Interesting bikes spotted: Fred Meyer Hawthorne edition

I haven't done an Interesting Bikes Spotted post here for awhile. That's partially because I have (too) many other things to write about, but also because my tumblr blog bikesspottedpdx is the escape valve/appropriate place for me to post these things. But every once in awhile something will pop up here. And in this case,...

Other People’s Bikes: The Funky Mixte

It is well known in these parts that I hate the descriptor "funky" when it has nothing to do with either a) music or b) stench. I can't stand it when it's used to mean "offbeat, unconventional or eccentric". This is mostly because it is used by every guide in the universe when they talk...

Other People’s Three Speeds: The Dunelt at the Belmont Library

If you are a regular reader here, you probably know that my usual library branch is the Belmont Library at SE Cesar Chavez and Taylor. It's been my default library for a number of years, as it's centrally located in SE and is mere blocks away from work. I go here quite often, at least...

Other People’s Mountain Tour Bikes

Welcome back the Urban Adventure League's most copied feature, Other People's Bikes. I'm your host, Rip Taylor.This installment comes to us from manic Monday over on delicious Division Street in the Southeast Portland. After a tasty burrito* I stopped into a local resale shop. Upon locking up I noticed this beaut:Yep, it's another Raleigh USA...

Other People’s Bikes: The Sad Edition

Last month, when I was riding up to St Johns to get to Forest Park, I paused briefly on N. Mississippi Ave. While on the avenue, I took a photo of this bike: Yep, yet another Raleigh "Mountain Tour" mountain bike from the mid-80's, just like my Crested Butte! This one is a Grand Mesa,...

Other People’s Bikes: The Fraternal Twins edition

Hello, and welcome back to your favorite Sunday afternoon show on NPR, "Other People's Bikes".* I'm your host, Ira Glass.Today's specimen comes from yesterday's visit to ye olde coffee shop. As I was locking up my beloved Raleigh Crested Butte, a woman was also locking up her bike on the next rack. And what was...

Other People’s Bikes: Panasonic Tourist Three Speed (and Japanese three speeds in general)

You probably have figured out by now that I like the humble three speed. And when one hears "three-speed", one might think automatically of Britain in the middle of the 20th century and Raleigh bikes in general. Yep, England has the strongest association with three speeds, due in no small part to Raleigh and Sturmey-Archer....

Other People’s Bikes: The Sad Saddle Club edition

As you already know, I like bikes, and I like leather bicycle saddles. Not everyone likes leather saddles, though. Many balk at the higher price, while some don't like the heightened degree of maintenance* involved with leather saddles. If one doesn't take care of a saddle, things can happen.Take, for example, this specimen spotted on...