Hand-Built Bike Show Wrap-Up

With pro-shooters at the show, I won't bore you with worse versions of things you've already, or are going to see. Cory Tepper was walking around with a camera, so I'm sure he's got some great show photos.

This is the best thing I saw during the show. The weather was beautiful on Saturday, and Tony and I rolled around with a little crew. Billy came down from Seattle and proceeded to put on his own "hand-built bike show." Everyone was rode well, and plenty. This was my favorite part of the day.


Tony..mobile entertainment. Ipods have nothing on Tony.


Again, this time with Ian, who races 'cross for Tonic.


This is probably the funniest thing I've seen in a while. Harley ripped his jeans badly, and decided to ride street in his underwear.


Harley was BLASTING the Arvey wall. This photo does NOT do him justice.


Neither Tony, nor P-Funk found peace with Harley's bold, but otherwise pragmatic wardrobe descision.



The amount of bikes ridden to the show was unbelieveable. We couldn't park outside, and had to use underground parking for our bikes. I have never seen sooo many bikes.


On to the show..
All of the show bikes reflected a great deal of work and passion in their construction, assembly and display. I'm not very clued into the "classic" bike scene, so I can't say I even knew what I was looking at most of the time, or am I in any position to evaluate anything.

So what stood out? In no particular order...

Renovo. When they get the rear triangle dialed, everything else will look like a cave painting.

Proto Thomson seat-post clamp. This is going to be a beautiful part. I can't wait. Thomson is the best. Quite literally.


This wasn't at the show, but I like it. Our shop is next door to Vanilla's paint shop, and one of the guys who works there rides a SpeedWagen. Cool bike.


This is very clever. A pivoting DO from Soulcraft. There's a cam which is rotated to achieve chain tension.


No shortage of new builders at the show. Here's someone to watch..Courage out of Portland. Very cool stuff.


Beyond that..Retrotech. I love these bikes. He's taken this concept to the max, and is doing it better than anyone. By a mile.

I didn't get a photo of this, but Hunter Cycles had a suspension bike which was very cool.

After the show...

I brought Teisuke (our Japanese distributor) by our shop. I'm not sure why he is flipping me the bird in this photo..maybe it's because we don't have the Supernaut frame ready? Sorry buddy!



After the shop tour and product inspection, we went to a Rapha sponsored "roller race." What's a roller race? Pedalling hard and not going anywhere?



Ian. I asked him to look "sober" for this photo..after all, he's our elite endurance athelete. Convincing?


Billy Spaceman. Billy rides one of the three original Tonic Fixed gear frames, is one of the coolest people you will ever meet, and loves to share photos.


-L