The Oregon Manifest Constructor’s Design Challenge was held last weekend, and the bikes that were entered are pretty incredible. I wasn’t there, and there’s been a lot of blog coverage, so I’ll keep the writing to a minimum, and just revel in some photographs borrowed from here and there. Mmmm, handmade urban bikes.
Detail from the Sycip bike, which placed second in the design competition, photo by bikeportland.org.
The Retrotec entry. Photo by bikeportland.org.
As BikePortland.org put it,
The Constructor’s Design Challenge … is an unprecedented opportunity to have the brightest minds in bike building put their skills and experience into building the Ultimate Transportation Bike. Each entry will be judged and then ridden to see which one comes out on top. It’s a bike geek’s dream come true.
Bike by Donkelope, photo by bikeportland.org.
Bike by Metrofiets, photo by Philip Williamson.
The bikes were challenged to a 77-mile race, held on Friday. The course covered a variety of road and trail conditions, and included a section carrying cargo (beer and snacks!). In addition, each bike had to carry the rider’s finish line party attire (a changing tent was provided just before the finish line!).
Bike by Ahearne, photo by Philip Williamson.
Racers finished in times ranging from 4:54 to 7:55. But more important were the design winners.
This Pereira bike was the overall design winner. Photo by Tony Pereira.
Pereira Cycles won the design competition with this stunning blue bicycle with integrated lock, lights, and myriad fine details.
Integrated lock. Photo by Tony Pereira.
Hand-turned integrated rear light. Photo by Tony Pereira.
Here is a short video of the integrated lock in action.
In addition to fame and glory, the winner receives a three-piece cycling suit from Rapha.
The suit is the result of a 12-month collaboration between Rapha and Timothy Everest, the renowned Savile Row tailor. The finished product, a jacket, waistcoat and trousers or plus fours, is characterised by its elegant tailoring and luxury finishing, a formal suit that is at home in the boardroom as it is in on the bike.
Photo by Rapha.
The bikes remain on display at the Oregon Manifest Pop-up Bike Union (539 NW 10th, Portland, Oregon) throughout the six-week event. Congratulations to the participants and winners. There’s a complete rundown of winners here. (Special thanks to the ever-awesome BikePortland.org for their complete, timely, and wonderful coverage of this event!)
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
you could win a rapha suit?! that’s gotta be worth like 40 thousand dollars!
but dang, some sweet looking bikes.
i’ve been meaning to do a post about how bike riders (in LA?) kind of carry this assumption that they have no option – they are on a bike because they can’t afford a car. so i kind of want to ride a bike that says, clearly, that it’s a CHOICE – not riding some beater off-brand teal and pink mountain bike-ish hunk of junk. i ride because i like it, not out of desperation. and rides like these say that, with style.
OK, now i don’t need to do the post. thank god… i’m swamped…
You have a nice blog. I also share a love for bike riding. Check out my blog. But when I’m in Nigeria, I do not have this much access to nice bikes as I do now in Illinois. Ibadan is defintely not the best place to ride. Not with the hooting vehicles and careless drivers.
Best.
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