Human Powered Machines – Jan Vander Tuin

Jan does amazing work and has been so far ahead of the curve on so many projects that by the time they catch on people don’t even recognize the work he has done on it (he was one of the first people to bring the CSA concept to the States). His work on the Workbike and utility bike front is pretty much the same.
I bought a Long Haul cargo bike from Jan about 10 years ago and he had already been doing cargo bike building for many years before that! His bikes are great machines; functional, well built, and made with knowledge and love.
The one frustration people have with him is that it can take awhile to get the bike you order (and pay for). For those who know the work he does at the Center for Appropriate Transport (CAT) with youth education, community projects, and so many human powered endeavors it becomes less an issue of time.
However, when it comes to rating HPM I almost gave it 4 stars instead of 5 stars because I know that to many people it’s a real negative… we are a society of instant gratification and waiting 3 – 6 months for a bike can be tough. I also wish that Jan was able to focus on just building work bikes and getting them out to the people. I LOVE all the work he is doing but hate to see workbikes being imported from overseas (horrible waste of fossil fuel to get a great mode of green transport here) when there are great local bike builders like Jan building such great bikes right here in Eugene Oregon.
Want a quality, beautiful, and functional bike built right here in America (the great Northwest even)? Take the time and buy it from HPM!