SPEEDWAY, Indiana–The North American Handmade Bicycle Show, presented by Don Walker, has become the world’s largest trade/consumer show for custom-built bicycles. Now entering its fourth year, the world renowned custom bicycle show has sold out all 187 exhibitor spaces in the cycling-friendly city of Portland, Oregon.

After starting out in Houston, Texas, in 2005, then spending two years in San Jose, California, The North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) has rapidly grown into a “must attend” event for cycling aficionados and the specialist media. In Portland, cyclists are buzzing about what is expected to be one of the key social and commercial events of the year for cyclists in the Pacific Northwest.

“We already have exhibitors from all over the country, and if past years are a guide, we’ll have a lot of attendees from across America, too,” said Don Walker, the show’s director. Altogether, 150 exhibitors from the world of handmade bicycle frames, components, and the cycling media will be there to showcase many of the finest examples of these crafts to be seen anywhere in the world.

Among the featured frame builders exhibiting are Darrell McCulloch of Llewellyn Bicycles from Australia, Dario Pegoretti of Italy, and from the USA renowned craftsmen in the likes of Richard Sachs, David Kirk, R. Brian Baylis and Nick Crumpton.

Leading component manufacturers Shimano, SRAM, Phil Wood and Chris King will also attend the show to display the very latest in high-end componentry.

Top shelf wheel manufacturers Zipp and Rolf Prima will display some of the finest wheels for a range of different purposes, from time trialing to touring.

The cycling press, too, is coming come to the party, with Dirt Rag, Momentum Magazine, Mountain Flyer, Road Bike Action and VeloNews taking show booths to recruit new subscribers from among the 5,000 plus hard core cycling enthusiasts that are expected to attend over two full days and one half day on Friday.

Not only is a wide range of bicycles, components, and literature available at the show, but also the NAHBS offers several bicycling related seminars, with subjects as diverse as bike fit, carbon fiber technology, and getting ready to ride centuries and beyond. Presenting these seminars and panel discussions is a stable of the world’s leading experts on the subjects. More information about these sessions is available at www.handmadebicycleshow.com

NAHBS represents a window into the minds of the world’s greatest bicycle designers. The show provides potential customers with a rare opportunity to meet with these leading lights and choose whom they would like to be their custom frame builder. Many exhibitors at the show report substantial growth in their orders–which is why so many keep returning. And for the builders, the show represents a once-a-year opportunity to talk shop, exchange ideas, and through the industry seminars to pass on valuable snippets of information that benefit the industry as a whole.

The grand finale of NAHBS each year is the show awards, in which exhibitors and the public vote on the best bicycles in 16 different categories, the most coveted of which is the “best of show” award.

The 2008 show will be held in the Oregon Convention Center, Portland, February 8-10. Admission prices and schedule are below.

About The North American Handmade Bicycle Show

Having started in Houston, Texas, in 2005, the North American Handmade Bicycle Show is dedicated to showcasing the talents of individuals around the world whose art form is the bicycle. It aims to be a gathering point — online and in person — for framebuilders and consumers looking for custom-made bikes, for the sharing of ideas and promotion of this industry and its traditions. For more information, see http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com.

“Full Kilt Bicycles.” Show director Don Walker holds one of the thoroughbred track bicycles he has crafted. The Don Walker marque has carried a dozen or so riders to medal results at national and international championship track races over the years. Photo: (c) Jessica Lifland the image may be used one time to illustrate a story about the NAHBS, with the following credit line: www.jessicalifland.com

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 10th, 2008 at 12:04 pm and is filed under Daily Coverage. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.