Jeremy Neal (L) and Paul Johnson of Blaq Design at their shop on SE 11th and Division.(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland) You know the local bike industry is healthy when niches are created within niches. That seems to be what’s happening now in Portland’s thriving cargo bike scene. Made up of advocates, builders, retailers, and buyers, … Read more
Planet X USA GM Michael Golinksi (left) and sales/marketing guy Patrick Croasdaile. In the last year-and-a-half, Planet X USA, has gone from boxes of bike frames stacked inside a skateboard half-pipe, to a 10,000 square foot warehouse with offices, a retail showroom, and $1 million in revenue. That’s a promising trajectory, and it shows that … Read more
Introducing Breadwinner Cycles.(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland) Ira Ryan and Tony Pereira, two of Portland’s most well known bicycle builders, are going all-in on a new company. The duo plan to formally launch Breadwinner Cycles at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Denver this weekend. “We’re coming together to build more bikes for more people,” … Read more
Four builders share a shop space at 1515 SE Ankeny. L to R: Travis Cooper (Cycles Cooper), Joshua Bryant (Cycles J. Bryant), Bob Kazmelski (Bantam Cycle Works), Tess Velo (Telos Cycles).(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
Cielo has partnered with Tanner.-More photos below-(Photos: King Cycle Group) Following our reporting last month, Cielo has now officially announced a new line of bikes that will come with accessories made by Tanner Goods. Both companies are based in Portland and make their products just a few miles from each other. Cielo, the bike brand … Read more
Bike maker Joshua Bryant.(Self portrait) Welcome to the latest edition of our local builder roundup. With such a thriving crop of bike makers here in Portland, there’s always news to share about what they’re up to. Today we’ll share more on the continuing carbon influx and a new, emerging builder. —— Introducing Joshua Bryant of … Read more
Company founder Erik Olson.(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland, unless noted otherwise) After just four years in business, Portland Design Works has made a solid name for itself in the bike industry. It was September 2008 when we first shared that a young, former general manager at Planet Bike, Erik Olson, was leaving Wisconsin to start up … Read more
The first frames off the production line.(Photos: Conscious Commuter Corp.) Last month we shared the story of Kinn Bikes, a new company that decided to make their frames right here in Portland. Now, another company has decided that Portland is the place to manufacture their bikes. Conscious Commuter Corporation, a company with offices downtown and … Read more
Chris King (far left) gave U.S. Dept. of Commerce staffers a tour of his manufacturing facility last year.(Photo: Dylan Van Weelden) Chris King, the founder of Portland-based Chris King Precision Components, has been invited the White House next week for a discussion about how American manufacturing can spur job creation. According to company staff, the … Read more
Screen grab from ‘Community Works’.– Watch it below – It’s rare that I’ll give Front Page space to a company’s in-house promo video; but I love the latest one from Portland Design Works. The new video by talented filmmaker James Wilson (who has done loads of great work for local bike causes and companies), documents … Read more
Portland resident Chris Chapman has launched a new cycling apparel brand called, “It’s in my Heart“. The business is just getting off the ground; but Chapman, a former brand manager at Castelli/Sportful, says he’s already got orders flowing in from all of Portland’s major bike shops as well as the Made in Oregon store and … Read more
Blinders blinked in fishbowls as party-goers milled about.(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland) Leave it to Portland to throw a party for a new bike light. A sneak peek at Knog’s new Blinder model attracted scores of bike shop owners and employees from around the region to a party in a cavernous art studio in northwest Portland … Read more