Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - So what'd you like at NAHBS?

Had some time to make the floor today. I'm also in the market for a lugged, steel SS/fixed cross bike.

My favorites:

Jonny Cycles
Cool guy, spoke to him a bit about a custom build. His track bike w/ the cutouts in the top tube was very trick and very clean. Definitely one of my top 2 contenders for my build.

Vanilla
Holy crap, stunning. The lugged tricycle w/ cambered rear end and Brooks saddle was unreal. I'd buy it for my kid if I could... Definitely beats the previous trike king, the Merlin. My favorite bike/frame was the blue/silver road frame w/ the casted logo. Raised Vanilla letters, polished, beautiful. He's my other contender.

Richard Sachs
Very cool to see these in person. Classy

Sycip
Lugged SS w/ dual ENO freewheel. Cool.

This thread is worthless without pics...

i talked to sacha for a while and he told me he made that trike for his kids as an heirloom. plus, phil wood machined those two rear wheels specifically for him. i think hell win best in show. i love his stuff so much.

i also talked to paul sadoff for a bit. he repainted his fixed gear (from fgg) so now its purple. he also has his fifth frame he ever built from 79. hes a great guy.

i talked to craig calfee for a bit. its seems to me like hes diving headfirst into bamboo frames. its strange...

the alternative needs transportation (ant) booth was cool. mike flannigan made a bike with hickory wood tubing and copper plated lugs. suhweet.

don walker showed me his sweet a** tandem. it has a fantastic paint job with paul tandem cranks.

also paul was there. hes really cool too

This thread is worthless without pics...

Apparently, Don is trying not allow *ANYONE* to take photographs. Which is unbelievably lame. Especially considering there not a WORD on the NAHBS website about it, nor was there anything about that before paying money for a ticket.

Apparently, Don is trying not allow *ANYONE* to take photographs. Which is unbelievably lame. Especially considering there not a WORD on the NAHBS website about it, nor was there anything about that before paying money for a ticket.

if that is true, with all due respect to don walker for organizing it and all--and i repeat ONLY if this is true, he is being a complete horse's ass. there can't possibly be any good reason for it at all. why not just take pictures anyway. it's a free country. i don't think he can legally ban photos.

way way lame to say the least.

again, if that is true (and only if it's true) i would never ever consider buying one of his frames.

if this is NOT true, i apologize to don.

if that is true, with all due respect to don walker for organizing it and all--and i repeat ONLY if this is true, he is being a complete horse's ass. there can't possibly be any good reason for it at all. why not just take pictures anyway. it's a free country. i don't think he can legally ban photos.

way way lame to say the least.

again, if that is true (and only if it's true) i would never ever consider buying one of his frames.

if this is NOT true, i apologize to don.

http://www.cicle.org/cicle_content/pivot/entry.php?id=100
http://www.frameforum.net/forum2/index.php?showtopic=997&st=0

It is true. There was a press release on a couple of obscure websites EIGHT MONTHS ago, and that was it in terms of announcement.

I'm leaving to go to San Jose soon. My cameras with me because there are several graffiti sites I've been meaning to photograph on the way anyway. If they try to search my bag and confiscate the camera, I'm demanding a refund and walking out. Screw that.

Lesse...

Bayliss' booth was unbelievable. Filleted pursuit bike, gold-leaf detailed lugged singlespeed. '60s Masi replica in chrome, the ridiculous triple triangle rando bike... really interesting guy as well, very open to talk about his work. The seat-binderless design on the rando frame must really be seen.

Sachs' Gee-Sawa Nagasawa tribute and his cx bike.

Calfee's carbon-joined bamboo.

Parlee's lugged carbon.

ANT's flying gate.

Steve Rex has a beautiful collection of bikes as well, especially his Tange Prestige 'art bike' frame.

What's been said about Vanilla has been said. Jawdropping attention to detail. Multiple builders I spoke to mentioned Sacha is pretty much the pinnacle of the show.

Lotta really nice folks at the show... talked to Craig Calfee, some folks from Parlee, Bill Lee, Rich Adams, folks at Phil Wood, Sachs, Paul Sadoff, some really cool folks from Indy Fab (whose bikes are pretty damn amazing as well.)

guy's an a-hole. i'm sorry, he is if he is so high-handed that he feels he can just impose his stupid "rules". like i say, all respect in the world and dap and all for organizing the show. all respect, but no pictures? again, what an a-hole. totally.

what possible reason could there be? huh? what about it don?

"Walker opted to not allow cameras in the show as a way of maintaining a level of excellence and a positive reflection of the craft and purposefulness of the show."

its true..... i dont know about that.

"Walker opted to not allow cameras in the show as a way of maintaining a level of excellence and a positive reflection of the craft and purposefulness of the show."

its true..... i dont know about that.

uh what?

ok, i tell ya what don. when you get back can YOU post pics? if that's what your plannin' i apologize for characterizing you as an a-hole. i really do. and if this is untrue i apologize too. but c'mon man! what up wif dat? no pics?

WE NEED PICS!!! NEED i'm tellin' ya!!!

"The show also has a different approach in that Walker has hired recognized action photographer Farid A. Abraham to document this show and do promotional shots of exhibitor’s bicycles and frames. This way, the builders can use these shots for publication"


There will be pics. But not being able to take your own sux ass.

did anyone see a white fixie at Vanilla's booth? that's a bike he built for me, and i haven't even seen it yet! i'm stuck at a wedding in boring-ass Salt Lake City Utah, but i am flying back to San Francisco tonight and going to the show tomorrow. i'm so excited to see it. so... can anyone tell me how it looks?!?!

"The show also has a different approach in that Walker has hired recognized action photographer Farid A. Abraham to document this show and do promotional shots of exhibitor’s bicycles and frames. This way, the builders can use these shots for publication"


There will be pics. But not being able to take your own sux ass.

ok ok ok, sorry don. but sorry only if you post the pics here or on your intraweb site. i'm beggin' ya dude!! we want ALL the photos. ALL of 'em!!! please!!! :)

Zach, hang on. I know what it's like to wait for a Vanilla. Trust me it will be worth it! Just make sure to post pics once you get them!!!

Zach, hang on. I know what it's like to wait for a Vanilla. Trust me it will be worth it! Just make sure to post pics once you get them!!!

i'll post pictures on sunday. i mean, don can't stop me from taking a picture of my own bike, right?

i feel like a crackhead waiting for a social security check right now. i can't f u c k i n g wait until tomorrow!

So...................am I to understand that my online search for photos of this event can now end? I have some work to do, and ,if we are going to have to wait until the press spokesperson decides to release the much anticipated info, I'll just get back to work and wait for the photos............unless, of course, they somehow recieve top secret classification beforing reaching our eyes. :)

I don't know how I feel about this. I am disappointed and was excited to see pics on here in semi-real time since I couldn't go there in person.
I can understand the desire to promote a postive image. A Valid concern and I applaud the concept.
On the other hand, it's a bike show. Hardly the political powderkeg that these tactics are usually reserved for:

1. Scare the public with what could or might happen ( photes ending up on porn sites, or shabby photos)
2. Control the output and flow of information
3. ( optional) Produce a behind-the-scenes reality show on what REALLY happened in San Jose. :)

Dude, I waited a long time for mine (caveat: my V was a special side project w/ Sacha, wedged in his regular schedule). Just be prepared to toss aside any other ride you have. I haven't ridden anything else since I got the Vanilla.

p.s.-Don can kiss my ass with the no picture thing. So someone made porno shots with some of last year's photos. Whatever. This show needs pics posted for those us of that couldn't be there.

Jason, yeah seems like Don set the law down with no cameras for the show. That sucks. I've been google(ing) photos for 2006 NAHBS for two days and now realize nothing is gonna come up until some "professional" site posts pics. Lame. F'ing trade show with no opportunites for photos. Guess Don doesn't want to actually promote custom framebuilding. Maybe he's more concerned with taking the props for organizing the show...

Well, I have to say I'd really like DW to repeat his "Not posting here anymore" wow yet again, and be true to his word this time.

Seriously, WTF? The flashes don't damage the bikes like antique paintings. They're not industrial secrets. The whole thing is about showing off the stuff the builders make. So why not let as many people see the bikes as possible, and allow paying visitors to take home their personal photographic memories?

Not that I personally care very much, 'cuz they're prolly all pimped-out overdecorated track bikes that I don't care for all that much... but still, this is really lame.

Well, I have to say I'd really like DW to repeat his "Not posting here anymore" wow yet again, and be true to his word this time.



+1!! but you can bet yer bottom dollah it ain't gonna happen!! :roflmao:

Chimay ( and others) keep an eye here (http://www.clockworkbikes.com/NAHBS.html) perhaps
My bike is there,too, and I had hoped to see it documented. Jonny forgot his camera. I did hear about the Vanilla tricycle, though.

Oh, and all frustrations aside, I'm not sure I'd go as far as to attack Don personally. He made a decision that we may disagree with, but I'm not gonna talk sh**t about the guy on a public forum.Debate, sure........but always tempered with respect and hopefully some humor, too.
Now, who's got smuggled teaser pics?

Oh, and all frustrations aside, I'm not sure I'd go as far as to attack Don personally. He made a decision that we may disagree with, but I'm not gonna talk sh**t about the guy on a public forum.Debate, sure........but always tempered with respect and hopefully some humor, too.
Now, who's got smuggled teaser pics?

i hope i made my criticism/objection clear. i have all respect for the effort don put into putting these events together. i just wish we'd get pics. and i'd be pissed if i paid to go and he said i couldn't take pictures. i still don't think he can legally prevent someone from takin' shots if the individual builders are ok with it.

I BREAK FOR DW DRAMA!

I dont want to bring up the situation, but at the last show a certain builder had pics of his bike make it onto a porn site. Not bike porn, but porn. This is the only way we can control this kind of negativity.
That being said, I trust the builders and their judgment, but not the general public. from http://www.frameforum.net/forum2/index.php?showtopic=997&st=0#

Pictures......

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=169302

No I don't want to attack Don personally, but the no photo rule is just flat wrong. You're trying to promote a very small, niche market and yet don't allow those that attended and enjoyed the show to post pics of what they loved is just plain F'up. Again, so someone photoshopped last year's pics. Geez, so that's been done with very event in the last 5 years. I was really looking forward to seeing just how far all the builders pushed themselves this year.

From the forum linked above:

A seperate issue is this "hot chick" thing...
I have said it before and I will say it again.
IF you have a "hot chick" in your booth at the show, she had better be your WIFE and fully prepared to answer questions about the construction methods you utilize.
I sort of like that philosopy. DW doesn't want to sell sex, but bikes. Not sure whether he has the right to tell people what they can and can not have at their booth, but he sure can make recommendations.

Pictures......

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=169302

Gracias for the link. The trike is really impressive. And two shabby pics of my bike ain't too shabby.
It seems as if this woulda been recieved better if the "no attendee camera rule" had been clearer, and press pass info given as well. The guy who took those pics said that if he'd known about the rule, he probably wouldn't have gone.

That being said, I trust the builders and their judgment, but not the general public.

And it looks like the feeling's mutual.

I am disappointed and was excited to see pics on here in semi-real time since I couldn't go there in person. I can understand the desire to promote a postive image...

...it's a bike show. Hardly the political powderkeg that these tactics are usually reserved for...


+1
Banning cameras is hardly the way to promote the builders - Bad move! :mad:

no cameras only makes sense if you've already provided press with images from your builders... its just giving the press less to work with in promoting your event. bad PR move.

i can't help but feel like i'm being left out of the fun because i can't afford to fly to california to look at bikes.

take that, poor people!

I was at the show on Friday afternoon, and had no idea that pix weren't allowed. I only took four shots, none very good, and no one ever told me to put my camera away. If it's not too inflamatory, I'll post them here. Or host them on another server. What say you?

I enjoyed the show, especially the frames from builders I've heard about but never seen on the road. I know that Richard Sachs has a serious cult following, which would ordinarily turn me off, but I have to say that his frames were truly spectacular. Something about that rich, blood red paint maybe. And I had nice talks with Rich Adams, who used to work at Medina Cycleworks in Berkeley, and Brent Steelman, who's built me a couple frames over the years.

One thing really surprised and disappointed me. The show was pretty empty when I was there, so many of the builders had little traffic in their booths. Some of them, though, made absolutely no effort to get up off their butts to talk to us as we oggled their work. I recognize that not everyone has a sales drive, and that it's tiring to work a show, but these people were just downright unfriendly. Maybe having a six-month waiting list allows you to be aloof, but it certainly doesn't endear me to your brand. </rant>

Steven

More pictures from MTBR (http://gallery.mtbr.com/showgallery.php?cat=723&password=)

how about that sycip 2 cog/ring FG setup, eh?

Yeah, LOVEd that Sycip. Actually I think it's an SS running the double ENO freewheel and crank.

BTW, while it sucks that we couldn't take pix, I give Don credit for bringing this show to my local area. I was definitely impressed.

I was at the show on Friday afternoon, and had no idea that pix weren't allowed. I only took four shots, none very good, and no one ever told me to put my camera away. If it's not too inflamatory, I'll post them here. Or host them on another server. What say you?

I enjoyed the show, especially the frames from builders I've heard about but never seen on the road. I know that Richard Sachs has a serious cult following, which would ordinarily turn me off, but I have to say that his frames were truly spectacular. Something about that rich, blood red paint maybe. And I had nice talks with Rich Adams, who used to work at Medina Cycleworks in Berkeley, and Brent Steelman, who's built me a couple frames over the years.

One thing really surprised and disappointed me. The show was pretty empty when I was there, so many of the builders had little traffic in their booths. Some of them, though, made absolutely no effort to get up off their butts to talk to us as we oggled their work. I recognize that not everyone has a sales drive, and that it's tiring to work a show, but these people were just downright unfriendly. Maybe having a six-month waiting list allows you to be aloof, but it certainly doesn't endear me to your brand. </rant>
Steven

It would not surprise me that Friday was a lot quieter for the simple fact that most people work on Friday.

I just got back, and while I didn't talk to builders as much as I'd like, I spent some time talking with Brian Bayliss, Bruce Gordon, Peter Weigle, and Tony Pereira, and all of them were friendly, engaging, and easily volunteered lots of information and displayed a genuine love of what they were doing.

Certainly, not every booth had as much traffic as them though.

Other observations: purple cordura is pretty, Richard Sachs' red color is MUCH more striking in person than on the interweb.

Also, lots of people were walking around with cameras ranging from tiny pocket cameras to huge pro DSLRs, so after I while I took mine out and took some pictures too, and wasn't hassled.

And it looks like the feeling's mutual.

Indeed --- if you tell your own target market that you don't trust them, they sure as hell won't trust you. I doubt I'll ever be buying a frame from DW now.

I went and took some pictures. I saw lots of people doing likewise and didn't see anyone catch any flak. My only complaint is that it was so big (no, really). I got worn down before I got through all the booths in sufficient detail. I don't even remember Vanilla (boo!).

Probably the best part of the afternoon was stopping by the ANT booth and having Betsy, Mike's girlfriend, exclaim, "Trevor!" when she saw me. Needless to say, she was surprised to see a Boston-area person there.

Thanks to Judah for the hookup even though I didn't race.

My photos are up at http://www.flickr.com/photos/trevors/sets/72057594075075612/

Definitely the Vanilla!!! and some others were beautifully built!...**Drool**

More pictures from MTBR (http://gallery.mtbr.com/showgallery.php?cat=723&password=)

mtbr never disappoints.

Thanks for posting photos and links.

Oh, and Mike (ANT) was very on about Sasha. He really thinks the guy has the goods and may be the highlight of the whole show.

It would not surprise me that Friday was a lot quieter for the simple fact that most people work on Friday.

Just to clarify my prior post: I wasn't surprised that Friday was quiet, but rather that otherwise unoccupied exhibitors couldn't be bothered to say hello.

Two pix atttached here.

I went and took some pictures. I saw lots of people doing likewise and didn't see anyone catch any flak. My only complaint is that it was so big (no, really). I got worn down before I got through all the booths in sufficient detail. I don't even remember Vanilla (boo!).
...
My photos are up at http://www.flickr.com/photos/trevors/sets/72057594075075612/

I agree -- I got totally overwhelmed!

Here are my pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aalpern/sets/72057594075093076/
The lighting kind of sucked, but that's to be expected from a huge space like that. Nothing to be done about it, really.

good god that Rebolledo track bike with the paul cranks makes me want to sell my body for money so i can afford that sexy bastard.

big big big thanks to everyone who has posted pictures. i'm in total awe of most of these bikes.

the detail on that merlin? yow!

More pics (http://www.clockworkbikes.com/NAHBS.html).

From the framebuilder's forum...

http://gallery.mtbr.com/showgallery.php?cat=723&password=&page=

Btw, Zach, page 8 has your track frame!

the detail on that merlin? yow!

Go to Hollywood Cycles, he sells them. I remember seeing two of them there last time....but it's been months.