I made a rideshare post to Facebook and Instagram looking to wrangle some nerds from the bay area to share the 10 hour drive to Portland. Sadly, nobody stepped up. This made me sad. Is it just that few others think of bikes as I do or that I’m too much for them. Probably some of both but this had me on the fence for the drive. I could use this as an excuse to not go. Excuses are easy to come by for those interested in them. I hate excuses. I had to man up and just do this.
I still wasn’t sure that I should go to MADE this year. Would it be larger or smaller than last year? Do I have the money to make it happen? Would enough have changed that I would see? I took a bet and it paid off. I had a great time.
PVD. Making shit cool for over 35 years.
My goals for the show were simple, see the coolest stuff and record some meaty interviews. Taking the time and digging into what is being shown is fairly straightforward. Be open and really look at the bikes in front of me. See what is important, find the right angle and light, and snap the photo. This is straightforward but not easy. The nuggets are often hidden. They may not even exist. Sometimes, I will have walked by a bike 5 or 6 times before seeing something amazing on it. It’s hard.
Interviews are harder. I really need a hook when approaching someone. Why is this discussion being recorded? Is it them? Is it the bike? What can they say that isn’t just sales and marketing crap? I might even want to interview someone to pass the time but without that hook I can’t really do it.
Tyler Reiswig & Nicholas Payton – Btchn’ Bikes
http://www.peterverdone.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Tyler-Reiswig-Nicholas-Payton_01.mp3
Aaron Bland – Madrone Cycles
http://www.peterverdone.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Aaron-Bland_01.mp3
Christopher Wahl – Mischief Bicycles
http://www.peterverdone.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Christopher-Wahl_01.mp3
Cjell Monē – Monē Bikes
http://www.peterverdone.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Cjell-Mone_01.mp3
Coco Brown – Paragon Machine Works
http://www.peterverdone.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Coco-Brown_01.mp3
Jesse Turner – Slow Southern Steel
http://www.peterverdone.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Jesse-Turner_01.mp3
Mark & Kelly Hester – Prova Cycles
http://www.peterverdone.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Mark-and-Kelly-Hester_01.mp3
Matt Feeney – Pass & Stow Racks
http://www.peterverdone.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Matt-Feeney_01.mp3
Riley Ogden – Souvenir bicycles
http://www.peterverdone.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Riley-Ogden_01.mp3
Thomas Epling – Stellar Werks
http://www.peterverdone.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Thomas-Epling_01.mp3
MADE was fun. It really needs to find a better venue. There should be lectures. Still, it’s the focal point for what we do. We meet here. This is important.
