Boozy bicycle bling

Published 5:00 am Friday, June 28, 2013

Not all cyclists fuel up on Clif Bars and energy gels.

Looking to cater to the part of the bicycling community that doesn’t take itself too seriously, David Marchi’s recently opened Crow’s Feet Commons focuses more on pale ales and porters than protein shakes and recovery drinks. (Unless, of course, you consider a chocolate stout a recovery formula.)

The beer/coffee/bike shop boasts one of the best tap lists in town and serves up espresso drinks using Portland’s Stumptown Coffee. And, in a storefront that was born to be in Bend, sells and services every different kind of bike you can think of.

“There’s a lot of serious bikers in this town,” says Marchi, who does sell plenty of high-end bikes himself. “But our business model is more geared to the culture aspect of biking.”

Meshing Central Oregon’s love of IPAs and singletrack as well as anyone, Crow’s Feet sells a host of cycling accessories that make transporting your favorite local ale or spirit as easy as, well, riding a bike.

Here are some of our favorites, along with other a a few other innovations that we’d like to add to our commuter frame:

Growler bike cages by Bottless, $39.95This product was inevitable once the first growler station opened in Bend. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a water bottle cage for your bike that holds growlers, made by a company from Bend.

Mud flask by King Cage, $35Why put your flask in your pocket when you can show it off on the back of your bike seat? Handcrafted in Durango, Colo., Bend’s soul-sister in the Rockies, this thing looks great even if you decide to fill it with cheap well liquor.

6-pack bicycle frame cinch by Walnut, $30This leather strap secures a six-pack of bottles to your bike frame for easy carrying. No bulky panniers or rickety bike rack needed with this stylish strap made in Portland.

Bicycle can cage by Walnut, $72A single-can holder that mounts right in the middle of your handlebars. Note: Don’t be stupid and ride with an open container.

Growler pouch by Bottless, $5(Available at Growler Phil’s on Newport)Instead of lugging around a glass growler in your backback or messenger bag, use this growler pouch, which is similar to hydration pack’s bladder. Less pokey, but carries just as much beer.

Takeout basket by Portland Design Works, $120(Availaibe at www.ridepdw.com)A front cargo carrier that sits on your handlebars, this basket perfectly fits a six-pack, and, as the website touts, “five burritos or three chincillas.”

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