Don Walker at the NAHBS awards ceremony.(Photos © J. Maus)

Two Portland builders stood out among the country’s best bicycle craftsmen today at the awards ceremony at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS).
Aaron Hayes of Courage Cycles was voted “Best New Builder,” and Joseph Ahearne won “Best City Bike” for the second year in a [...]

Don Walker looks to Indianapolisfor NAHBS ‘09.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

NAHBS founder Don Walker will take the fifth addition of his show to Indianapolis, Indiana next year.
He made the announcement at the end of today’s show saying, “I’m sure many of you are already aware of Indiana’s very rich cycling culture.”
Walker cited the classic [...]

Rene Herse in black and white.Slideshow below.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Wish I had more time to share stories from last night and today, but the awards ceremony is starting soon and I’ve got to get back to the show.
Below is a slideshow of my photos from this morning. Highlights include Pegoretti’s magical paint jobs, bikes [...]

NAHBS founder Don Walker.(Photos © J. Maus)

In a few hours, North American Handmade Bicycle Show founder Don Walker will make the announcement of where next year’s show will take place.
Each year it is a closely held secret, but Walker has already already shared clues and has made it clear it won’t be in Portland, and [...]

Amid the dizzying array of bike bling and pure craftsmanship here at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show, sometimes it’s the little things you remember at the end of the day.
Here are a few snapshots I’ve been collecting in my head…

No metal was safe from bikes at the NAHBS today.(Photo © J. Maus)

Bummer.

The crowds here at the Oregon Convention Center have been thick all morning. So thick in fact that City of Portland Fire Marshall Michelle Coefield just told me that they can’t let anyone else in until people begin to leave.
Just after 1:30 or so today Coefield said she was worried that the size of [...]

Chris King, the man who redefined headsets and has not compromised the quality of his Chris King Precision Components in over thirty years, has rekindled his love for making bicycle frames.
In typical Chris King style, he has quietly re-launched his Cielo Cycles brand name.
According Chris King Components marketing guy Chris Distefano, King began making frames [...]

There’s more than meets the eye in Sam Whittingham’s booth.(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

35 year-old builder Sam Whittingham of British Columbia-based Naked Bicycles, exhibited at NAHBS last year. He displayed several of his Naked Bicycles, got a few orders, but he failed to wow the crowds.
This year, he thought he would do something different. [...]

Mike Flanigan in the CS Monitor.

One of the most important keys to the success of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) is the media coverage it generates.
Local and national news outlets from both the cycling and mainstream media are covering all the action. And this year, with the show in Portland, the stories [...]

Thick crowds this morning.(Photo © J. Maus)

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 [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

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.

Team Gentle Lovers had their hot pink Vanilla Speedvagen on display.View slideshow below.(Photos © J. Maus)

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, [...]

Ken Wheeler sets up a frame in his shop in Southeast Portland.(Photos © J. Maus)

Ken Wheeler is teaching an old material new tricks — and in the process, he’s doing something that is literally on the cutting edge of framebuilding.
Wheeler, under the name Renovo Hardwood Bicycles, is producing hollow, monocoque bicycle frames out of [...]

This just in…
NAHBS is pleased to announce free indoor bike parking on Friday 8th, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th February.

Access to the bike parking is from Lloyd St, on the south side of the Oregon Convention Center. Look for the Bike Parking signs.
Arranged by Portland business consultant Bob Mandelson, the parking area has capacity for [...]

The work of Nate Meschke and Matt Cardinal.(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

(Sorry for that headline, I couldn’t resist.)
You may think the North American Handmade Bicycle Show starts this weekend, but the action has already begun.
Today is move-in day at the Oregon Convention Center and this afternoon the partying begins.
Here’s a quick recap of what’s on tap tonight.

Joseph Ahearne admires his latest creation.(More photos below.)

This morning I stopped by Joseph Ahearne’s shop to see what he’s put together for the North American Handmade Bike Show.
Ahearne is NAHBS veteran who has come a long way since strapping a few of his custom cargo racks and stems to a backpack and walking around the [...]

The Teams of Portland exhibition opens on Thursday (2/7).

The fourth annual North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) is sure to leave an impression on Portland…but I have a feeling Portland will also leave an impression on NAHBS.
The schedule of events before and after the main show each day is beginning to look like nearly as [...]

The list of after-parties and events going on after the lights go out at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS, February 8-10) is growing every day.
I haven’t had a chance to pull all the events together in one place yet (will do that soon), but I want to suggest a special get together on [...]

The hand and the work of Jordan Hufnagel.(Photos: Jonathan Maus)

Jordan Hufnagel made his debut back in November at the Oregon Handmade Bicycle Show.
Since then, the 26 year-old behind Hufnagel Cycles has been very busy. I stopped by his shop just off SE Madison and 7th to see what he’s got up his sleeve for [...]

The upcoming North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) will offer more than just a chance to ogle at gorgeous handmade bikes and the latest fashion and accessories to go with them: A full slate of informative seminars are also planned over the three-day show.

Aaron Hayes in his shop.(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

33 year-old Northeast Portlander Aaron Hayes has gone from zero-to-NAHBS in just six months.
Burnt out from his job as a consumer products designer for Portland-based Ziba Design, Hayes launched Courage Bicycle Mfg., at the suggestion of his girlfriend. “She was volunteering with a school group [...]

Inside last year’s NAHBS in San Jose, CA.(Photo © Jonathan Maus)

Bike industry bigwigs, exhibitors from all over the world (including 11 from Portland), after-parties, loads of media outlets, hordes of custom bike fans, and some of the most beautiful two-wheeled creations ever seen are coming to the Oregon Convention Center February 8-10th.
It’s the North American [...]

Ending five months of speculation and courting by City of Portland officials, Don Walker, founder of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) just announced that the event will be in Portland next year on March February 7-10 at the Oregon Convention Center.
The announcement was made at the culmination of the third annual NAHBS in [...]