(Photo © J. Maus)
I’m happy to announce that thanks to the sponsorship of United Bicycle Institute, I’ll be traveling to Austin, TX for the 2011 North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) next month.
It’s been four years since I headed down to San Jose for the show and three years since it stopped in Portland back in 2008. I’ve never been to Austin (or Texas for that matter), and I’m real excited to check it out.
Besides checking in on all the local bike builders and companies that plan to exhibit at the show (see the full list of exhibitors), I’ll be on the prowl for the best bikes and stories NAHBS has to offer.
I’m curious how small handmade bike companies have weathered the economy. I’m also curious if a lot of brands have ceased to exist in the past few years, and how the more well-known brands have made moves to grow and build a sustainable business. I’ll also be looking out for the big trends and designs that are likely to show up on production bikes in the years to come.
Send in your story ideas and questions about the handmade bike industry and I’ll do my best to track down some answers.
I’ll be in Austin from Wednesday, February 23rd to the 27th, so I should also have some time to soak up some Austin bike flavor as well (and I hear there’s quite a bit). Stay tuned… And big thanks to UBI for stepping up to underwrite our presence at NAHBS.
If you’re a handmade bike lover and appreciate all the coverage we’ve given them over the years, consider helping us pay for this trip by visiting our Support page and making a contribution.