The 2025 Made Bike Show in Portland, Oregon, drew crowds of people to admire Beautiful Bicycles from around the world. Paul Kalifatidi was in attendance with his pen and notepad ready, capturing some of the best overheard quotes from the showcase along with a fun gallery of people, places, and things from the weekend…
Here is a small list of things I overheard at MADE. I have redacted names as some of these might be mildly incriminating. You’ll have to guess. You’ll have to ponder. You’ll have to assume, and frankly, I’d love it if you did. Like a 2016 YouTuber, I ask that you blow up the comments with hot takes, name-dropping, and a good ol’ heckle. Maybe even some context? Ornot. All that I ask is that you enjoy a light read after a media-intensive weekend.
“The only difference between brazing and soldering is, like, 800 degrees.”
“Does Swift have a booth? Are you carrying it? It looks like you’re weight training.”
“Otherwise, I’d be happy to talk to you about my crazy bicycle.”
“VPL is the new distributor for Bosch, so I might make something stupid.”
“Did you see the fish-cycle at the Mosaic booth?”
“Did you take hundreds of pictures of the fishy fish bike?”
“Are you rogue drilliuming?”
“I took a photo of some guy with a cool outfit, then I realized it was Gary Fisher.”
“What do you think is in Gary Fisher’s suitcase?”
“We have a titanium pipe, a stainless pipe, and I think I have a roach lying around somewhere.”
“Brooks gave me this for my tour.”
“Is that a condom?”
“No, lube.”
“Did your food come with a beeper?”
“No, it’s a paper ticket. Analog. The friction shifter of food truck ordering.”
“Is the city of Santa Fe known for mango chutney?”
“I want to get tattooed by you. Can we make that happen?”
“Everyone else, get out of here. We are talking. Now, how big is your lens?”
“Keep moving, folks, nothing to see here.”
“Get back to your booth.”
“Can you tell I’m a prime candidate for your product?”
“They’re only good if you want to stop.”
“What torque is the pump rated for if I use it as a breaker bar?”
“Will I see you tonight? Just say yes.”
“Ok.”
“Brooks has leather strap-ons. Sorry, slap-ons.”
“Do I have to proofide my slap on?”
“I want to buy something, but I’m scared.”
“I’ve been here for four hours and I’m still at the entrance.”
“We were definitely overlanding.”
“Did you see the tandem made of bedposts?”
“I want a salad.”
“Like a Hot Salad bike?”
“Yes, that too.”
“Cjell is tooting really loud.”
“Next time I want to pay for your lunch.”
“Can you take a picture of us? We want to hard style.”
“How could you run through my shot twice!?”
“I accidentally became a wedding photographer.”
“Ok, we are just looking this way.”
“Yah, but look at that.”
“If it’s good enough for your mother, it’s good enough for you. We want to be a company you can take home to your mother.”
“Have you taken any photos?”
“No, I’m waiting for the right opportunity.”
“An ice enema might be kind of nice.”
“Don’t let the intrusive thoughts win.”
“I can feel the thinness of my wallet.”
“I’ve been on a mission to free myself of credit card debt. When I do, you’ll know because I’ll have ordered something.”
“This is real life.”
“I don’t participate in preservation.”
“Hey, I’m going to be here for just a second, ok?”
“I can feel the thinness of my wallet.”
“Yah, lotta big squish up there.”
“Wimhoff gave me gills.”
“Isn’t he in hot water right now?”
“I dropped in, thought my suspension was locked, then I realized I was riding my beach cruiser. Shit.”
“He’s my numbers guy, I think.”
“Every booth has different cable routing for every bike. I shouldn’t have come.”
“You guys don’t move very fast.”
“No, I swear we’ve done four laps!”
“I don’t feel ma feet.” (In Italian accent)
“If I make you one, I’d have to make myself a matching one.”
“Please don’t lick my grips even though they smell like chocolate.”
“Oh that’s the fender! I thought that was a tire. Damn that’s clean.”
“Someone told me Gary Fisher has a severed head in the suitcase.”
“What’s in the suitcase today, Gary?”
“Oh, ya know, gold, guns, and good things.”
“Can we have this show in a CostCo next year? I want hotdogs and AC.”
“What do you do in Santa Fe?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
“Come cup my ceramic balls.”
“What? Ok.”
“Should we sit back or be upright?”
“YouTube shouldn’t be overthought.”
“What’s in the box!”
“Check out the schnoz on that thing.”
“I’m an aspiring Asian.”
“It’s like gambling, but you’re only gambling 30 seconds of your time, and you might get 50 Twinkies.”
“It’s like Willamette water but with a little LSD.”
“What brand is that?”
“Uh, Walmart.”
This article mostly wrote itself, courtesy of my amazing (if slightly crass) friends and all the humans that crowded into Zidell Yards. Made is my favorite event of the year, and I’ve only now realized that I have been subconsciously tracking the passing of the year with this event. I’ve always said that August is my month, and that continues to feel true. In college, August was the month that I took off from work and went on a climbing or biking trip. For the last three years, August has been capped off by this show after finishing the busy season with my other job. Fall is bringing cool air and new ideas, and I wish you the same. Thank you to everyone for such a wonderful show, and I look forward to overhearing everything you have to say next year…