No metal was safe from bikes at the NAHBS today.
(Photo © J. Maus)
(Photo © J. Maus)
Month: February 2008
No more room: Fire Marshall says NAHBS at capacity
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 the crowd was getting out of hand. “When we can’t get through the aisles,” she said, “we are forced to close the doors.”
Fire Marshall Coefield estimated that the capacity of the venue was just over 3000 people and that the crowd at around 2:30 was “well over” that figure.
Chris King rekindles an old flame
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 in 1978, just two years after he created the headset that would make him a household name to bike geeks around the world. He built bikes primarily for road racing teams that would be labeled under a variety of nationally-known brand names.
‘Naked’ bike draws attention
There’s more than meets the eye
in Sam Whittingham’s booth.
(Photos © Jonathan Maus)
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. He brought only one bike — but he made it count.
Bike show puts builders in the media spotlight
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 often feature Portland builders.
Here’s a little rundown of some of the recent coverage.
Portland builders shine at NAHBS
Tony Pereira.
(Photos © J. Maus)
(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.
Stolen Klein Stage Comp
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)
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.
A special Vanilla for a special girl
Sacha White built this mixte as a
birthday gift for his 8 year-old daughter.
(Photos © J. Maus)
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.
Opening day at the NAHBS
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.
Wieden + Kennedy toasts the Teams of Portland
Team Gentle Lovers had their hot pink
Vanilla Speedvagen on display.
View slideshow below.
(Photos © J. Maus)
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, and the personalities of some of Portland’s most colorful riding clubs.