For Tony, owner and frame builder at Breadwinner Cycles in Portland, work has always been about helping people—making ski boots bearable, fitting bikes that actually feel good, and building custom frames that turn everyday rides into “pure freedom.”
In the shop, his Dansko clogs are part of the toolkit: easy to kick off at the door, supportive enough for long days on concrete, and trusted for nearly 20 years of entrepreneurship.
On realizing he’s a helper
“As I’ve reflected on my career, I realized I’ve spent my whole working life helping people. First it was ski boots and shop fits—now it’s custom bikes that solve problems so riders can be comfortable and keep going.”
On what bikes (and maybe building your own business) feels like
“Riding a bike for the first time is pure freedom—that moment you’re balancing on two skinny little wheels and thinking, ‘Wow, I just did something that seems impossible.’”
On work–life balance as a small-business owner
“If you don’t figure out work–life balance, you’re going to be miserable—and you might as well just work for somebody else.”
On not doing it all alone
“You need help. You can’t do everything yourself, even when you’re doing it yourself.”
In another life…
“In another life, I think I could’ve been a really good surgeon. It’s carpentry and metalworking—it’s just working with your hands.”
Why Dansko
“I asked my friends who work in kitchens what they wear, and several of them said, ‘Dansko clogs.’ I tried them, loved them—that was 20 years ago.”
