Get To Know SuperChill, a Kid-Powered Ice Cream Bike in Portland

While I was doing some research last month, I came across something called “SuperChill Ice Cream,” and I was immediately intrigued. I found them on Instagram and went to their website, and learned that SuperChill is an ice cream bike business founded in 2022. It is run by two youngsters, William and Daniel (and their parents).

I knew I wanted to learn more about this kidpreneur business, so I reached out via email and we set up a time to meet. Here is what I learned about SuperChill.

The SuperChill Bike

When I got to SuperChill Ice Cream HQ, I met with David, father to William and Daniel (Ruth their mom, joined us later). He introduced me to Daniel (the younger sibling), who was there with his friend Conrad. Daniel took me back to the SuperChill ice cream bike, which is very cool. He expressed how much he likes the bike, and later on Will did, too. Conrad is also a fan.

The bike is made by Icicle Tricycles, whose headquarters factory is right here in Portland, Oregon (they were founded in Canada). They build and sell ice cream bikes, as well as coffee bikes, vending bikes, and cargo bikes, among others. David and Ruth had found them first over on Instagram.

The bike cost about $2,500. They also invested in a large chest freezer to store the product when not in use; it lives in their garage. A neighbor created the logo. 

The SuperChill bike case can hold up to 600 items, along with dry ice and frozen gel packs needed to keep things … chill. On that chilly point, they’ll cut up the dry ice and put it on top of each box of ice cream novelties, then they fold the cardboard down and put a layer of gel ice sheets on top of that. They keep the lid closed, except for when they need to pull out a product.

Heightscream

An early influence for this project was their friends who run an ice cream truck called Heightscream in Northwest Portland. They showed up in the ice cream truck at their kids’ prom and everyone was thrilled to see them. Later on, Daniel and William were invited to work with them on the truck, and that really whetted the family’s appetite to move forward with figuring out how to run an ice cream bike.

“It just felt so fun!” exclaimed Ruth. “And so that’s when the idea kinda hit me [to start our own version]. But then I was like, ‘We don’t have money to buy an ice cream truck or an additional car.’ So I started looking online and Icicle Tricycles popped up.”

“It sounded like a cool thing to do, too,” said David.

Physically Operating the SuperChill Ice Cream Bike

As far as the ease of riding it, I was so curious. David says it’s not too bad, though going up a hill can be a struggle—even as an adult—especially with a case full of product. But it has six gears to help with that.

“I’ve had to jump off and push a couple times,” David explained. “My wife and I both have no problem riding it.” And for the most part, the kids do fine, too. But hills are hard, even with the gears, for them; on the flats, it’s a different story. Here’s Daniel on the bike, riding through the park.

The Ice Cream Products

They buy all their ice cream products (novelties) at a wholesale company in SE Portland called Ice Cream Express. Other clients include the traditional white ice cream trucks. Top sellers at SuperChill are Snickers, Big Vanilla Dipper, Snowcones, and Bomb Pops (AKA Rocket Pops).

The ChocoTaco was also hugely popular for the short time they had them in stock. Totally understandable.

Is SuperChill a Kind of Food Truck?

They are not considered a food truck or food cart but they can be considered a vendor—with unique rules. One of those rules is that they have to roam—keep moving every 10 minutes or so. So, they do that when they are at, say, a baseball game at Wilshire Park.

And because they are not technically handling prepared food, they do not need a food handler’s permit.

”Since it’s prepackaged ice cream and none of it is our own ice cream that we’re making, the licensing deals are different [compared to a vendor selling their own product],” explained Ruth..

The SuperChill Name Origin Story

So, why did they name the business and bike Super Chill? There are two stories. First, ice cream is a frozen product that you need to chill, which they do with the aforementioned dry ice and gel packs.

Ruth told me another story: “So we’re all neighbors here, and we have kids around the same age,” she explained. “And a lot of times, they’ll run around as a pack—they’ll be at one house, then another, and another, etc.”

She continued, “And as parents we have this text chain and will ask, ‘Where are the kids?’ You know, just to keep an eye on them. I’ll be like, ‘How are the kids doing at your house, L?’ And she’s like, ‘They’re all in the basement! They’re super chill.’” 

“So it’s like a sarcastic term for their kids when they are clearly not chill—a play on words we thought was funny,” said Ruth.

Another name they considered for the business was Rose City Ice Cream Bike. But “SuperChill” just stuck.

SuperChill Ice Cream Bike Music

They also had a big debate about what kind of music they should play with the bike, as traditionally, mobile ice cream vendors are known for their jingles—think Mister Softee (BTW, there are lyrics), Turkey in the Straw.

“We asked ourselves, ‘Should we play regular songs?’” said Ruth. “Or should we come up with our own jingle? Should we play ice cream truck music? The kids debated that for half an hour. We tried a bunch of different things.” 

In the end Daniel and William liked making their own playlists. They attach a Bluetooth speaker to the back of the bike, and they think that’s fun.

David and Ruth

I often ask if the people in charge have worked previously in the hospitality/service industry but of course, the kids are too young to have done that—but, their parents haven’t either. David is a teacher and Ruth is a licensed clinical social worker therapist who owns and operates a group private practice. 

David and Ruth met in college at the University of Portland (“I was on the soccer team, and he was on the drum squad,” said Ruth) and ended planning activities as a couple. “We do really well when I come up with some ideas, and he’s the one running around and telling everyone what to do. He’s very good in the moment.” These skills have definitely helped them when it comes to participating in events and festivals, and helping the kids run the ice cream bike business.

The Joy of the Ice Cream Business

Part of why this business has been such a good experience for the whole family is that it’s about ice cream. “The joy of the ice cream business is that it’s a kind of spontaneous experience,” said Ruth. And especially when it comes to an ice cream bike, which is a less common sight than an ice cream truck: They didn’t know it was coming, and now it’s here. 

You get to walk up and choose something fun. Staring at the menu, you ask yourself,  “Do I want chocolate? Do I want a sour popsicle?” And then you make your choice, your ice cream is handed to you, and you smile. “And it’s like immediate smiles!” exclaimed Ruth. “And that’s the beauty of the whole experience— a surprise.” Both kids and adults get to have that experience.

What the Kids Are Learning

Running the ice cream bike business allows the kids to learn a variety of skills. They get to choose the items for their menu. They track inventory. And then there’s using the math that is necessary when they sell a product and make change, as well as how to price the product.

“So we load all those boxes up, and then the kids calculate how much a box costs and then how many units are in each box,” explained Ruth. “That’s how we come up with what a unit of ice cream is. And once that’s calculated, we sell it, usually for $3 or $4. And then the kids understand at that point how much we’re making off of one piece of ice cream, which is interesting.”

She added, “They’ve learned what a profit margin is.”

There’s also the customer service aspect—having someone ask for something (“Can you give me this, plese?”) and they have to find it in their stock of ice creams. And how to talk to people in a business sense, professionally.

They also like how it provides a social outlet for the kids. The neighborhood kids like to get together and ride the bike, and buy and sell ice cream. Their older son, William, can go by himself but Daniel still needs some supervision. Ruth and David will often go out with them. 

From SuperChill To a Potential Future Businesses

I asked Ruth if SuperChill is a kind of springboard to future business ownership for the kids, and she agreed with that observation. “Part of this is really helping them have life skills of working in a business,” she said. “And then if they want to in the future, they can start one. They’ll be able to use what they’ve learned with SuperChill.”

“I think each generation has their own idea of how they’re going to prosper in the future,” said Ruth. “And in this day and age, kids need to learn how to run a business as a life skill. Because they can definitely go off and work for people—but sometimes there’s not always jobs. And you have to make your own.”

Confidence With Money

Another aspect of this project is to help the kids feel confident with money. “So they can know how much they’re earning, and we want to pay them based on the value of the work instead of an hourly wage,” said Ruth.

“We made a deal with our older son,” said Ruth. “If he goes out and he finds a birthday party or a school event, then he gets to keep a percentage of that. He’s incentivized on commission.”

She continued, “Instead of just saying, ‘OK, If you show up and work an hour, you get $10,’ why not focus more on how to earn money differently at a young age. But they do like to handle all the money in the cash register.” They accept cash, cards (Square), Venmo, and Apple Pay.

“They get to use the Square machine and check people out, and get comfortable with the technology,” explained Ruth. “That’s important-–it’s accessible, and even though it’s a little confusing, they can do it. We don’t shy away from letting them just do the real stuff.”

Ruth and David created an LLC for the business, and the kids are paid as contractors. The money they earn (profit) goes into their retirement accounts.

“Really, it’s just about entrepreneurship and kids having it be so accessible to them, and fun,” said Ruth. “Just like ice cream’s fun!”

Merch and Sponsorship

Daniel showed me his little league baseball jersey—Wilshire Riverside Little League is sponsored by SuperChill. “It’s a super chill team, and I’m number six,” said Daniel. “I wanted to be number five because that’s my soccer number. And the reason I love five is because that’s the year I started playing.”

Meaning, he was five years old when he started playing sports. Soccer and downhill skiing are his two favorites.

They also sell merch—hats and shirts. 

When To Find SuperChill

Aside from casual rides through the neighborhood, selling ice cream to friends in the area and the park, they do events, mostly during the warmer months—May through September or October.

They also have done festivals, including the Fremont Fest, where they started, so you may see them there again. They also do fundraisers for the kids’ schools. And private events. You can inquire about having them at your event via their website.

Ruth and David acknowledge that they have something special with the SuperChill Ice Cream bike. They get to teach their kids how to handle money, stay organized, be social, and have a good time. “We like it a lot, it’s very fun,” said Ruth. 

I was really happy to learn more about SuperChill Ice Cream and hope to see them around town this summer!

SuperChill Ice Cream
Northeast Portland, Oregon
SuperChill Ice Cream website | Instagram

Updated June 4, 2025.