After years of research, designing and improving, the first Portal bike hit the streets on Saturday, the 16th of September. Portal has been working on its flagship bike project for over three years now, and after a lot of feedback received from their blue prototypes you can see around Kathmandu and Patan their long tail cargo bike was finally launched. The view inside the workshop was a view to behold. Individuals from all walks of life, foreigners and Nepalis alike were all gazing at the new Portal bike with childlike wonder. Childlike seemed to be the theme of Saturday. The employees, best personified by Tenzing, their Sales and Marketing director, had a childish energy about them. When Tenzing met me at the door he was overflowing with excitement and proudly showed off all the products like a child shows off his toys. Yet when he talked about Portal, it sounded like a proud father talking about his child. Min, another employee at Portal, talked to me for ten minutes about Portal, smiling all the while; something you can’t do if you don’t truly love the product. This type of positive energy which you could practically see radiating off everyone in the warehouse made for a very lively atmosphere in the event.

Portal not only launched the expected long tail bicycle, which might I add, looks very very sleek but surprised everyone by launching what they are calling a mid tail bicycle, which would be perfect for someone who is not willing to commit to a full long tail. I was insisted upon to try out the new bike, and I was more than happy to oblige. I am not exaggerating when I say that it blew my mind. I was guilty of forming an opinion on something without trying it out. The Portal bike looks long, and with length comes weight, or so I thought. Riding the Portal bike, was like riding any other bike. It was light, comfortable and easily maneuverable. Hell, I’ll even go as far as to say that it was just as comfortable as riding my expensive branded mountain bike. While I won’t be taking it down gnarly hills, Tenzing did, and needless to say it won’t break.

In the few hours that I was there, Portal had me sold. I was always a fan of theirs, but they made me a fan of their bikes so quick you could almost hear my money leaving my pockets. A startup with not only an innovative idea, but a social way to execute it, Portal, I predict will disrupt the bike market in Nepal, which currently is largely dominated by foreign brands. You heard it first here folks!