PDX Bike Tech Lab

I'm David, owner/operator/machinist/welder/mascot at Veteran Bicycle Co. in Portland. Hi!

I've been renting shop space in Portland for three years now, my first year at a maker space in Buckman, currently at a Central Eastside Industrial District subdivided warehouse, and I now have an opportunity for a serious upgrade. The space I looked at is in Foster-Powell, the landlord occupies the adjacent shop and is also a bicycle business, complete with CNC machinery and tube bending equipment, etc. I'd like to know if any other Portland-based or Portland-bound bicycle businesses are looking for shared industrial space that would like to go in on this shop opening up.

About me: I am a machinist and I mostly do prototyping work and product development in the bicycle space. I am an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, hence the name. I've done production welding and brazing, but framebuilding is really a minor part of my deal; my interests are more in the mechanical systems of bicycles. I go to PCC and study Machine Tech., and will be following up with Manufacturing Engineering at OIT next year.

I have a horizontal milling machine, a vertical milling machine (Bridgeport) & a 14x40 lathe, plus way too much other equipment to list. If you bring your own tacking fixture, we could work something out with you coping tubes on my machines if you don't have your own.

I'm putting this on VS because time is short and the current tenant is waiting on me before they give notice. If you want to see photos, please PM me, but I'll answer any questions here too.

David- If I remember you earlier posts here it is heartening to see your maturation. Sharing experience in a hands on situation is an opportunity that can bring a lot gain. I hope you get some other excited and able partners. Andy

Andy,

Thanks for the words. I had, and still have some issues I am going to the VA for. That's all I'm going to say about that, and yes, I've grown some. In the past I expressed disappointment though some realizations I had about industry and I certainly directed my feelings toward the wrong crowd. I apologize for that.

Instead of framebuilding, I have decided to concentrate on bicycle technology research and development. We are in an age of transitional technology in the bicycle space, and I think R&D is probably more in line with my values and skillset, so that is where I am taking it and already having work in.

That being said, the new shop I am moving to is just a little too big for just me. It's 1000 sq ft, and sharing it with a framebuilder would be ideal. The landlord is a bicycle business, and wants bicycle businesses as tenants. Names I promise that all of you already know have been prior tenants. The building is modern, zoned commercial and has three phase power. As soon as I get some photographs of the space empty, I'll post them here. The current tenant hasn't moved yet, and I'm not sure they want their stuff posted.

Here's the CL ad I put up:

Shared industrial shop space

I'll put photos up as soon as I get shots of the empty shop.

Following this David. Good to hear all of this and you have my support vis-a-vis Vsalon.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by David Lewis

That being said, the new shop I am moving to is just a little too big for just me. It's 1000 sq ft

---

David, you'd be surprised just how quickly a single builder can utilize 1000 sq feet, cost not withstanding ;)

Good luck, I hope your new focus/direction challenges and sustains you.

rody

David, I'm sending you a PM as a heads up. I don't need the space but have experience with the owner.

Thanks for the heads up, Sean. We can continue this offline. Lots to think about.

i just thought I'd update you guys on the shopmate search. Also, I appreciate Sean's words of wisdom.

So I'm taking over the place next weekend, and I still haven't found a shopmate yet. I get the usual calls from back alley auto mechanics and folks that want the whole space, but nobody that needs 500 sq ft., plus access to a horizontal mill, vertical mill, lathe, bandsaw, TIG, etc. Not sure how else to sell it.

I need to reiterate that this is a unique opportunity for a beginning framebuilder here in Portland, but another existing operation is also welcome.

Attachment 97430