Sellwood Cycle Repair Owner Erik Tonkin

In this episode we hear from Erik Tonkin, the owner of Sellwood Cycle Repair who celebrates his 30th anniversary with the shop this year.

We first wanted to have Erik on the show as part of our Shop Talk series, but then realized there was much more to talk about than just running a business. In this interview, you’ll learn how he got his start in the local bike industry, why he seriously considered running for a seat on Portland City Council in 2015, and you’ll even hear him say there’s a possibility he might run again in the future. We also talked about his advocacy work pushing for more trail access at River View, helping the City of Portland write new code to prevent fencing of stolen bikes, and working to find new bike race venues.

If you love bike racing, listen closely for the big news about how Erik has been working with Commissioner Carmen Rubio’s office and the Portland Parks & Recreation Bureau to bring his Bridge City CX event to Waterfront Park in downtown Portland. Jonathan also asked Erik for his thoughts on the exciting success of two-time US National Cyclocross Champion Clara Honsinger, a former Sellwood Cycle team racer and employee who’s currently the best cyclocross racer in the U.S. and among the best in the world. Erik also shares his views on how e-bikes might play a major role in the future of his business.

Links from the episode:

Sellwood Cycle RepairGuest article: A personal perspective on riding River View (BikePortland, 03/12/2015)Sellwood Cycle Owner Mulls City Council Run Against Steve Novick (Willamette Week, 06/02/2015)Portland embraces inaugural Bridge City CX event (BikePortland, 11/25/2019)Clara Honsinger is currently the best cyclocross rider from the United States (CyclingTips, (01/02/2022)

This episode was recorded on December 21st at Sellwood Cycle Repair. A full transcript will be available by January 7th.

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Our theme music is by Kevin Hartnell.