2017 North American Handmade Bicycle Show

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2017 North American Handmade Bicycle Show

Tickets are now on sale for the 2017 North American Handmade Bicycle Show. The event is scheduled for the weekend of March 10-12, in Salt Lake City.

The event has a strong following, with 117 exhibitors currently listed on the NAHBS website.

Returning this year is the University of Iowa. You may recall all the attention generated by them in past years. In fact, we featured a bike from UoI builder Willy Tan from the 2016 NAHBS in Sacramento.

You can purchase tickets online from the NAHBS website. See http://www.2017.handmadebicycleshow.com/ for the most current exhibitor and event information.

JustAnotherCyclist will continue our coverage of this event as well – so stay tuned for that.

Bike builder Willy Tan

Posted by On Filed under Cycling Products / Reviews

DSC06407One of the bikes seen at the North American Handmade Bike Show this year had the name “Willy Tan” carefully labeled on the down tube. This small framed pink touring bike definitely caught my attention, and if fact was one of my favorites of the entire show. What caught my attention even more was that this bike was in the booth of the University of Iowa – the only academic institution at the show. The bikes on display were on par with the quality and workmanship of the rest of the show – many seasoned professionals with years of experience.

The University of Iowa program is lead by Steve McGuire, Professor of Metal Arts and 3D Design and Studio Division Coordinator in the School of Art & Art History. Thanks to the magic of social networking, I was able to get in touch with the builder Willy Tan and ask him some questions about the program, and this fantastic bike. Keep reading →

Touring bikes at NAHBS

Posted by On Filed under Touring and Distance Riding
Touring bikes at NAHBS

I absolutely love the classic looks of a touring bike. Especially when punctuated by leather accents and accessories. I honestly am not sure what it is about the touring style that draws my attention so much (even though I can’t seem to get the stuff together to get my own touring bike project off the ground.) And the 2016 edition of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show provided plenty of beautiful examples to fulfill that interest. Keep reading →

Fixed gear style, disc brake safety

Posted by On Filed under bikes and more bikes.

I sure wouldn’t have thought of it. But putting a disc  on the crank of a fixed gear bike is, for the most part, just as good as putting it on the back wheel. At least, that was the idea that SyCip Designs bikes had on display at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show.

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While the astute among you will note that this setup will do nothing if your chain breaks, that is no different than the forces at play on bikes with only a track hub.

According to quotes, “The crank will never turn fast enough under braking to heat the rotor…” This makes sense if you think about the gear ratios involved, and addressed one of my early concerns about this setup.

If nothing else, it is creative thinking. And that is innovation.