Het Fairwheel Podium

Over the last four years I’ve worked with my colleagues at Fairwheel Bikes on some of the most amazing bikes I’ve ever seen. Imagine bikes dressed in Lamborghini Green, bikes designed by the world’s leading artists (Geoff McFetridge 3-speed fixed gear), and two world-record setting light bikes (Spin Light Bike). Right now, Formula One engineers are using their vast knowledge of carbon fiber to design components lighter than many can imagine. Architects are re-thinking brakes and the geometry of the interacting forces. The first ever Di2 mountain bike was built in 2009, followed by a single shifter Di2 mountain bike only a year later. Wheels are dropping to an unimaginable weight of just over 600 grams.

However, I’ve seen most of this go to private collections or get hung up in the back of Fairwheel Bikes, rarely seen by the general public. This year I wanted to change that. At Interbike we asked, “What about a gallery?” A fine art gallery dedicated to bicycles where anyone can come in to touch, feel, and experience what progressive builders and designers are doing with modern bicycles. A space to exhibit the best from extensive private collections.

All of this culminated in “Het Fairwheel Podium.” The direct English translation from the Dutch is “The Fairwheel Gallery.” I work with frame builders to bring in the highest quality hand built frames; and display componentry that forces everyone to re-think what a bicycle is. We have what I wanted. No longer will these bikes and components live only on blogs and forums. We’ll bring them here to a small space off the river in Northwest Portland where you can come in, drink some coffee, and talk bikes.

– Emiliano Jordan