Post your NAHBS photos, commentary, here

[Thylacine]

For all those people who aren't going to be there, if you have any pix, commentary about, or links to independant pix/commentary of the North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show, please post them here.

Not all of us can be there (funny enough, as I couldn't live further from the show unless I lived in Antarctica) and as much as I disagree with some of Don's philosophies, I think the exhibitors are there to promote their goodies not only to the 10% who are going to be there, but also the 90% that aren't, and the majority of them I believe would prefer to see a free and open viewing and discussion by as many people as possible.

And, I hear you ask, what's the best way to reach as many people as possible? That's right - it's not actually having a bike show, it's posting pictures of that show on the Internet!

Post 'em if ya got 'em!

[Scooper]

Post 'em if ya got 'em!
Well, OK. I didn't take many, and that's probably just as well since as I was leaving the show I read the rules which clearly stated "No Photographs"... :D

Here's Richard at the Waterford booth...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Waterford1.jpg

The Reynolds 953 display...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Reyolds953Tubes1.jpg

A Reynolds 953 stainless steel frame from Independent Fabrication...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/IFReynolds953Frame5.jpg

A pair of gorgeous Columbus stainless steel (highly polished) frames from Columbine Cycle Works...
http://www.columbinecycle.com/

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Columbine-ColumbusSStubeset1.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/Columbine-ColumbusSStubeset2.jpg

[velonomad]

I heard about the no photos allowed from someone who was there this morning. He described it to me as little more than a mini convention of a handful of established builders a few suppliers and the rest part-timers and wannbes. He said most of the bikes were pretty but didn't see anything that he thought would need to be kept secret.

Those two columbine bikes are cool with the retro thing going on.

[bellweatherman]

Where's all the people in the pics? I thought it would be overflowing with industry reps and the at-large public? I mean, yeah I know it's not going to be an Interbike, but still looks kinda sparce. Maybe it's just meant to be one of those yearly learning conventions.

Hey Scoop, how did you manage to sneak your camera in there? Good job! Let's see some more pics please!

[Thylacine]

Good man, Scooper! Thanks for showing those pix.

There's some more over at -

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

Current faves are -

1) That Bruce Gordon tourer is the American Chopper of touring bikes (I'm sure he'll be thrilled by the comparison!)
2) That "unknown" 1930's inspired fixie with the red rims. Totally derviative, but I dig the look and just know that would be ace fun to zoom arround town on.
3) Calfee Bamboo Commuter. What's not to love about a bamboo bike?
4) Pauls Componnents. Coz they're just nice, and because he wouldn't listen to me when I said to ignore the retro market and make a superlight billet road brake. Not sure about the cranks though. Haven't met a non-forged crank that works.
5) That Vanilla trike. For the cyclist who has it all.

[Thylacine]

Where's all the people in the pics? I thought it would be overflowing with industry reps and the at-large public? I mean, yeah I know it's not going to be an Interbike, but still looks kinda sparce. Maybe it's just meant to be one of those yearly learning conventions.

This is only the second year of the show! Seriously, this show is predominantly for the small players, it's not an "Instant Interbike" and it would be silly to expect it to be. The handbuilt boutique market is tiny - I don't think anyone is under any allusions there.

Still, even for a small show, there's more beauty and innovation there than in 5 Interbikes, right? :) Yeah, it woulda been nice to see more of that beauty, but hey, that's what you get when you say 'no cameras'.

[velonomad]

Bruce Gordon has always been my favorite American frame builder.
a couple years ago some people was saying Bruce was getting too old and cranky and that his bikes were not what they used to be. I think Bruce has proved he still has a few tricks up his sleeve. hell even the toeclips are trick!

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/723/78849/IMG_6514.jpg

[Thylacine]

Screw the toeclips - check out the brakes!

I like ol' Brucey. He may be grumpy, but when I've been doing this crap as long as he has, he's going to seem like Mother Teresa!

[Peterpan1]

Screw the brakes, look at that integrated rack/fender/light. Ok the brakes are nice too.

[Thylacine]

More handmade pron here -

http://www.clockworkbikes.com/NAHBS1.html

Now don't say I don't do anything for you :)

Seems 2006 is the official Year of the Funky Handlebar:

http://www.clockworkbikes.com/sitebuilder/images/104_0447-341x256.jpg

http://www.clockworkbikes.com/sitebuilder/images/104_0483-192x257.jpg

http://www.clockworkbikes.com/sitebuilder/images/105_0521-313x235.jpg

http://www.clockworkbikes.com/sitebuilder/images/105_0559-192x256.jpg

No doubt inspired by Jeff Jones (or more accurately, the 'prior art' of the past of which there are many examples of these types of bars which his patent attorney no doubt mentioned)

More links I hear you ask? Sh¡t, at this rate Don Walker should be paying me ;) ....

http://www.campyonly.com/mypages/03-04-06_nahmbs.html

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2006/features/nahmbs061

[velonomad]

Thanks for the links Warick, the guy who emailed me about the show being sparse must have been at a different show.It looks like a pretty good crowd judging from the photos.

[Surferbruce]

love the orange sadilah track bike.

[pigmode]

Wonder why 953 is still in prototype?

[Thylacine]

I mentioned this to Reynolds late last year. When Easton was developing their Aluminium with Manitou and Yeti back in the dark ages, they didn't have a big launch and then started to go through the prototype stages - they quietly went about their business of getting the stuff dialled and then launched it. Well, that's how it appeared anyway. I think Reynolds is trying to guage what demand is going to be like before investing too heavily in it, which of course does have the potential to have the opposite effect. The question on my lips is, "Will someone want to pay titanium prices for a frame that's twice as strong, but heavier than Ti?". It's going to be a delicate game of product placement is all I can definitely say at this stage.

Oh yeah, and here's another link to some more pretty picutres -

http://flickr.com/photos/scottyj/sets/72057594075569985/

[Peterpan1]

All right! Custom lugs: Tig together a bike, cut it apparts into lugs. Braze it back together with some additional tube. Develop marketing materials that talk about how bad welding is as a means of joining together bike frames.

I'm loving these pictures, by the way. Thanks!

[ReadytoRide]

Greetings, framebuilders. I was in San Jose with my son, Evan, covering the Show for RoadBikeRider.com. That will be out in a few weeks. I did riff on the show, which includes some choice shots, and a link over to a gallery Evan set up featuring some of the highlights. Here is a link over to the story. Find the link to the photo gallery near the end of the piece. http://readytoride.blogspot.com/2006/03/fine-and-disappearing-art-of.html.

Cheers.

R2R

[ohmss680]

I do not want to sound like a jerk, but your post is full of misconceptions.

First off, the process you described is not how all custom lugs are made, just some, like the Waterford ones for example. Take a look at Baylis, he did not weld anything, and that is as custom as you get.

Still, there is nothing wrong with welding tubes together to create lug blanks. It is an old practice, I am pretty sure Herse did it.

The lug does NOT HOLD THE TUBES TOGETHER... the lug is a "stress reliving" piece. The tubes are, or should be, held together by the filet created by proper penetration by the solder. Cut your lugged frame in half; you will see what I mean.

Thank you for allowing me to clarify.

[Thylacine]

Thanks for the link, R2R! Pretty limited selection of shots there though, which is unfortunate. Is there a specific reason for that?

[e-RICHIE]

my motherlode...


http://readytoride.blogspot.com/2006/03/fine-and-disappearing-art-of.html
http://flickr.com/photos/scottyj/sets/72057594075569985/
http://ultimatetrack.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album02&page=1
http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/Nk8cD4pR
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2006/features/nahmbs061
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2006/features/nahmbs062
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/nahbs/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/notautomatt/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/nahbs2006/
http://gallery.mtbr.com/showgallery.php?cat=723&password=&page=
http://www.clockworkbikes.com/NAHBS.html
http://www.sutter.com/mark/NAHBS/NAHBS.html
http://www.cyclofiend.com/nahbs/show2006/index.htm
http://www.estherkim.com/bikes/index.html
http://oregonstate.edu/%7Erowee/content/nahbs.htm
http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/NAHMB-06_Brian-Baylis
http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/NAHMB-06_Calfee
http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/NAHMB-06_Ant
http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/NAHMB-06_Bruce-Gordon
http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/NAHMB-06_Richard-Sachs

[Thylacine]

Thanks for those Richo.

Are the dropouts on the Waterford GP Wilson dropouts or is it their version?

http://www.sutter.com/mark/NAHBS/NAHBS-Images/37.jpg

I gotta admit, the biggest thing I got out of the show was....I really want a track bike!

[e-RICHIE]

Thanks for those Richo.

Are the dropouts on the Waterford GP Wilson dropouts or is it their version?



according to richard and dave, they are their own version of the 70s wilsons.

[Thylacine]

They're pretty nice, but then again I have a thing for the more organic shapes.

[e-RICHIE]

They're pretty nice, but then again I have a thing for the more organic shapes.



what would be an example of that?

[Thylacine]

Heh heh. Well, in terms of bikes, there's this Titanium 29er I'd love to build at some stage....

[ReadytoRide]

Thanks for the link, R2R! Pretty limited selection of shots there though, which is unfortunate. Is there a specific reason for that?

Yep - we are saving 'la primavera fotografias' for the upcoming lay-out in RoadBikeRider. Hope you'll check that out.

I'll post here to let you know it's live.

Cheers, mates.

R2R ;)

[Peterpan1]

"I do not want to sound like a jerk, but your post is full of misconceptions."

Good I didn't miss my mark.

"First off, the process you described is not how all custom lugs are made, just some, like the Waterford ones for example. Take a look at Baylis, he did not weld anything, and that is as custom as you get."

At least he can sleep.

"Still, there is nothing wrong with welding tubes together to create lug blanks. It is an old practice, I am pretty sure Herse did it."

Sure welding is a noble tradition until they started slaggin TIG welded frames.

"The lug does NOT HOLD THE TUBES TOGETHER... "

OK to be serious for a moment are you going "..the meaning of "is" is" on me here, just diferenciating that lugs can't resist tension without the braze, or are you actually contending that the braze without the lug is a suficient fillet, like a filelt brazed frame.

"the lug is a "stress reliving" piece."

You will have to elaborate. I can see the structural role, it seems more like a stress riser than a reliever. Though the overall effect is fine.


"The tubes are, or should be, held together by the filet created by proper penetration by the solder. Cut your lugged frame in half; you will see what I mean."

Need more details before breaking out the Sawzall.

Thank you for allowing me to clarify.

[ohmss680]

“At least he can sleep.”
I am sorry, I don’t know what that means.

“Sure welding is a noble tradition until they started slaggin TIG welded frames.”
Some people think welding tubes together is the best (for any number of tests) of joining tubes. Some people get excited about lugs or fillets and see these join methods as being preferable. Some people like sniffing glue. (I have nothing against carbon or bamboo)

Seriously. Small external fillets were routinely seen on less expensive frames. Those frames were cheaper to make, but they did not fall apart. Or for still a better example, consider an internal fillet brazed frame, the fillet is made by melting a brass ring inside the tube. Of course, the joint is comparatively weak, but this is a viable joining technique.

”You will have to elaborate.”

Ok I will, but let me warn you I am not a structural engineer and I am not claiming to be authority. I am just a guy who has opinions. However, my opinions are generated by listening to people who have great knowledge in this subject.

The lug eases the transition, to relieve stress at the joint, just like a large fillet does.

I hope you don’t take any of this as a personal attack. But the idea that some lugged builders are hypocritical, because they used TIG welder is crazy.
Yikes, propaganda (if you want to call it that) has been used by both sides (if you want to take sides). I chose not to take sides. I like to ride the bikes I like. Other people get excited about other bikes, I have nothing against them or the people who make there bikes.

Speaking of which I can’t look at these pictures anymore, I just get more and more jealous of the people who were able to go. Seems like it was a great show.

[Thylacine]

Now now children, no throwing rocks in the playground!

I'm not sure if Waterford poo-pooed TIG welding, because they make TIG welded bikes themselves. Sure, some Lugites did initially poo-poo TIG welding largely because I think when TIG bikes first came out, they were horrible mass-produced things, but that's not the case in this day and age and everyone realises it.

Getting passionate about a method to join two tubes together really is a bit silly.

Oh, and cyclingnews.com has part three of there commentary up, this time in the part that interests me perhaps a little more than patting the 'masters' on the back - The carbon, titanium, and non traditional builders.

[Peterpan1]

I'm not anti lug, particularly in a show like this, I love all the nice methods of building. Just thought the idea off welding lugs and then proceeding from that point is a bit of an embarassment in the TIG/Lug wars. Not putting sentiments in the mouths of anyone present at the actual show. Of course it isn't really a contradiction if one buys the adguments relative to the benefits of brazing together lugs vs. welding tubes (I don't), since in that case the real issue is about how much one heats the fragile tubing not the lugs. Also the lugs even if damaged by the weldind are small enough parts to heat treat separately.

"The lug eases the transition, to relieve stress at the joint, just like a large fillet does."

Right, so like the inside of a fork crown has a long bit to pick up braking loads where otherwise the rest of the frame trying to keep moving while the forkd stopped dead, could be an embarassment. But I also think the lug is the main connective, not the tubes in contact with each other inside the lug. The lug is more than a vessel to contain a brazing mass that otherwise holds the tubes in position.

I'm not offended, or argumentative on the point. Always intersted in understanding nuances. Me bad for highjacking the thread.

[Olebiker]

http://www.clockworkbikes.com/sitebuilder/images/104_0447-341x256.jpg



Well, I have looked at a whole bunch of pictures from the show and I keep coming back to one question: Are the builders colorblind? With some notable exceptions those were the ugliest colors and color combinations I have ever seen. I'm sorry, but to me, pea soup green is not an attractive color for a bike.

[Peterpan1]

I think it is sorta reverse cool, like the Surly Green on the LHT, before they bailed this year and went to red and blue.

I was wondering about the economics of all this. On the one hand there never seem to have been more people building outrageous "hand" made bikes than now, sure the manufacturing has moved on, but as far as the boutique business is concerened there is lots of it. Yet BG seemed a little down about the economics and support for hand building. Almost as though Nahbs was a last ditch attempt to get some interest happening, and yet the better guys seem pretty booked-up.

[dogpound]

love the orange sadilah track bike.

god me too.
I saw it and thought, wow , that's built for me

[Thylacine]

Honestly, I think the two only real uses for lugs are 1) They look cool, and 2) They allow the tubes to be held together and joined using a simple technique. I don't think there's this big 'lus vs TIG' war that you keep mentioning. I think in the 80's, sure, but not now.

As for BG, I think there's a couple of things there, none of which I want to comment on. What I can say though is that I do agree with him fundamentally, but I don't think his approach is constructive. Ironically if I catch myself daydreaming about the NAHBS bikes, what instantly comes to mind is Bruces' touring bikes with all the titanium goodies. I think the problem is sometimes that anyone who thinks they sell a great custom frame expects the benefits to be self evident and for people to flock to them just based on that. What we often don't realise is that making the bikes is the easy part. The hard (and boring) part is everything else, especially self-promotion (my big problem, I hate trying to convince everyone that our bikes are good), marketing, and all that ugly stuff.

Olebiker, I actually like that green! Some things are simply personal preference (like your example), but I have to agree, there were some colour combinations there that were truely awful. The other half of my business is as a graphic and product designer for the bike industry, and let me tell you, I would never propose to tell a brazer how best to braze, but I know some of those guys would take offence that you would dare tell them that "Putting every shade of blue on a bike is not a good idea and that that is the ugliest bike I've ever seen, from a personal AND professional standpoint". :)

Harsh? I've looked at pretty much every gallery of the show, probably close to 2000 photos. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about!

[Thylacine]

Um....I guess someone has to balance out Bayliss and Slatwa?

[Col. Kurtz]

Um....I guess someone has to balance out Bayliss and Slatwa?

What does that mean?

Walt

[velonomad]

WHat else needs to be said?

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f183/Walkercycles/NAHMBSDay1byFaridAAbraham7.jpg

It is very pretty but needs chrome chainstays :D

[Thylacine]

Defensive much, Walt?

:lol: @ velonomad.

Not sure about the 'Best of' awards that are going around at the moment, in a bit of two minds about them. I like the idea of the attendees voting for what they like, probably more than I like the idea of some 'panel of judges' voting for whatever.

Awards tend to turn things into a circus where it no longer becomes about the goodies you're selling, but instead about how much sensationalism and press through the display of vapourware you can generate.

[bellweatherman]

Not sure about the 'Best of' awards that are going around at the moment, in a bit of two minds about them. I like the idea of the attendees voting for what they like, probably more than I like the idea of some 'panel of judges' voting for whatever.




Awards like that are pretty gay. Agree there. But awarding awards based on attendees voting? Not sure about that one. Then, it's just going to turn into a popularity contest anyway. Or, you might as well call it a beauty pageant as well!

[Peterpan1]

The show seems like a good experience even just over the net!

Where is there a picture of the Vanilla trike?

"I don't think there's this big 'lus vs TIG' war that you keep mentioning"

I've been actively shoping frame or frame supply places recently. They all seem to have some foolish thing to say.

On the frame I am currently working on there will be a mixture of both technologies since it is pretty much an expediency issue for me. In fact if I could find the right lugs I might well go that route when I consider the added hoopla a lugged frame will attract, I'm really wasting my time considering TIG. Maybe I will go the opposite route and weld the frame then slide over and tig and braze in place some fake lugs on the few connections that aren't going to be lugs or drops in the first place.

Are there any good sites that cover making lugs from scratch?

[e-RICHIE]

Are there any good sites that cover making lugs from scratch?

here is the pic site of my bb project:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bobbesrs/album?.dir=bb52&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bobbesrs/my_photos
here is the cast iteration:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bobbesrs/album?.dir=47a5&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/bobbesrs/my_photos
e-RICHIE©™®

[Peterpan1]

Thanks!

[Dr.Deltron]

OK, I've got my pictures posted!!!

I only went to get inspiration from all the cool paint jobs I saw. So my gallery has to do with paint jobs only. Good, bad or otherwise. That's as personal as you can get. One mans art is another mans garbage, so to speak.
As for taking pictures, I was wearing my camera around my neck & walked right in. No one said anything about it, so I took pictures of all the cool paintjobs, including some that were on cars in the parking lot! If, as one person noted, the show looked "sparse", it's probably because the photogapher waited until people were out of the way before taking a picture. It was about the bikes, was it not?
So, the NAHBS gallery is on my site;

www dOt mbent dOt net

click "cycles", click "Ideal Bicycle Painting", click "galleries", click "NAHBS show"

THANK YOU!!!! Don Walker and all the participants!!! For me, it was like Interbike without having to walk MILES to find all the most gorgeous cycles on the planet. Thanks again & hope to see y'all next year. And hopefully MORE artisans of the bike world.

Cheers, Dr.D

[Thylacine]

I can't imagine ANYTHING that would make me so delierously happy as a day where every bike in the world that sports a stupid cliche boring flamejob spontaneously combusts. :D

Thanks for the link, Doc D. Good to see another perspective on the show, this time for the eyes of a painter.

I like the tints and subtle transparency/ghosting on some of the carbon finishes. Fingers crossed people get over the 'raw carbon' look sometime soon!

[Dr.Deltron]

I can't imagine ANYTHING that would make me so delierously happy as a day where every bike in the world that sports a stupid cliche boring flamejob spontaneously combusts. :D

That happy day for me would be when all the WHITE bikes melt away into nothingness. All that time & trouble to design and build such a wonderful instrument as a bicycle, and then merely paint it...white w/stickers..........BIG BORING!.... :p

[/QUOTE]Thanks for the link, Doc D. Good to see another perspective on the show, this time for the eyes of a painter. [/QUOTE]

You're welcome. Thanks for checking out my "spy" shots. I only wish my camera had captured what my eyes saw!

[/QUOTE]I like the tints and subtle transparency/ghosting on some of the carbon finishes. Fingers crossed people get over the 'raw carbon' look sometime soon! [/QUOTE]

YES, black carbon weave/patterns make a great base for many cool custom effects. (including FLAMES.....sorry) ;)

[Thylacine]

How would you feel about white flames? :roflmao:

[Falanx]

Or, seeing as hydrogen burns with a colourless flame, maybe all bikes are by default, painted with them?

*Ponders*

[Dr.Deltron]

Or, seeing as hydrogen burns with a colourless flame, maybe all bikes...
Ah yes. The Hindenberg burned pretty colorlessly. :rolleyes:

[Scooper]

Ah yes. The Hindenberg burned pretty colorlessly. :rolleyes:
Uhh, maybe the colored flames when the Hindenburg burned resulted from the burning hydrogen bag material, not the hydrogen per se?

[Falanx]

Flame colour is due to one of two things: unburnt material glowing - such as the yellow of unburnt carbon in combustion of organic material, or because of electronic excitation - the coloured flames of metals is a good example.

The Hindenberg was built of aluminium and organic materials. They tend to burn quite colourfully. All the hydrogen in the wreck was burnt in about three seconds.

[Falanx]

Oh, they are sex...