8 February 2008 Archives

Portland builders shine at NAHBS

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Tony Pereira.
(Photos © J. Maus)

As you may have noticed, this first day at the North American Handmade Bike Show (NABHS) I’m focusing solely on Portland builders. Yes, I realize there is a lot of amazing stuff here from other builders, but I’ve got two more days for that.

I’m proud of our local builders.

Over the past three years, I’ve watched their businesses mature and several of them have grown into a force on the national framebuilding scene. And, as new builders spring up, I’m sure they’ll find their place and succeed.

Klein Stage Comp road bike, bright medium blue, solid one-color, bike computer on handle bars, black behind-seat bag, air pump on frame bar along with bottle cage,black racing seat, Shimano 105 shifting components.

More Info on Finetoothcog

A visit from a guy named Lance

Lance Armstrong with NAHBS
founder Don Walker.
(Photo © J. Maus)

Just as I was leaving the opening day of the North American Handmade Bike Show (NAHBS), none other than Lance Armstrong showed up.

He and few friends ambled in to gaze at the world’s most beautiful bicycles just as most folks had filed out for the night.

Rumor has it that a select group of locals will join Lance for a ride tomorrow morning. The crew that is invited to join him is likely some of same folks that are a part of the Teams of Portland exhibit that opened at Wieden + Kennedy last night.

Sacha White built this mixte as a
birthday gift for his 8 year-old daughter.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Everyone in the handmade bike industry must wonder where framebuilding phenom Sacha White gets the inspiration for his always impressive bicycles.

Judging from his famous tricycle that won Best of Show at the 2006 NAHBS (and is currently in a museum exhibit in San Francisco), and the poster he unveiled last year, my guess is that the answer lies very close to home — his two young daugthers Cybelle and Delilah.

It’s opening day for industry members and the media at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS). I’ve spent the morning roaming the aisles of the Oregon Convention Center, shaking lots of hands, meeting up with old acquaintances, and of course taking lots of photos.

A diverse slice of Portland’s bike culture was on display tonight as ad firm Wieden+Kennedy hosted an opening night party for their Teams of Portland exhibit.

Teams of Portland is a multimedia exhibit that features the bikes, the clothing, and the personalities of some of Portland’s most colorful riding clubs.

Portland just added another company to its burgeoning bike economy: Rapha Performance Roadwear.

Company co-founder Luke Scheybeler, who I met tonight at an event hosted by Rapha as part of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS), said Rapha will establish its U.S. operations in Portland.

I asked Scheybeler why he chose Portland and he said, “The U.S. is massively important to us…and Portland is so obviously a center of cycling, there’s an amazing bike culture here and a real appreciation for it. It just feels right.”

Portland builders shine at NAHBS

Stolen Klein Stage Comp

A visit from a guy named Lance

A special Vanilla for a special girl

Opening day at the NAHBS

Wieden + Kennedy toasts the Teams of Portland

Rapha chooses Portland for U.S. headquarters

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