Da_Murph's blog

We love art. We surround ourselves with our favorite imagery to remind us why we do what we do (much of it is bike focused) and it keeps us happy.

In this second installment of the PDW Art Institute series, we continue our tour around the Mothership to give you a little insight on the things that inspire us and keep the wheels turning here at Portland Design Works. 

Today, let's have a look at my office, or as it's affectionately known around here, the Murphspace. Enjoy!

Above: Our spoof of an old movie poster, We help power the local economy, Poster for an event long since gone by

Above: Dogs Playing Poker: Everyone needs one of these in their office, Custom PDW window deckal

Above: Thermoses need stickers, An Interbike keepsake, Postcards and pins

Above: Cleaning out the sticker drawer, A modified motivational poster--with John Tomac

Above: THE original Circulus bike on display, Bike maps of PDX, A cycle truck greeting on my door each morning

I just got back from Texas on a direct flight from Houston. Lucky enough for me I avoided a set of angry twisters in Dallas and was able to return to PDX via airplane instead of tornado. Man, they have some serious storms in Texas! Below is a photo from my rental car window of a semi that about 5 minutes prior to my arrival, used to reside on the opposite side of the highway in the Schneider truck lot that made the news. It was a gnarly storm to say the least. A smarter man wouldn't have been out and about driving around in such weather, but there you have it...

Beyond witnessing firsthand the capacity of Mother Nature's anger, I was able to take in a good amount of the cycling scenes in Houston, Austin, and Dallas. Below is just a taste of what the great state of Texas has to offer. Enjoy it, I did...

Images from Left to Right, Top to Bottom:

A sunset from E 6th in Austin, Fred's Takeout Basket at Blue Line, Seis Dos Equis at Transit in Dallas, Prolly's home art collection, DANG! bear at Fast Folks in Austin (FF).

Prolly and Souphorse strutting after tacos, Live Fast at FF, Some Hipster Giraffe in Austin, West End in Houston done got sticker'd, Bike Art at FF.

Levi's debuts the 2012 commuter line at FF, Oak Cliff in Dallas, Yellow Jacket in Austin, FF store front, West End says hello.

Wall art at FF, "Where's the money Lebowski?"--best tip jar ever in Austin.

During a recent Midwest reconnaissance excursion I had the chance to hit up a few of our old favorite spots (and some new ones!) in Minneapolis, Madison and Chicago. Here's some photographic evidence of the journey.

[Clockwise: The revolution will not be motorized--Revolution Cycles in Madison, Revolution files, Jeff shows off his in-house lizard]

[Clockwise: Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago, Sophie keeping things calm at Bike Lane, And the award goes to: Zach at Machinery Row Bicycles, That's a mean looking skull, Texas Tubbs in Madison, Crash Hotline in Chicago, View from the swankiest Wisconsin Bike Summit I've ever been to]

[Clockwise: Best jukebox ever at the Triple Rock in Minneapolis, Just milling around at Peacock Groove, Deadmen tell no tales at One on One, Fart-o-matic at Jay's house, Gloves and Volts in Floor, Bathroom wall adornments, Mustard Plug is back in a big way]

It's not everyday that we come across stories like the following (also it's not everyday that we cite Fox News as a news source--get over it). 

Apparently, in anticipation for a new sneaker release in conjunction with the NBA All Star game, people got real hot and heavy and couldn't wait their turn for some new kicks from Nike. Things got so bad waiting in line for the new Foamposite Galaxy shoes, that riot police were called in and they shut down the whole deal. Unreal. 

If you take the time to watch the video, you'll find an explanation for the madness from someone waiting in line for some shoes (around the 1:11 mark). While these shoes that glow in the dark (and are from space) retail for over $230, they have a supposed 'street value' of nearly $2000. According to some dude, they're totally worth it "For the simple fact that it's a galaxy pack--a foam that never, ever ever ever ever been released [sic]." Unreal.

As a manufacturer of products that we hope other people will perhaps covet and desire, this level of devotion to a brand and new product release is unbelievable. It is totally mindbottling. Imagine our surprise upon learning that a pair of these are here at the PDDubs. Our Mothership-mate showed us a pair when chatting about the work they do for Nike. 

Now for all you looters and potential cat burglers looking to sneak in and snake yourself a pair of these ultra-rare dunkers, you better check yourself because Olson has already absconded with the only pair off to Taiwan, where he has traded them with a quickness for a brand new speedboat. I don't think he's ever coming back. 

Our good buddy Gene-O turned 1/2 of a century this last weekend. Unfortunately we couldn't stay and partake in the double-secret celebration planned for him in Portland East as we like to call it. Nonetheless we were able to share a beer from the Homeland with him.

Here's to ya, Gene. Let's keep riding for another 50.

This installment of the PDW Good Neighbor series continues our quest to get to know our neighbors along the N. Williams Ave ‘Bicycle Corridor’. Our friends over at the Portland campus of United Bicycle Institute are a good bunch. They play a big role in anchoring bicycle-based businesses in our 'hood and we couldn’t be more stoked to have them as neighbors. If you’re not already familiar with UBI, they offer a number of classes in both bicycle maintenance and frame building. Too many local frame builders to count honed their chops at UBI (stay tuned for more about UBI in the future!).

Our good buddy Dylan Robbins pulls some shifts as an instructor at UBI as well as steering the ship of the in-famous Team Jens Voigt Army (JVA). We welcome Dylan as our next good neighbor profile!

Name, AKA: Dylan Robbins AKA Admiral Longpour

Kevin Murphy (KM): Okay...First and foremost, Admiral Longpour, what the heck is Team JVA and why team JVA? 

.Let's go for a ride..

Sometimes you just need to get down. Rock on, you glittery genius. Rock on.

Good morning and welcome to the next installment of the PDW Good Neighbor Series. This time we gathered with Mitch Pryor of MAP Bicycles, yet another neighbor of ours along the N. Williams Ave "Bicycle Corridor" as it's affectionately known 'round these parts. We talked, we laughed, we did cartwheels, all the while sharing a frank discussion on what it takes to build some of the purtiest brazed steel bikes out there.

KM: First of all, is M.A.P. your initials? What is your middle name if so? Isn't that a girl's name? 

MP: Mitchell Allen Pryor 

KM: I need to know what is that track from your stop lapse video? It’s upbeat, enchanting and the Shazam app on my phone can’t seem to find it. Instead it returns this song, which is also pretty good.

[A typical afternoon in the shop with Mitch. from Joseph Ahearne on Vimeo.]

MP: Shop-mate, Joseph Ahearne, made the video. He had the tripod pointed at everything for a while, and the music is by Martin Dosh. [ed: http://doshfamily.com] His music builds great momentum, great for someone easily distracted like myself.

KM: Where are you from originally?

MP: (gasp) California, bay area

KM: How long in Portland?

MP: 8 years

KM: How’d you get into the bike biz?

MP: I swept up daily and broke down boxes all summer at my LBS when I was 13 and earned my first serious bike, a Specialized Rockhopper Comp. I've been messing with bikes in someway ever since.

KM: Snorkel or S.C.U.B.A.?

MP: SCUBA

KM: Braze or weld?

MP: Braze

KM: When and where did you learn to build like that? (Accusatory tone implied--only kidding. Your frames are beautiful.)

MP: It's got nothing to do with bikes, really. I mean, I think bicycles have tremendous potential for beauty and for me that beauty is in the details and execution, but this can be true of anything one is passionate about.

KM: Who is Doug Fattic? How did you come to work under him?

MP: That link kind of hits the nail on the head. I sought him out to teach me how to build and paint. I've never worked with him long-term, but he's been someone who has introduced me to a lot of new skills. The real learning happens later, on your own, but he literally has a lifetime of experience and is someone I've learned a lot from.

KM: He-Man or G.I. Joe?

MP: He-Man

KM: File or hacksaw?

MP: File

KM: Can you tell me more about the batch process project you have going now? Semi custom? Fully standard? What is the deal (with airplane peanuts)?

MP: Fully custom, batch produced in house, many options to make it your own as long as you don't ask too many stupid questions. Seriously, I try to be accommodating and make the process as straight forward as possible. It's a lot of bike to build. I make certain components, the racks, stems, lights. It's very much the core of my business and I look forward to it every year.

KM: I hear you’re quite demanding of your painters. Care to comment?

MP: They should do better.

KM: Oh, snap. I think being meticulous is a good thing. I feel like it’s overlooked in the mass-production bike world. Can you enlighten how being diligent and detail oriented in your professional life has ruined parts of your personal life? We love gory details. Not really.

MP: I don't know that I agree with all that. Portland's manufactures are no more diligent and detail-oriented than a lot of mass-manufacturers, we have a different manufacturing challenge and have to attend to different details. We all make mistakes. I believe it boils down to the individual's or company's commitment to their product and craft and this is a very individual thing. As a custom builder if I don't get the details right, what do I have to offer?

KM: Well put. That's a good insight. Hypothetical question: Say your shop suddenly caught fire (no that’s not a threat) If needed, could you carry Joseph Ahearne out of the burning building fireman style? Think a Backdraft-esque scene…

MP: I'd probably throw him on my Ahearne cycle truck.

KM: True dat. We'd probably do the same.

KM: Karate or Kung Fu?

MP: Kung Fu

KM: Long johns or union suit? 

MP: Union suit

KM: Why randonneuring? Or Rando-ing, if you will. 

MP: The ultimate expression of a bicycles simplicity, beauty, and practicality. 

KM: Dpow! Says he’s never seen you without a cycling cap? Are you like a never nude, but for bike hats?

MP: Naw, it's my work hat. Keeps sparks and flux out of my hair is all.

KM: Lastly, in a throw down drag out last man standing hot dog eating competition between your shop/building mates (Signal, Ahearne, Corsa Concepts, or Metropolis) who could eat the most wieners?

MP: Metropolis for sure.

While outside enjoying the sun for a few minutes during lunch, I ran into a friendly worker from the Portland Water Bureau.

Terry was out walking the neighborhood with a long metal rod connected to some headphones via a length of rubber coated cable. He would roam around and touch various points along the ground and on buildings. At first glance it looked as though he was searching for water with some sort of modern divining rod. In my usual smart-aleck tone, I asked why the City was using such arcane methods to search for water. Luckily, Terry was kind enough to take a few minutes and explain his job with the Portland Water Bureau and the unique gear he was carrying around with him. 

His instrument was something similar to this leak test probe I was able to find online. When I asked if I could hear what he was listening to, Terry graciously obliged. I was pretty amazed. It sounded like an amplified faucet, by just barely touching an external cap on one of our water pipes. This highly sensitive device would listen for high-frequency leaks that resonate through metal water pipes, enabling the Water Bureau to pin-point holes in the system. 

Terry explained he was one of two workers in Portland dedicated to searching for leaks in the Water Bureau's water mains. This is part of an on-going conservation effort committed to conserving Portland's highly lauded fresh water resources. An interesting visitor on a sunny Friday afternoon.