Interview with Cyclocross Pro and Bike Shop Owner Erik Tonkin

Erik Tonkin’s resume requires a double take. He’s both the owner and manager of respected Portland bike shop Sellwood Cycle Repair and an accomplished professional cyclist in his own right (Tonkin rode with the U.S. team in numerous Cyclocross World Championships).

We stopped by his Sellwood shop to talk about bikes, business, and why there’s no place quite like Portland.

Active Junky: Why do you love biking?

Erik Tonkin: What I love about biking is the freedom and the sense of control. When you’re on your bike there aren’t a lot of impediments. It’s not like you’re going on the freeway and you’re surprised by an accident. You control your destiny.

AJ: Why do you think biking is so popular in Portland?

ET: For completely unsexy and practical reasons. It’s an easy climate. Portland is also a pretty compact town. I think that it has something to do with the people who live here and the Pacific Northwest, too. I have to give credit to the people. For example, Portland has the biggest bike buying population in the country. Minneapolis has the second biggest, but Portland is three or four times ahead of that. Through my racing career, I’ve been able to ride all over the country and the road cycling in Portland is some of the best. Santa Barbara is pretty great also, but Portland truly is unbelievable for road cycling.

AJ: What accomplishments are you most proud of?

ET: I’m very proud of the growth of this business from a two-person operation to a business of 15 people. People can have a career here. I’m also proud of being able to sell used bikes effectively. A lot of what we do here is repair work.

AJ: What’s the first ride you’d recommend to someone new to Portland?

ET: The Spring Water Trail ride. You ride north up to downtown and ride around the waterfront loop. You’ll cross the Steel Bridge and then back over the Hawthorne Bridge. That’s kind of through the heart of Portland by bike. You can rent bikes from us and go do that.

Image via Connor Wiles

AJ: What’s something surprising you’ve learned owning Sellwood Cycle?

ET: It’s very easy to have a business in Portland; it’s hard to have a good one. We work very hard to know who we are and why we’re here everyday. That aesthetic and plan is carefully drawn out and communicated. I’ve tried to set aside cool in favor of being good.

AJ: What your all-time favorite bike?

ET: My first ever team issued factory bike. A titanium Kona from 2000, “Hei Hei.” I still use it all the time, occasionally even for races.

AJ: Favorite thing about Sellwood Cycle?

ET: I love the people. I love managing the staff and teasing my customers. It’s the hardest part and the easiest part.

Stop by Sellwood Cycle Repair on your next visit to Portland – the shop is as unassuming, friendly and down to earth as its owner.