(Photo: Aaron Hayes)
Portland-based bike builders took home three awards at last weekend’s Rocky Mountain Bicycle Show (RMBS) held in Denver, Colorado.
Renovo Hardwood Bicycles took home two awards; one for “Rider’s Choice Best Paint or Finish” and another for “Best in Show”. Renovo debuted at the 2008 North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS). Since then, company founder Ken Wheeler has been quietl perfecting his craft. In addition to his race-ready hardwood bikes, Wheeler and his crew have expanded into bamboo with their new “Panda” line of commuter bikes.
Aaron Hayes — who won “Best New Builder” at NAHBS 2008 — took home the “Builder’s Choice” award. Hayes wowed the crowds with a town bike he made for his girlfriend. The bike had a distinctive mix of classic looks and innovative parts that included S & S Couplers (which allow the bike to be easily taken apart for shipping/travel), a Schlump 2-speed crankset (shifts by kicking it with your foot), and two Dos Enos cassettes in the rear (which allow you to change gears on a singlespeed just by loosening the axle and moving your chain — instead of doing the flip-flop).
Portland builders also fared well at the RMBS last year when Ben Farver of Argonaut Cycles took home “Best in Show” honors.
Farver made another strong showing this year and he was joined by new Portland builder – Civilian Bicycle Company.
More on the 2009 RMBS (including a photo gallery) at BikeRadar.com.