Cycling

Roll With It

Clever Cycles caters to the commuter cyclist.

By Ethan Smith May 19, 2009 Published in the September 2008 issue of Portland Monthly

0809 pg054 corner clevermain mt09fi

LANCE ARMSTRONG DISCIPLES, beware: Clever Cycles does not carry the blade-thin tires, carbon-fiber forks, or spandex shorts coveted by hardcore road warriors. Instead, this SE Hawthorne Boulevard shop caters to a different, though equally dedicated, kind of cyclist—those who want to make their bikes their primary mode of transportation. Which explains Clever Cycles’ workhorse ethic: “Bikes should carry things.” Inside the recently expanded, two-room store, you’ll find spacious baskets stacked waist-high, sturdy bike racks lining the walls, and an ample selection of waterproof panniers—some perfectly sized for a laptop. Adorning the store’s inventory of rugged, steel bikes are integrated features like built-in locks and pedal-powered headlights. But the epitome of Clever Cycles’ cargo-centric focus might be the three-wheeled Bakfiets (above), an oddball Dutch creation that’s able to haul a week’s worth of groceries, your squirming kids, or even a willing date with ease. Even better, you don’t need a yellow jersey to ride one.

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