Bike Craft Fair Dec 6 & 7 Blends Arts, Crafts, Bikes

Thursday, December 04, 2014

Üma Kleppinger, GoLocalPDX Contributor

glpdx-bike-bikecraftfair

If you enjoy bike festivals and crafts festivals, then you're going to love Bike Craft, coming up this weekend.

Now in its 10 year, this is the holiday crafts event for and by bikers. The idea came about as a way to showcase so many of the fantastic designers, crafts people, artists and soft goods makers who make stuff out of their homes or in little shops about town. It's also a celebration of bike culture at a time of the year when there just isn't that much going on to bring cyclists together, outside of cyclocross events.

Bike Craft also provides a platform for many would-be makers with great ideas to try them out in a large audience and take preorders for products. North Street bags got their start this way when Curtis Williams showcased his prototype pannier to backpack in 2009. Now, Williams employs 10 people, receives orders from all over the US, and manufacturers it all here. What made Williams' sell instantly? The fabrics used in the products are sourced in US, and the pattern designs used maximize useable material while reducing waste dramatically.

"Craft fairs and festivals are usually pretty expensive for businesses to buy into. We want to make a festival experience affordable for start-ups to take part in, and not have to roll the dice on a new idea they have." Aaron Kaffen, co-director of the event sais. "The downside is we don't bring in a lot of money which would help us secure a great event space, which can run up to $7000. Finding space for this event is shifting sands. This year we were able to partner with BikeFarm, who are very active community supporters and are hosting the event."

Here is just a partial list of some of the designers and craftspeople you'll find at the event this weekend.

Black Star Bags - Messenger bags and backpacks

North Street Bags - Bike bags and panniers

Velo Gioielli - Bike jewelry

Rhythmic Metal - Belt buckles and accessories made from bike chains

Microcosm Publishing - Independent book publisher (also brings rad vinyl stickers

Elly Blue Publishing - Local writer and publisher of Taking the Lane

Gigi's HandyWork - Helmuffs to keep your ears warm while you ride

While you're shopping for fun and special gifts for your favorite bike rider, you can also get rid of any old bike parts cluttering the garage or basement. Bike Farm recycles old parts to give them new life.

In addition to the festival itself, and the parts drive, there will be food and drink available at the event, and of course…beer.

The event is free to the public, and open both Saturday Dec 6 and Sun Dec 7 from 11am to 5pm.

For more information, visit the www.bikecraftpdx.com.

Event Location: Bike Farm

1810 NE 1st Avenue, Portland, OR

Üma Kleppinger is a Portland-based copy writer, author and bike addict. A recovering sesquipedalian who writes about life in the saddle and outdoor adventure, she is also the author of Bike Yoga, a flexibility and recovery program for cyclists. When not writing, she can be found riding and racing her mountain bike throughout the Pacific Northwest.