Each of the 7 Wonders of Oregon offers a different, exciting ride. To celebrate this, we asked seven of the best bicycle builders in the state to each build a one-of-a-kind bicycle, one for each of our 7 Wonders. This bike was built for Mt. Hood.
Mt. Hood serves as the coolest imaginable backyard possible for Portlanders (and anyone else who visits the area): it’s got so many things to do, and plenty of them can be done on a bike. That was the initial reaction Fred Cuthbert had when he was tasked with designing the perfect bike for Mt. Hood.
“The first thing that went through my mind was that it needed to be able to handle anything, because around Mt. Hood there’s lift-assist, free rides, full downhill… everything, even including all-day single-track rides through the wilderness,” he recalls. And that was perfect for him. “The core principal behind my design has always been to make something that could do anything and everything, so this was the perfect opportunity to put that into practice.”
And that’s what he’s done. His single-speed mountain bike incorporates all his favorite features, and still comes in at an astonishingly light 28 pounds. There are beefy 2.5-inch tires, a suspension front fork with 5 to 6 inches of play, and an adjustable-height seatpost for riding in a bike park or other extreme terrain.
And it looks as singular as it is, with red hubs and a bright “sour-apple green” paint job with subtle black pinstriping around the lug details. It even has a name, etched in red script that matches the hubs: “Bruno,” for the iconic St. Bernard that lives at Timberline Lodge. (Fred’s company name comes from his shop mascot, Duncan. He was pleased to name this bike for “a fellow giant-breed dog.”)
It’s burly but smooth, a ride-it-all-day bike that can go just about anywhere. And it was a joy to conceive and create. “The fun part was that Travel Oregon said, ‘Here’s an area – build a bike for it.’ I got to decide how that area inspires me,” Fred says. “On a project like this, I get to answer all the questions myself, let my artistic impression shine through.”
This bike is size medium, suitable for those 5’6″ to 5’9″ tall.
Additional Resources
- Mt. Hood is a mountain biker’s dream — and you can shred to your heart’s content at the Sandy Ridge System or Surveyor’s Ridge.
- Looking for a bike-friendly shop for all your cycling needs in the region? Check out Otto’s Ski and Mountain Bike Shop in Sandy.
- Need any assistance getting around with your bikes? The Bike Concierge is at your service.
This bike was found by Ben Sherwood on June 20, 2015.
