Northern California - SF Bike Expo

I'm considering going to the SF Bike Expo (http://sfbikeexpo.com/) the weekend after next. I've never been but it looks like it may be fun. Have any of you been to it in previous years? What did you think of it?

Went around ....2008? It was a little junky, kinda like a swap meet. We were disappointed, but it could a bad year.

Is this the same as the Velo-swap? If so, I was a vendor twice, in order to clear out a bunch of garage clutter. 2008 and 2009, I believe.

2008 was good from both side of the table - bought and sold a lot of stuff. 2009 there was a good crowd, but no-one was reaching for their wallet unless you were giving stuff away.

FrenchFit pretty much sums it up - it is a huge bike oriented swap meet. Deals can certainly be had, but be prepared to pick through stuff to find the deals. It helps a great deal if you have a shopping list, and know what the values are of the things your are looking for. There should be a good amount of folks just looking to clear out a lot of clutter from their storage.

I should add that the expo has two sections, one is like a big swap meet with individuals and small vendors selling used stuff, the other section has bike shops and larger vendors selling mostly new parts and accessories. They also have other attractions like a cross race.

i went to something (maybe the same thing) in SF a decade or so ago. don't think it was at the cow palace though.

vendors, and swap meet kinda thing. lots of people and lots of stuff. it was well worth it if you have something that is difficult to find on ebay or cl. i think i'll go... i need a set of 28h 126 spacing shimano 600 hubs and i've come up empty for three months.

... i need a set of 28h 126 spacing shimano 600 hubs and i've come up empty for three months.

Huh - I've got a set of 32h and 36h Shimano 600 hub wheel sets, but no 28h. Those would be a bit tougher to find, I think.

haven't been, probably going this year though.

It's fun you can race cyclocross if you want. Watch the BNXers do tricks, check out cool bike stuff and people watch.

I went to VeloSwap a few times (at least '03-'06 and '09 according to my calendar), and also the Bike Expo last year. I'm glad they kept it at the Cow Palace and not at that place on Brannan. More room and it's slightly closer to the south bay.

It's entertaining, I like going enough to pay admission.

It doesn't look like Sports Basement is selling cheap advance tickets this year, though. :(

I'm working the event with Eden Bicycles - should be fun.

Huh - I've got a set of 32h and 36h Shimano 600 hub wheel sets, but no 28h. Those would be a bit tougher to find, I think.

yes, 32 and 36h are plentiful, but 28H (and they DO exist), not so much... i've already got the rims and spokes so there is little chance that an alternative is likely. i'll just be patient...

At $15.00 a ticket that's ridiculous, I'm not surehow many of us will want to go for that. I remember a few years ago when it was Velo-Swap it was a lot less. There wasn't much new items for sale, just a lot of used stuff and a lot of junk that people wanted to unload. I guess the guys putting it on forgot that there is a recession going on as they forgot about the economy. If they wanted a good attendance maybe they should take a good look at what they're charging for their price of admission.

I went to it a couple of years ago and it was a disappointment. You could get better stuff on e-bay cheaper and not have to pay their price of admission. Most of the stuff they're selling is real junk, as someone is cleaning out their garage and a lot of these items are dirty and rusty. You don't see much vendors selling new items for a good price. Yea for $15.00 admission you better find something you need bad.

I'm working the event with Eden Bicycles - should be fun.


Do you work at Eden? I was just there on Friday.

At $15.00 a ticket that's ridiculous, I'm not surehow many of us will want to go for that. I remember a few years ago when it was Velo-Swap it was a lot less. There wasn't much new items for sale, just a lot of used stuff and a lot of junk that people wanted to unload. I guess the guys putting it on forgot that there is a recession going on as they forgot about the economy. If they wanted a good attendance maybe they should take a good look at what they're charging for their price of admission.

You don't happen to drive a German Car with a plate that says "747capt"?

You don't happen to drive a German Car with a plate that says "747capt"?

No, all my cars are American cars, 2009 Ford Expedition Limited, 2007 Ford F-250 Crewcab, 2011 Corvette ZR1

Do you work at Eden? I was just there on Friday.

Yes, sir. As in, yesterday? I was at work yesterday building children's bikes for our Kid's Fair today.

I'm the high school grom. During the summer I was working pretty much full time, but now I can only truly handle Saturdays.

Yes, sir. As in, yesterday? I was at work yesterday building children's bikes for our Kid's Fair today.

I'm the high school grom. During the summer I was working pretty much full time, but now I can only truly handle Saturdays.

Yep, last Friday. Talk to someone, didn't get his name, for a long time about an Orbea and the Pinarello FP2 on the floor there.
I was there with my friend Roy.

No, all my cars are American cars, 2009 Ford Expedition Limited, 2007 Ford F-250 Crewcab, 2011 Corvette ZR1

Hmm. It may have been the Corvette I saw... it was a sports car for sure.

Yep, last Friday. Talk to someone, didn't get his name, for a long time about an Orbea and the Pinarello FP2 on the floor there.
I was there with my friend Roy.

Was he lanky, or a bigger dude? Our big guy is Matt - Di2 afficionado. Friday I was mostly building bikes, but I did talk to a Denny about some Orbeas.

I'm hoping I can find an actual cycling sweater. This seems to have become a retro lost item.

At $15.00 a ticket that's ridiculous.......


..........for $15.00 admission you better find something you need bad.

I look at it a bit differently. For $15, I see it as a cheap afternoon's entertainment. Not much else you can do for a few hours that costs less. :)

Also, I like pawing through other folk's junk.. I find a lot of the vintage stuff I want doing that. Older Cinelli stems and bars for example, and Regal saddles. Plus, there are always targets of opportunity...... rims, hubs/hub parts, etc.

I look at it a bit differently. For $15, I see it as a cheap afternoon's entertainment. Not much else you can do for a few hours that costs less. :)


+1. I am not bringing the wife and son this year so I can do more pawing. :)
I am hoping to find a seatpost for this mini-velo at the very least-- the stock one is SO BAD. If anyone has any cheap 451 wheels/tires laying around, I might take those, too.

You can get a $3 discount if your buy your tickets in advance (from Mikes Bikes and a few other shops).

You can get a $3 discount if your buy your tickets in advance (from Mikes Bikes and a few other shops).

Mike's has them? I avoid their Paly store since they took down their customer bike rack and gave me the stink eye for walking in with my bike.

Anyone get a treasure?

Anyone get a treasure?

No treasure came home with me. I saw a lot of nice vintage Italian frame sets, but my barn is already full. Nevertheless, I had a good time and it was a worthwhile way to spend the day.

My friend bought a nice mtb, so now I have someone to go riding with.

I bought a few parts, mostly vintage. Overall, I thought the show was not as good as last year.

I got a flat... twice. Luckily, someone had rim tape. :thumb:

Bought nothing... but Bike Friday gave me a hat for having such an old Pocket Rocket :)

In general I think I have too few tattoos and too-skinny tires for the SF Bike Expo.

Bought nothing... but Bike Friday gave me a hat for having such an old Pocket Rocket :)

In general I think I have too few tattoos and too-skinny tires for the SF Bike Expo.

Same. Bummer that the BF guys did not have any 451 parts handy... I had my mini-velo and I was in a buying mood. But hey, I did visit that Samoan restaurant across from the Cow Palace. Mmmm!!!

There was one dealer with a bunch of the Masi mini-velos from Japan in various configurations.

We need to do a local BF swap, and really SWAP.

I bought a ti bottle opener and about 6 boxes of spokes. And a back pack for my wife.
The Ryan Leech trials exhibition was worth the admission by itself and the dirt jumpers are nuts, as are the kids doing bmx tricks on fixies.