The latest from Norther, Western Bikeworks, and Breadwinner.
(Photos by Anthony Bareno (left), Western Bikeworks (middle), Breadwinner Cycles (right).

Portland’s local bike industry is always in flux: coming, going, making it, and breaking it. Because business is a key part of our local scene, we try to keep an eye on it all. Here are three bits of news from local makers and sellers that you should know about.
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Kenton Cycle Repair’s new location off Denver Ave.
(Photo: Kenton Cycle Repair)

There’s been a lot of shuffling of bike shops in Portland in the past few years. There are several reasons we see bike shops move or go out of business. There’s always a pendulum swing and shake-out in a city whose enthusiasm for cycling sometimes outpaces its actual support of it. Rent increases are another major culprit. Bike shops aren’t exactly cash cows and most owners operate on very thin margins. Finding the right space with the right size at the right price is not easy — especially in a city where landlords and developers would rather own multi-story residential buildings.

With that, here are the updates we’ve got for you (scroll down to get all the details):

• Upcycles moves out of Woodlawn
• Kenton Cycle Repair moves into much larger space
• Metropolis Cycles changes plans
• Announcing the Breadwinner Cafe!
• East Portland shops step up to help

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Nutcase’s offerings keep growing.
(Photo: Nutcase)

Portland’s bike culture goes way beyond bike lane activism and group rides. Our city is also a magnet for bike-related industry — from manufacturing to design and everything in between.

Here’s an update on the people, products, and places that make up Portland’s ever-changing bike industry landscape…

Ruckus moves into larger space

Ruckus’ new digs.
(Photo: Ruckus Composites)

Continuing the growth we reported on last fall, Ruckus Composites has just completed a move into a new space. Here’s more from a company statement:

“The new building that houses their carbon fiber repair shop is at 3380 SE 20th Ave “The new building provides space for increased department separation and growth opportunity, further optimizing its repair workflow. An improved structural repair area allows the company to begin to fully utilize their investment in NDT (non-destructive testing) technology using ultrasound, infrared and fluorescing penetrant dye to fully form a holistic image about how and why carbon fiber frames are damaged. Two immediate improvements include an independent, paint facility and a carbon fiber lay-up clean room, further bolstering the company’s “better service through science” model.”

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Head over to the North Warehouse on Interstate and Tillamook to gander at beautiful, Oregon-made bikes while sipping locally-made beer.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

The Handmade Bike & Beer Fest got off to a solid start tonight in north Portland. This event, hosted by the Oregon Bicycle Constructors Assocation, has teamed up with the Oregon Brewer’s Guild this year to offer a wider variety of craft beers to go along with the craft bikes.[Read more…]

One of the best says Bicycling Magazine.
(Photos: Breadwinner Cycles)

Three years after two of Portland’s most well-known bicycle builders joined forces the duo is starting to hit their stride.

Breadwinner Cycles, the company founded by Portlanders Tony Pereira and Ira Ryan in 2013 are coming off a huge month. In April their speedy “Lolo” road bike was named an “Editor’s Choice” by Bicycling Magazine and they launched a new mountain bike model.

The editors at Bicycling test all the best bikes in the world but they gave only 20 of them Editor’s Choice honors. They considered 100 bikes in all and whittled that down to 75 before deciding on 41 bikes (21 mountain bikes and 20 road bikes) that “rose above ‘great’.”
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A long-travel hardtail mountain bike dubbed “Bad Otis” is one of two new models from Breadwinner Cycles.
(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)

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The launch of Breadwinner Cycles drew a huge crowd.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Breadwinner Cycles drew a huge crowd to Velo Cult on Friday night. The event marked the official launch of the company which was started by noted bike builders Tony Pereira and Ira Ryan (we profiled Breadwinner back in February).

At Friday night’s event, the highlight for me was the assemblage of locally owned Ira Ryan Cycles and Pereira Cycles bikes. Tony and Ira invited all their local customers to display their bikes as a way to demonstrate the lineages that produced Breadwinner. It was really cool to see all these custom bikes, banged up and dirty from being ridden on local streets by local riders. There were touring bikes, racing bikes, mountain and city ramblers, and everything in between. I was especially keen to meet the owners Ira and Tony’s first bikes sold in Portland…
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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,” is how Pereira explained it when I got a sneak peek at the new line of bikes last week.

Breadwinner is more than just a new bike company, it’s the beginning of a new adventure for Pereira and Ryan. After spending over seven years (each) building up their own brands — Pereira Cycles and Ira Ryan Cycles both started in 2006 — the launch of Breadwinner as a standalone bike company marks a significant step in a new direction.

“This is definitely a huge leap for us,” Pereira said, as he and Ryan bantered over final details prior to loading up their new bikes in a truck and driving to Denver for the Big Show.

Far from just another custom bike brand, Pereira says their five-year plan is to establish a factory, hire welders, and make 1,000 bikes per year. [Read more…]