Oregon Manifest's Utility Bike Design Challenge glory

Love looking through the results of Oregon Manifest's Design Challenge -- all the features frame builders incorporated in making the ultimate utility bike to encourage more people then ever to... bike!  Loads of great ideas were presented -- I particularity enjoyed spotting U-lock slots integrated in the frames or racks, use of (Halo Coatings) patented retro-reflective powdercoat finish, accompanying bag systems, lockable storage compartments, double kick stands galore, three wheels for load distribution, considerations for carrying kids, and a sweet lil' sidecar.

If you haven't already, check out bike portraits of the winners, the people's choice award, and all the entries on Oregon Manifest's site and Core77's chronicles. As previously posted,  Oregon Manifest real-life factor competition didn't solely judge on looks, nor the fact they had to incorporate urban necessities: anti-theft devices, fenders, lights, load-carrying capability, and a stand while parked, BUT were also judged on PERFORMANCE carrying a predetermined baggage load (including a mailing tube!) -- on a 50 mile road (and trail) course that looked like serious fun...

photos above from Core77's photo gallery

this one via QuixoteCycles by S Mirk

Oregon Manifest + a female voice

Oregon Manifest - the bike design build challenge currently taking place - asked me to share a women's perspective on integrating bicycles into daily life on their blog... which you can read [here]   Thanks Michiyo for modeling and wearing such a cheerful dress!

Oregon Manifest's ultimate modern utility bikes...

Oregon Manifest, the design build challenge which has engaged a number of super interesting designers and constructors, just put out this lil' promotional video (via Treehugger). This is one fun real-life factor competition seeing that the judging is not solely based on looks NOR just performance -- the criteria for entries includes urban necessities like anti-theft devices, fenders, lights, load-carrying capability, and some sort of stand while parked!

And in case you haven't already been following the action, Core 77 has been, and continues to, document three team's design process --  IDEO X Rock Lobster Cycles / Fuseproject X SyCip Design / Ziba Design X Signal Cycles.

Looking forward to the road testing 'race' in September - when each entry is put to challenge and ridden 50 miles of all crazy types of terrain!

beautifully braided

by Studio Marisol

Aside from bicycles, I love braids. Including these. So I was pretty psyched to come across these braided strap leather handlebar grips by Portland-based Walnut Studiolo...

saving the brick and mortars

I saw this poster in the window of a cute little boutique in Portland, Oregon this past summer - and it left a lasting impression. 

If just half the employed U.S. population spent $50 each month in independently owned stores... for every $100 spent, $68 of it returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.

so... SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BIKE SHOPS!!!

and if your a shopkeeper, you can download/print the poster [here]

because you can't ride your bike to amsterdam

Portland is so with it.

Portland Airport's promotional poster.

Thanks, Lauren / White Bike Ceramics

Which reminds me...

last year the Portland Airport featured local frame builders in the

exhibit HANDMADE: Bicycles Designed and Built in Oregon

What a lovely way to pass the time during a layover.

integrated lock goodness

Tony Pereira's Magical Locking Bicycle from j. dunn on Vimeo

Last week Oregon Manifest's Constructor's Design Challenge lined up 30 American frame builders compete to "develop considered, integrated, and spectacular solutions for the everyday rider." Pereira Cycles, based in Portland, OR, followed the design brief and entered this frame design (above).

The design made me nostalgic of my time in Copenhagen - where most bikes, including the one I rode, have a tiny attached lock (on the seat stay) for the rear wheel and just simply lean the bike against a building...

dear (bike) poster lovers...

ARTCRANK Portland is coming up... October 1st - tomorrow night - at the Ace Hotel

A showcase of bicycle-inspired original poster artwork that people can enjoy looking at and afford to take home. ARTCRANK began in Minneapolis in 2007, and has expanded to Denver, St. Lois, Portland, and San Fransisco. Each show features posters created by local artists from the host city.

Admission is free, all posters are priced at $30 and ARTCRANK Portland will donate $5 from every poster sold to Bikes to Rwanda.

More and more cities across the states are going to be seeing their own ARTCRANK poster parties pop up... it is said that Vancouver, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Milwaukee, Des Moines, Chicago, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Washington D.C. and NYC are organizing their own in late 2009 and 2010.

Lauren, let me know what you find!

nice mice

Portland-based Red Bat Press creates these hand watercoloured wood-block prints... no two are exactly the same.

paper cut

Nikki McClure uses only an X-acto knife, and cuts out her images from a single sheet of black construction paper -- creating a bold language that translates the complex poetry of motherhood, nature, and activism into a simple and endearing picture.

Spotted this poster in a shop window in Portland, OR... poster available online at BuyOlympia.com and is printed in Portland by a family-owned print shop.

LongTails

Portland, OR had some fabulous bikes out there. Lots of commuters with panniers and trailers, but I became an instant fan of the Xtracycle LongTail... an extra long bike frame with a wooden skateboard-like deck mounted on the rear rack to haul anything: camping gear, surfboards, kayaks, kids, groceries, building materials... and there are pictures on Flickr to prove it!

Xtracycle isn't just another bicycle company. It's a labor of love devoted to the evolution of simple, versatile, and sustainable transportation. After 15 years of development in locales like Nicaragua, Kenya, and Stanford University's engineering labs... Xtracycle's LongTail innovation is a hitchless trailer that evolves the bike rack, bike bag (pannier or basket), bike trailer, passenger seat, and baby seat into one cargo utility bicycle system.

With so many bikes already out there you can be ultra sustainable by converting your existing bicycle into a cargo bike with Xtracycle's LongTail Kit. Their website walks you through the steps - basically add the frame extension to your rear drop out and hub which extends your wheelbase by 15".

Btw, if in Portland and looking to test one out, River City Bicycles carries them and the guys there were really friendly and helpful.

All photos via Xtracycle

Portland, OR: parking space

I've always loved this photo by the city of Muenster Planning Office (August 2001) representing the amount of space required to transport the same number of people by car vs. bicycle.

In Portland, I came across these brilliant bicycle corrals all around the city... on street (protected!) space for your bike. All it takes is a parking space. StreetFilms.org even made a video about them!

+ mark your calendar: PARK(ING) DAY in NYC is September 18th!!!

Portland, OR: second lives

Welded gate at River City... painted matte black and reminiscent of a Louise Nevelson assembly

Rims and spokes out front of Little Edie's Five & Dime

Mobile and fork tree at the Community Cycling Center

Portland, OR: street language

Having just returned from Portland, Oregon - USA's bicycle mecca - I am excited to share the many ways this city has embraced cycling. On a bicycle, with camera in-hand, I documented as much as possible...

Street sign next to the Light Rail tracks... the sight of a cyclist being projected seems appropriately dramatic.

They actually used the word 'please'. Sweet.

Bike racks prove to be a perfect way to communicate to cyclists...

BikeAccidentHelpline.com has a list of what to do if you have a bike accident.

Agreed.
Spotted this sticker in the River City bike store and what a find!

Immediately added to my blog list... safetyissexy.blogspot.com

Portland, Oregon

Returning next week with reports from the West coast...