April 2013 Cascade Courier

Page 11

Vol. 43, No. 4

CASCADE CONTACTS

Bikeconomics

Haulin’ Colin: A Seattle metal shop specializing in pedal-powered creations by Anne-Marije Rook, Staff Writer Business: Haulin Colin Owner: Colin Stevens Industry: Metal fabrication

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ith cargo and family biking growing in popularity, Colin Stevens of Haulin’ Colin is optimistic about the future of his business in custom pedal-powered creations. Specializing in bike trailers, custom bike frames, cargo-conversion, components and other custom metal fabrication, Colin says he’s plenty busy with “bike stuff.” “I eventually would like to have a product line and a steady workflow while still doing custom work. I’d also like to expand to where I have a few employees,” said Colin. “And all that might only be a year from now. We’re working toward it.” He’s come a long way since he first started playing with a welding tool eight years ago. “Years ago a friend of mine said, ’Hey, let’s buy a welder and learn how to weld things.’ So we did. I later got an apprenticeship with a frame builder and I slowly transitioned into doing this fulltime,” Colin said. Today, three years after obtaining a business license, Colin is perhaps best known in the Seattle cycling community for his heavy duty trailers. “Early on, when I was just playing with the welder in my backyard, I built myself a heavy duty trailer for hauling lumber, bike frames and metal,” said Colin, who lives a car-free lifestyle and bikes every day. “I thought it would be fun hauling things around by bicycle. It’s also just more practical to haul it by bike than it is to rent a truck or own a car and pay insurance.” This earned him the nickname “Haulin’ Colin”, which later would inspire his business. Built to last a lifetime, the Haulin’ Colin trailer measures 5 feet long and 2 feet wide, weighs 35 pounds unloaded, and can carry more than 500 pounds. “There is a bit of a learning curve to ride with a trailer,” Colin warned, but the size of the trailer is large enough to carry all sorts of items yet slim enough to navigate tight spaces and bike paths. “Carrying large objects by bike is doable; it’s not crazy,” said Colin. Colin still uses his original trailer and has carried things like a queen-size mattress and box spring, Christmas trees, bulky boxes, multiple bicycles and lumber. “I started building these trailers because I saw a need for heavy duty trailers,” explained Colin. “There are doggie trailers, kids trailers

Home Page: www.cascade.org Office phone: 206-522-3222 or 206-522-BIKE Fax: 206-522-2407 Email: info@cascadebicycleclub.org

Cascade Bicycle Club 7400 Sand Point Way NE, Suite 101S Seattle, WA 98115

STAFF

Tim O'Connor, Tech Manager

Note: All email address are @cascadebicycleclub.org

(206) 660-7922 • tim.oconnor@ …

Jenny Almgren, Education Program Assistant

Leah Pistorius, Communications Specialist

(206) 694-9148 • jenny.almgren@ …

(913) 579-7629 • leah.pistorius@ …

Chuck Ayers, Executive Director

Robin Randels, Classes Coordinator

(206) 523-9495 • chuck.ayers@ …

(206) 390-3945 • robin.randels@ …

Craig Benjamin, Policy and Government Affairs Manager

Anne-Marije Rook, Staff Writer

(206) 713-6204 • craig.benjamin@ …

(208) 870-9406 • amrook@cascadebicycleclub.org

Ryann Child, Americorps Member, Commute Program

Julie Salathé, Education Director

(206) 861-9890 • cpa@ …

(206) 523-1952 • julies@ …

David Douglas, Event Producer

Lindsey Parker, Americorps Member, Youth Programs

(206) 522-BIKE • david.douglas@ …

(206) 861-9875 • ypa@ …

Noah Down, Development Specialist

Kat Sweet, Youth Program Manager

(206) 245-0001 • noah.down@ …

(206) 427-3090 • kat.sweet@ …

Liz Johnson, Americorps Member, Major Taylor Project

Anna Telensky, Events and Sponsorship Coordinator

(206) 957-6960 • mtpa@ …

(206) 778-6099 • annat@ …

Ed Ewing, Major Taylor Project Manager

Kim Thompson, Event Registrar

(206) 778-4671 • ed.ewing@ …

(206) 526-1677 • kim.thompson@ …

Stephanie Frans, Manager of Commute Programs

Alan Van Vlack, Database and Accounting Coordinator

(206) 522-9479 • stephanie.frans@ …

(206) 226-1858 • alan.vanvlack@ …

Ellison Fidler, Administrative Coordinator

Peter Verbrugge, Event Producer

(206) 957-7944 ellison.fidler@...

(206) 399-9565 • peterv@ …

Tessa Greegor, Principal Planner

Tarrell Wright, Development Director

(206) 204-0913 • tessa.greegor@ …

(206) 240-2235 • tarrell.wright@ …

Matthew Green, Legislative Affairs Manager

Tim O'Connor, Tech Manager

(360) 402-5529 matthew.green@...

(206) 660-7922 • tim.oconnor@ …

Hanna McFall , Americorps Member, Community Programs (206) 957-6623 • cmpa@ … Mike Inocencio, Corporate Development Director (206) 522-2403 • mikei@ … Emily Kathrein, Field Programs Manager (402) 699-4739 • emily.kathrein@... M.J. Kelly, Director of Communications & Marketing (206) 853-2188 • m.j.kelly@ … Diana Larson, Volunteer Coordinator

Note: All email address are @cascadebicycleclub.org President Daniel Weise • daniel.weise@... Vice President Don Volta • don.volta@cascadebicycleclub.org Treasurer

(206) 852-6827 • diana.larson@ …

Michael Snyder • michael.snyder@...

Sander Lazar, Rides Program Coordinator

Secretary

(206) 694-9108 • sander.lazar@ …

Ed Yoshida • ed.yoshida@cascadebicycleclub.org

Serena Lehman, Community Outreach Manager

Executive Committee Member-at-large

(206) 291-4032 • serenal@ …

Charles Ruthford • charles.ruthford@...

Kathy Mania, Finance Director (206) 522-4639 • kathy.mania@ …

but you have very few options when it comes to a heavy duty trailer like this. Mine have the advantage of having a really strong hitching system, and I provide custom options.” Since starting his business, Colin has sold around 45 trailers. But making trailers is only a small part of what he does. “The other stuff is just more profitable,” said Colin, who is trained in many aspects of machining and fabrication but specializes in bike-related items and has built everything from supersized water bottle cages to an eight-person pedal-powered parade float. Learn more about Haulin’ Colin at www. haulincolin.com and browse through Haulin’ Colin’s photostream at www.flickr.com/ photos/haulincolin/ for a sample of his creations.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Evan Manvel, Director of Policy, Planning, and Government Affairs (206) 369-9049 • evan.manvel@...

Directors Maggie Sue Anderson • maggiesue.anderson@… Kevin Carrabine • kevin.carrabine@... George Durham • george.durham@...

Kathy McCabe, Deputy Director

Rayburn Lewis • rayburn.lewis@...

(206) 409-0429 • kathy.mccabe@ …

Mo McBroom • mo.mcbroom@...

Erica Meurk, Grant Writer

Emily Moran • emily.moran@…

(206) 522-7517 • erica.meurk@ …

Joe Platzner • joe.platzner@… Bill Ptacek • bill.ptacek@... Ron Sher • ron.sher@...

Bikenomics is a feature series to spotlight the greater Seattle area’s growing bike businesses. Know a business that should be featured? Send me an email at amrook@cascadebicycleclub.org.

“Creating a Better Community Through Bicycling”

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