MADE Bike Show

I went multi-modal to the MADE Bike Show yesterday.

It was at Zidell Yards, and featured almost 200 exhibitors showing off the latest in bicycle technology and design. I went early in the day to avoid the worst of the heat.

As I’d expected, most of what was on display reflected the trend of the bicycle industry to keep capturing new eyes, and new buyers, in order to sell more stuff and make more money.

I went because I wanted to see what’s new and hoped I’d run into old friends from my years in the bicycle industry. I was satisfied on both counts.

The bicycles on display featured disc brakes almost exclusively, and a lot of shock technology. I know time marches on, but I was still dismayed. When I stopped working in bike shops in 2012,  disc brakes were just beginning to show up on low- and mid-level bicycles. Rock Shox had announced that they would not offer technical or parts support for any product more than two seasons old. And companies that used to offer replacement parts for derailleurs and five-speed freewheels had discontinued those. (I still frown at the memory of the Shimano rep telling me, “it’s not your job to keep grandma’s bike rolling. It’s your job to promote new technologies and get customers excited about buying them.” I left the shop a few months after that.)

But my heart was warmed by the sight of the Kool-Stop booth. Kool-Stop, based in Lake Oswego, Oregon, has made rubber brake pads for almost fifty years. I have been using them since the earth cooled. They’re well-made right here in the USA and they come in shapes and size to fit every kind of bicycle brake.

The nicest part of finding the booth was meeting Tim, who’s worked at Kool-Stop for decades and continues to love his job. We talked for a good twenty minutes about How much the bike industry has changed, and how the best parts remain the same.

I was so taken with our conversation that it restored my spirits and reminded me that at its heart, bicycling is a joy and a delight, and thee are still good people who want to keep it that way.

I ran into a few friends, enjoyed friendly conversations, and left feeling good about my connection to the bike industry. Yes, there’s a ton of stupidity and waste and utter unsustainability, AND there are also people dedicated to riding bikes and getting others excited about riding, too.

I was glad to have gone. And I was inspired to go home and sign up to volunteer at a couple of upcoming local cyclocross races next month.

Bicycles are still wonderful. And I’m grateful I can still ride.

Last bike rides for at least a week - MADE Bike Show PDX

When it rains, it pours.

I went in to see the ENT for Long Covid-related dystonia. While I was there, I complained about a sore in my mouth that came on in February, but didn’t heal like a cold sore. They biopsied it and discovered “pre-cancerous cell change” there.

(NOT cancer, don’t freak.)

I have appointments set up for vocal PT later this fall.

And next Monday, I am having surgery to have the spot removed from my tongue.

3-4 weeks healing time, painkillers and lots of soft, bland, lukewarm food (hello oatmeal!).

I plan to hit Bike Happy Hour and The MADE Bike Show this week, before I'm too loopy to ride anywhere.

The MADE Show is being produced by bike stalwart Billy "SoupHorse" Sinkford, and will feature over 200 exhibitors. I plan to be at there Sunday morning, before it gets stupid hot. Tickets are still available at the link above. Portland bike lovers -- come on down!

Big bike ride today. Longest since 2021.

  

I decided to ride the full distance from home to where Coffee Outside was scheduled to happen this week, and tack on a short errand to Revival Drum Shop nearby. I filled a bag with some old practice pads I wanted to sell and carried that in my front basket. From my house to the chosen park was a total of six miles. On a cool but humid morning, I took my time and stopped when I needed to catch my breath. The air was lovely, if a little muggy. The sun peeked through swirling clouds. For the first couple of miles, I had a few moments of not being able to hold my line, but eventually I settled down and found a nice pace and things got easier.

When I got to Ladd’s Circle, I noticed three young men hanging out and admiring each other’s bicycles, including a vintage Fisher mountain bike. I walked over and admired it, too. Greetings were exchanged all around and we had a short conversation about fixing up and retro-fitting classic bikes. They were about to go on a coffee ride of their own, telling me that they were running out of new coffee places to try out. I suggested a food pod near my house that has a great coffee cart, and they said they’d check it out soon. Then I excused myself and headed to our meetup at Abernathy Park. 

The park adjoins an elementary school of the same name, and is chosen periodically when rain threatens for its rustic covered wooden deck and generous allotment of bike racks. We enjoyed coffee, shared baked goods — a regular attendee brought a fresh, scratch-baked cake that tasted delicious — and there was the delight of running into friends and meeting new people. I’ve been to enough of these that I’m now one of the “regulars” and it’s nice to run into bike-minded people each time.

Most people bring camp stoves, hand-grinders and their own beans, and prepare their coffee on-site — it’s a fun way to test new camping gear — but I prefer to make up a thermos at home and bring it along. (Hand-grinding beans is tough on arthritic hands!)

After enjoying a lovely gathering at the park, I rode a short distance to the drum shop, where I traded in my old pads and took a spin around the vintage drum offerings. Its always nice to chat with the gang at Revival, but I was feeling tired and didn’t stay very long. I knew I didn’t have enough spoons to manage the distance home, so I rode to the nearest MAX stop and rode the light rail through downtown and back over to North Portland, where I got off, rode to the store for a few things and then rode home. My total was a little over 8.1 miles, the longest distance I’ve ridden since before I got sick with Long Covid; and I was wiped out. I enjoyed a lovely afternoon nap and felt very glad I’d ridden.

We’re due for a gradual warming up again this next week. It won’t get quite as hot as last weekend’s high 90s F — we’re two months past summer solstice and the sun goes down earlier now — so I’ll enjoy these remaining August days and hope for more rides when I can manage them.

Since shutting down my Instagram account I’ve resorted to checking the web site each week to find out where the next Coffee Outside gathering will be. There’s also a Flickr group where photos of previous meetups are sometimes shared. It’s a very congenial group and has become my favorite way to stay connected to bike-minded folks.

(Photo by Shawn Granton: from a previous Coffee Outside at Laurelhurst Park.)