For those of you who don’t know, the Rapha Continental Team was a longstanding recreational cycling team that toured the country in search of epic routes. The team started in 2007. Ira was one of the original 8. Tony joined shortly thereafter.
Fast forward to 2017. Rapha Cycling hasn’t officially ended the team but they aren’t as active as they used to be. The Rapha Prestige Portland, held on September 24, was a challenging team ride set in the center of the Tillamook State Forest in NW Oregon. Approximately 20 teams of 4 rode a pre-determined route that traveled 65 miles of pounding gravel, 10 miles of tarmac and ascended nearly 10,000ft!
The lollypop route was staged at the Flying M Ranch, a beautiful ranch on a creek swallowed by tall conifers. If you are in the area and want a challenging ride, follow this route.
Big changes are happening for Breadwinner Cycles in 2017. We started the year like the years prior making frames out of the owner’s garages. Tony’s workshop and Ira’s workshop are only 12 blocks away from each other in the North Portland neighborhood of Arbor Lodge. Their sole employee worked mostly out of Ira’s and handled everything post-paint, plus marketing. We had a well kitted pre-paint shop and a well kitted post-paint shop. Things were going smoothly but some internal communication was slow and we felt it was time to move everything under one roof to make us more profitable and sustainable when it comes to making bikes efficiently and paying our employees comfortably.
Enter opportunity at 2323 N. Williams Ave.
The 3000sq ft building is a bit more than we need for Breadwinner Cycles but it did foster Tony’s dream of building the Breadwinner brand into something more than just bicycles. We solicited some help with the lease agreement and tenant improvements and in April decided to make the jump and sign the lease.
“We want to create a place where cyclists begin and end their rides, commuters stop before and after work, and cycling enthusiasts always feel welcome. We’ll have espresso and brewed coffee from Water Ave, fresh pastries and bagels from local bakeries and delicious food that people want to take on their bike rides. With a window on to the shop floor, every day will offer a new peek at our beautiful bicycles as they are built. ” — Tony Pereira
Our award-winning, custom fit steel Lolo frame paired with Enve fork, thru-axles, disc brakes, optional Ritchey Solostreem bar/stem, and striking motorsport-inspired paint scheme–all with three special parts packages that will suit every discerning rider.
Order now before the opportunity to get the W/// Sport Lolo passes you by.
Now through May 5th, the limited edition thru axle Lolo is available with three SRAM gruppos to choose from, carbon wheel upgrades and the option of a custom painted Ritchey Solostreem bar/stem combo.
Mixing ultra-light and responsive Columbus Life tubing with decades of road racing and riding pedigree, the Lolo was made to dance up mountains and carve twisty descents. This smooth riding, light steel tubing is TIG welded with precision and fitted with an Enve carbon fork, resulting in a impeccable performance machine. A modern road bike in design and style, with sloping top tube and double oversize tubing, the Lolo is a fast and responsive road racer that flies and feels great all day long. Read more…
Tony started in 2004 and Ira in 2005. They each built bikes for themselves first. Then their friends wanted to ride handmade bikes and they found themselves making more. Before long the word spread and Tony and Ira each had successful custom bicycle businesses.
Flash forward 12 years and you will find Tony and Ira making custom bicycles together under the Breadwinner Cycles banner.
Now our bicycles are better, the process is cleaner and more efficient and our customers are happier.
This short film is made to show how the passion of two skilled men has turned into the Breadwinner Cycles that is here today.
The North American Handmade Bike Show is a few weeks away and we can’t wait! The excitement of showing beautiful custom bikes on the occasion that punctuates our birthday is overwhelming every year.
Ira Ryan and Tony Pereira, the owners and frame builders of Breadwinner Cycles, practiced their trade under their own names. It was at the show in Denver in 2013, ten years into their careers respectively, where they officially launched the new joint venture. The goal was to make the best steel bikes for the most discerning riders without having the arduous wait list. At the time the wait for an Ira Ryan Cycles or Pereira Cycles was close to a year and a half!
NAHBS is the most prestigious handmade custom bike show in the world and has been the showcase for top tier bicycles since 2005. Pereira Cycles and Ira Ryan Cycles showed in 2006 when the show moved to San Jose, California. Since then the handmade show has crisscrossed the US a few times with shows in Charlotte, Portland, Indianapolis, Richmond, Sacramento and Louisville. Read more…
Chaise is a Portland local who loves his B-Road.
We caught up with Chaise a while back for some coffee and some great conversation. We talked about his Breadwinner B-Road, where he works in Portland and the type of riding he likes to do. Read more…
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