The Madsen kg271, available at Bike Gallery starting November 6.

Mark your calendars! Next Thursday (11/6), we are throwing a little preview party at our Hollywood store to celebrate the arrival of the first shipment of the Madsen Cycles Urban Utility Bikes in Portland.

This last September, at the Interbike industry show, Bike Gallery bicycle buyer Joel Grover got an up-close view of the Madsen Cycles products and he instantly loved what he saw. According to Joel, “the innovative cargo bicycle design and attractive price point make Madsen bikes a natural fit for Portland, where we see a growing trend with individuals and businesses to use bicycles not just for personal transportation, but also to move heavier cargo of all kinds, including kids.” The Madsen kg271 can carry up to four small children (using a bucket with a removable bench seat and two seatbelts) and has a load capacity of 600 pounds.

Yesterday we received an email from Madsen Cycles owner Jared Madsen - who will be attending the preview party - stating that “we are excited to debut the Madsen kg271 in Portland and to show off some of the accessory prototypes we have in the pipeline. We will have a child rain cover (tent top), a hard shell lid for the bucket, and custom designed Yakima bar attachments, which we plan to go to production with very soon. The input we hope to receive from you and your customers will be invaluable.”

In his e-mail, Jared also elaborated a bit on where he got the idea to start designing and building cargo bikes. “We started Madsen Cycles with one strong idea: a bicycle should do more. I lived in Holland for two years and my family roots are in Denmark. Bicycles have always been a big part of my life, but spending a couple years in Holland made me realize that bicycles should be an everyday tool, not just a weekend toy. I still enjoy competitive road cycling, but the utility bicycle has become my passion. Cargo bicycles are commonplace in Holland and have been used there for nearly a century, although it is only recently they have been taken over by moms and dads as a practical way to transport their kids. Obviously, we are very excited to be part of the cargo bicycle boom that is taking place right now in the US.”

Going forward, Bike Gallery is equally excited to make cargo bicycles an even more common sight in and around Portland. Join us next Thursday to learn more about the Madsen line of cargo bikes and accessories, chat with company owner Jared Madsen, and – who knows – maybe roll home on your new Madsen kg271 Urban Utility Bike (yes, we will start selling them the same night)!

Madsen Cycles Preview Party – Thursday 11/6 at 7:00pm

Hollywood Bike Gallery (5329 NE Sandy Blvd)