After some less-than-stellar experiences at Portla...

After some less-than-stellar experiences at Portland bike shops where my kind of bike-riding isn't really catered to, I walked into Clever Cycles and went "Aaaaah!" This place feels just right.

I ride every day to work and on errands. I don't race. I don't compete. I don't try to improve my time. I don't shower and change my clothes at the office, I just toodle along in street clothes at a non-sweaty pace. In short, riding a bike for me is purely transportation, and not in any way a sport.

Clever Cycles understands this. They rented me a Workcycles Oma, spent at least half an hour making sure it was adjusted to fit me, and went to extraordinary lengths to insure that I had a great experience trying it out.

They didn't bat an eye at my need for a more heavy-duty bike to suit my heavy-duty self. They told me frankly what the differences were between outwardly-similar bikes, and discussed with me why I might choose one over the other AFTER LISTENING TO ME about my intended use of the bike. The being-listened-to part of this story is the really extraordinary thing.

So I'm going back with my tax refund to buy one of the fantastic-for-me Dutch bikes they sell. Yay Clever Cycles!