U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker gets
a tour of United Bicycle Institute with owner Ron
Sutphin (left) and Congressman Earl Blumenauer.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)

Flanked by Congressman Earl Blumenauer, the United States Department of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker beamed about the cycling “revolution” she’s seeing across the country during a stop on her national listening tour in north Portland this morning. But to keep it going, she said business owners must have a skilled labor force.

And that’s where United Bicycle Institute comes in.

On that note, Pritzker toured UBI’s Portland campus on North Williams Ave. UBI offers vocational training in frame building and offers certificates in professional bicycle mechanics. In addition to learning about the key role UBI plays as a national vocational leader with over 20,000 graduates to their credit, Pritzker also hosted a private (no media allowed) roundtable discussion with about 20 local bicycle industry leaders. Pritzker and her staff have toured over a dozen cities in recent months doing similar events and the goal is to hear about the issues facing business owners and develop a strategy for the Commerce Department on how to help them.
[Read more…]

Secretary of Commerce (and triathlete)
Penny Pritzker.
(Photo: US Dept. of Commerce)

In the latest nod to Portland’s reputation as an epicenter of the bicycle industry, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will visit United Bicycle Institute (UBI) in North Portland on Friday.

The Department of Commerce announced the event as part of Sec. Pritzker’s nationwide “listening tour.” “In these discussions,” reads a media statement, “Secretary Pritzker will hear about their priorities, concerns and ideas on how the public and private sectors can work together to strengthen the economy and create American jobs.”

UBI has been chosen as a tour stop because, the Dept. of Commerce says, it’s, “the bicycle industry’s leading technical school.” The North Portland campus (they also have a campus in Ashland) offers courses in bicycle repair, frame building and professional mechanic certification. While at UBI, Pritzker will meet with staff and hold a roundtable discussion with representatives from the local bicycle industry.[Read more…]

Roland Couture wants to start the Portland
Framebuilder Club as a resource for
new and existing builders.
(Photo courtesy Roland Couture)

A local graduate of United Bicycle Institute’s frame building school plans to start a club that will help builders pool resources and have a better chance at success.

Roland Couture is a 41 year-old, self-described “…tinkerer, lifetime cyclist, and musician smart enough to have an engineering degree, but with a persistent and nagging desire to actually make things by hand.”

Couture’s vision for the Portland Framebuilder Club (he’s bought the domain name but is still working on the site) is a to create an informal network where builders could come together, learn from each other, and more.
[Read more…]

UBI’s new frame building classroom.
(Photo: UBI)

The United Bicycle Institute will start its first framebuilding class on Monday (4/12) and the classes will be taught by two of Portland’s most prominent frame builders — Tony Pereira and Joseph Ahearne.

Ashland-based UBI has been offering professional mechanic training courses since they opened their campus in North Portland back in October. Since then, they’ve been working to renovate one of their buildings (on the corner of North Williams and Shaver) to house their frame building classroom. Those renovations are now complete and brazing classes start Monday. [Read more…]

Inside the UBI classroom at their
open house Saturday.
(Photos © J. Maus)

United Bicycle Institute (UBI) has only been operating a campus in Portland for a few months, but they’re already giving back. On Saturday, UBI threw open their doors and welcomed the community with a day full of free food and drinks, a prize raffle, an expo area, and framebuilding demonstrations.
[Read more…]

The mechanics classroom at UBI’s
new location on N. Williams.
(Photo: UBI)

United Bicycle Institute (UBI) is all moved into their new satellite campus in North Portland (they also have a campus in Ashland) and this Saturday they’ll throw the doors open and welcome the community with an Open House event.

According to UBI’s John Baxter, the school — which has taught over 12,000 students from 50 states and over 40 countries — taught their first session back on September 28th. UBI is a state licensed vocational school that teaches courses in bike repair, shop operation and framebuilding.

The open house is a part of the six-week Oregon Manifest and is slated to include facility tours, a garage sale, and a custom bike raffle. Manifest organizers say UBI will raffle off (via $10 tickets) two bike frames (one of them will feature Shimano components, a Chris King headset, and a paint job from Coat) made by UBI instructors and the proceeds will benefit the Community Cycling Center’s Holiday Bike Drive.

Let’s give UBI and nice, warm, hearty Portland welcome!

United Bicycle Institute Open House + Custom Frame Raffle
At UBI HQ (3961 N Williams Ave)
Saturday, 10/24 from 10AM to 5PM

Ashland-based United Bicycle Institute (UBI) is now open for registrations at their new Portland campus.

UBI has been remodeling an existing building at N. Williams and Shaver in North Portland since they signed the lease back in May. Today I spoke with UBI owner Ron Sutphin. Ron said that their first class — a two-week course in “Professional Repair and Shop Operation” — will begin on September 28th.[Read more…]

UBI owner Ron Sutphin
said coming to Portland was
a “no brainer”.
(Photos © J. Maus)

United Bicycle Institute, a frame building and mechanic school based in Southern Oregon, will open a new location in North Portland this summer.

UBI is a licensed, private career school that opened its doors in 1981. They offer a variety of certifications and classes in bike repair, bike maintenance, and frame building. In 1986, it was purchased by Ron Sutphin and he has been the company’s owner and operator ever since. I spoke to Sutphin last week during a visit to Portland to finalize the deal.[Read more…]

From Bicycle Retailer & Industry News…United Bicycle Institute Chooses Solar Power

UBI, a trade school that teaches classes in bicycle mechanics and custom bicycle frame building, went solar to promote sustainable technology.

"UBI supports sustainable transportation through our educational efforts in the bicycle industry. Now, we’re supporting sustainable energy, too," said UBI president Ron Sutphin. "We think we’re the only solar powered bicycle school in the world."

I know these guys think they’re great and all…but if you want to know more about one of the most environmentally stable businesses in the world (that just so happens to also be in the bike industry), check out Portland-based Chris King Components.