Handmade Bike Show

Patrons at the Handmade Bicycle Show were tempted by the smells of barbecue as they made their way from booth to booth in the Staver Locomotive Industrial Building.

The design details in these handmade bicycles often reveal subtle innovations.

Dave Levy is the president of the Oregon Bicycle Constructors Association, and the designer of Ti Cycles. Take your pick between a steel or titanium frame, suitable for racer or commuter.

Misty Rose Metallic is the eye-catching color of this track-racing cycle. Levy was commissioned to design the racer as a surprise gift for a customer’s lady friend, who races locally at Alpenrose.

Henry James Bicycles reveal some of the more technical aspects behind frame building. After body measurements are taken, and drawn renderings of the frame made, the frames are adjusted and ultimately put together on jigs like these.

Personal defense devices to ward off would-be bicycle thieves? Nope. Henry James’ other specialty is aesthetically pleasing, heavy steel lugs that attach the frame’s tubes together.

Ken Wheeler’s idea for creating wooden bicycles—and creating his company, Renovo—came from his background in airplane design. This bamboo cycle is Renovo’s only noncustom design, which put the bikes in a more affordable range than his custom-built, mixed-hardwood frames.

Greg Morris of Milholland Bicycle Company aims for a classic English/French feel when it comes to design. He had his own commuting bicycle on display for the show, which also doubles as his racing bike.

Tsunehiro Bicycles stood out for their graceful lines and geometric shape. Rob Tsunehiro employs the help of a professional fitter when working with his patrons on frame customization, creating a tailored fit to work with the natural alignment of the body.

This attention-grabbing cycle from Winter Bicycles is designer Eric Estlund’s take on the ideal sprint track bike meant for action on a velodrome.

Keith Anderson’s three boys were inspiration for this dazzling kid’s bike. The color—Tahitian Pearl—has only one pigment, black. The rest of the color comes from the pearl coat which reflects light.

Mitch Pryor of M.A.P Bicycles mixes classic components and older parts to create a refreshingly timeless design. Pryor draws from his personal collection of bike parts, although he says most of his customers, being “bike geeks” themselves, usually bring their own to the table.

Bernard Georges, part of 333Fab, showed us a built in component on one of their stainless steel cycles—the dropout. The part makes it easier to convert the bike from a one-speed to a two-speed.

Pedal Bike Tours offers guided excursions to out-of-towners and Portlanders alike. Founder Todd Roll says he’s amazed at how many of his customers haven’t ridden a bike for more than 40 years. What better way to get rolling again than by taking one of his nine-mile, leisurely tours in downtown Portland or through the Columbia River Gorge?

Eugene Cathcart is a self-described Portland phenomenon. His unicycles work equally as well for everyday commuting and racing as the more traditional two-wheeled counterparts. His unique 26-inch wheels not only mean covering more ground in less time, they reduce the risk of getting your wheel caught in obstacle-laden urban terrain.