them all. Heck, as a teenager and adult I’ve also had a lot of bikes that weren’t perfectly sized for me, including the bike I rode with my first-born (which was two sizes too big). However, my knees and my back appreciate that my current bike is the perfect size for me.
As a parent I’ve learned the hard way to keep pace with growing kids.
It started last winter, without my really noticing, when my younger son stopped sitting on his saddle because his bike was getting too small.
That morphed into doing a lot of riding on his rear rack for fun, since it was so easy to reach on the too-small bike, plus it provided him a spot to sit more comfortably (or so he said) than the saddle.
They’re the best bike lanes in Portland that no almost no one has heard about.
“Our hope is to remake the show with an eye toward the future.”
— Dave Levy, Oregon Bicycle Constructors Association president
Organizers of the Oregon Handmade Bicycle Show have called off their marquee event — for the first time since it began 11 years ago.
In a message to vendors, fans, and sponsors, Dave Levy, president of Oregon Bicycle Constructors Association, the nonprofit trade association behind the event, wrote, “It is with a heavy heart we have decided to cancel the show… 2018 has been the year we have seen the lowest level of interest in the OHBS, the number of builders who have chosen to sign up is so low the OBCA board feels we cannot put on a show we can be proud of, and allow the builders to present well.” Levy said the organization will refund vendor fees that have already been paid.
Last year when the event was held in a warehouse just north of the St. Johns Bridge, over two dozen vendors shared their creations with an appreciative crowd. But excitement about the event has tapered in recent years as the local framebuilding scene has cooled considerably since its heyday in the mid-to-late 2000s.
Welcome to the week! Before we share some great stories, here’s a quick word from an excellent sponsor: NW Connector is a bike-friendly collection of transit services that connect Portland, the Oregon Coast, and beyond. Plan your next adventure at NWConnector.org.
And here are the best stories we came across in the past week…
Steel horses: The New Yorker profiled a group of young tribal members who have left their horses in the stable and taken up mountain bike riding on their Navajo Nation reservation.
Way to go LeBron! I have mixed feelings about NBA superstar LeBron “King” James as a basketball player, but his recent moves off-the-court have made me an unwavering fan. The excellent Jason Gay of the Wall St. Journal just published an interview with James that covers many topics, including the new school he opened up where each kid gets a free bike.
Sorry, this job has been filled. Browse more great jobs here.
Warehouse Team Member
Universal Cycles
Do you love bike parts? Why not be surrounded by them? Universal Cycles is looking to fill a full time warehouse position in our Portland, Oregon location. The ideal candidate for this position will be detail oriented, be effective in a fast paced environment, have a positive attitude, be team oriented, have good organization skills, and have interest or experience with cycling and bicycle parts.
Duties include:
Picking products efficiently and correctly
Packing and shipping orders using UPS and USPS
Receiving and stocking inbound product shipments
Other duties as assigned
Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
Must be punctual and reliable
-We offer high wages for qualified candidates.
-Medical benefits
-Paid time off
-Paid closed days for our business are New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
– We are a locally owed business that takes pride in providing a great job for great employees!
Please email a cover letter, resume and references to mary@universalcycles.com
I was out of town when e-scooters launched in Portland last week, so yesterday was my first chance to observe them.
Bummer news from the Oregon Department of Transportation: New rockslides have set back their plans to reopen six miles of the Historic Columbia River Highway that have been closed since last fall due to the Eagle Creek Fire.
The slides happened on the section of highway between Bridal Veil and Ainsworth State Park. As we reported last month, ODOT hoped to reopen that section of road with an experimental new lane configuration in September.
In a statement yesterday, ODOT Region 1 Manager Rian Windsheimer said, “This setback is a real disappointment to us. Our crews have been working hard to get these areas cleared. But there’s plenty to do before we can safely reopen the road.”
Video (below) of one of the slides near Horsetail Falls, taken by the US Forest Service, shows rocks rolling down a steep hill directly onto the highway.
Our freshest listings include two interesting opportunities from a local community college as well as spots available at an apparel company and a large retailer.
Learn more about each job via the links below…
–> Customer Service Representative – Castelli USA
–> Transportation Ambassador – Portland Community College
–> Active Transportation Coordinator – Portland Community College
–> Warehouse Worker – Castelli USA
–> Mechanic – Universal Cycles
Curbed reported today that e-scooter startup Bird has pledged to donate $1 per day from each scooter they have in operation to fund the bikeways where their vehicles operate.
Sounds like an interesting idea. With Bird allowed to have nearly 700 scooters on the ground in Portland by the end of this week that would equal about $21,000 a month or $252,000 a year if the company sticks around after the initial pilot period. That’s a significant amount of funding given that the City of Portland can add buffers to 5.6 miles of bike lanes for $80,000 and their new protected bike lane design guide says the estimated cost of a basic, parking-protected bike lane is about $65,000 per mile.
And don’t forget, that voluntary contribution from Bird would be on top of the 25 cents per trip fee charged by the City of Portland. If the Bird scooters got 4 trips per day that would be another $8,400 per month — or about $101,000 a year — into city coffers from Bird alone.
Sorry, this job has been filled. Browse more great jobs here.
Assistant Store Manager
Universal Cycles
Are you looking for a job with a great company? Then look no further as Universal Cycles is looking for a new employee to join our team!
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
-5+ years experience in the bike industry/retail environment
-Experience with managing employees
-Can multi-task and communicate effectively, team oriented
-Ability to deal with customers with professionalism and friendliness
-Attention to detail
-Ability to work independently, and prioritize amid interruptions
-Mac and PC basics a must
-Flexible schedule and able to work weekends
-Parts compatibility and product knowledge
BONUS SKILLS:
-Repair shop experience
We offer above average compensation, paid time off, paid healthcare for employees and five paid holidays.
If this sounds like a good fit, please send your resume and cover letter to mary@universalcycles.com
No phone calls please.
2202 E Burnside St
Portland, OR 97214-1654
Mechanic
Universal Cycles
Are you looking for a job with a great company? Then look no further as Universal Cycles is looking for a new employee to join our team. Our ideal candidate is one who does not mind wearing many different hats as they will be working in the repair shop, building wheels, building bikes and working the retail floor occasionally. We are hoping to find a candidate that has a couple of years of bicycle repair work already under their belt, as we run at a fast pace and need somebody who can start off the first day running full gas. A basic knowledge of disc brakes, suspension and dropper posts would be nice, but is not something that you must have. Knowing how to build wheels is a must as we build up several sets per day. We are open seven days a week and this position would require having a flexible schedule.
-We offer high wages for qualified candidates.
-Medical benefits
-Paid time off
-Paid closed days for our business are New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
– We are a locally owed business that takes pride in providing a great job for great employees!
Email your resume and references to: mary@universalcycles.com
PLEASE DO NOT SEND AS A .DOC ATTACHMENT
Thank you!
