Handbuilt

The Wife and I did a trip to Portland in late June/early July 2006 for some personal business. Knowing we would be there for a week or so we packed the S&S coupled touring bikes and lugged them northward with us. We found Portland to be quite accommodating and were soon comfortable pedaling around the city and out into the surrounding countryside, often getting around faster on bike than we would in a car. While we were there we heard that one of the city council guys was doing a once a month get-together on the first Thursday of each month to show off one aspect of the community and that the one coming up during our stay was a bicycle show. That Thursday we went east from the city and rode a part of the Columbia River Gorge, returning to town to in time for the event. It was not hard to find the show, we just had to follow all the bicycles! There were so many bicycles parked in front of city hall that there was not room for any more; in some spots bikes were actually stacked on top on other bikes due to the lack of parking space relative to need. We ended up lashing our bikes up a block away, the closest spot we could find that was not already taken. Inside city hall it was a combination handbuilt bicycle show and beerfest, the latter sponsored by Chris King. We got to ogle some lovely work by the likes of Sasha at VanillaBicycles, Natalie at SweetPea, Joseph at Ahearne, Tony at Pereira, and quite a few others. Lots of eye candy for those who love a nice bike. We were left full of bike lust and an enhanced desire for custom rigs, in part to support some of these excellent crafts people.

In just over a week from now, on Feb. 8th, the North American Handmade Bicycle Show opens its doors in Portland, moving north after running the first three years in San Jose. I wished I had an excuse to run up to Portland for a day or two; the convention center is a quick ride on the Tri-Met light rail from the airport. I’d love to ogle all the eye candy, do some interviews of builders, and get a sense of who is doing what. It is not just academic any longer. Sure it is nice to look, touch, and dream. But, The Wife has already gone on record as stating she would like a nice custom racing bike in the not so distant future so at some point we will need to talk to some of these builders. The Colnago I ride, which is a wonderful bike, is a tad too tall for me and at some point I will want to get a racing bike that is more my size. All the better to have it made by hand by someone with whom you can talk, convey your wishes, and, if the planets align, go riding with on an occasion or two. Anyone have some work to be done in Portland somewhere around the 9th of February? Give me a plane ticket, or two, and I will be there.