Bicycles

In pictures: Wondrous wheels and more, at the 2019 North American Handmade Bicycle Show

In pictures: Wondrous wheels and more, at the 2019 North American Handmade Bicycle Show
The paint job on this Mooro Cycles gravel bike may look abstract, but it's actually a map of North America's Pacific Northwest region
The paint job on this Mooro Cycles gravel bike may look abstract, but it's actually a map of North America's Pacific Northwest region
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The fun starts even before you get inside at NAHBS – it's always worth checking out the parking area for interesting bikes
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The fun starts even before you get inside at NAHBS – it's always worth checking out the parking area for interesting bikes
This started as a standard Shimano coaster brake hub, but the folks at Oddity Cycles added a heat sink to it, so it could dissipate the heat generated on long descents when mountain biking – also note the custom grass-pattern skin on the rims, which was additionally used on the handlebars
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This started as a standard Shimano coaster brake hub, but the folks at Oddity Cycles added a heat sink to it, so it could dissipate the heat generated on long descents when mountain biking – also note the custom grass-pattern skin on the rims, which was additionally used on the handlebars
A sparkly silver track-style fixie commuter bike, from Affinity
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A sparkly silver track-style fixie commuter bike, from Affinity
Jesse Iozzio was displaying his Integrated Bike Lights, which are built into the hubs' quick release skewers (although the lights can also be mounted on the dropouts, as seen here)
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Jesse Iozzio was displaying his Integrated Bike Lights, which are built into the hubs' quick release skewers (although the lights can also be mounted on the dropouts, as seen here)
This Dixie Flyer bike was built for motor pacing, in which riders attempt to set speed records by riding right behind a fast-moving motorized vehicle – the backwards fork draws the front wheel in toward to the bike, so the rider can get closer to the back of the vehicle
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This Dixie Flyer bike was built for motor pacing, in which riders attempt to set speed records by riding right behind a fast-moving motorized vehicle – the backwards fork draws the front wheel in toward to the bike, so the rider can get closer to the back of the vehicle
Hemp fiber lugs on this bamboo bike from Bambu Technologies
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Hemp fiber lugs on this bamboo bike from Bambu Technologies
Pretty blue wooden rims made by Haldy's Handbuilt Wheels
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Pretty blue wooden rims made by Haldy's Handbuilt Wheels
Cinq's Shift:R system allows traditional lever-style shifters to be used with the Pinion enclosed gearbox
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Cinq's Shift:R system allows traditional lever-style shifters to be used with the Pinion enclosed gearbox
The lowered chain stay on this Seven Cycles mountain bike is designed so that its round titanium tubing can clear the chainring, and leave room for fatter tires
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The lowered chain stay on this Seven Cycles mountain bike is designed so that its round titanium tubing can clear the chainring, and leave room for fatter tires
The design of this triathlon bike from FiftyOne is based on a classic model from Bianchi
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The design of this triathlon bike from FiftyOne is based on a classic model from Bianchi 
Fancy-schmancy grip wraps on an upright bike from Rivendell Bicycle Works
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Fancy-schmancy grip wraps on an upright bike from Rivendell Bicycle Works
This fork, adorned by Black Magic Paint, looks almost as if it has a tattoo
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This fork, adorned by Black Magic Paint, looks almost as if it has a tattoo
Matching paint jobs on this Gaulzetti track bike and its accompanying floor pump
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Matching paint jobs on this Gaulzetti track bike and its accompanying floor pump
Yes, we realize there's an irony in the fact that we posted this photo
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Yes, we realize there's an irony in the fact that we posted this photo
Interesting linkage on this Hunter Cycles full-suspension mountain bike
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Interesting linkage on this Hunter Cycles full-suspension mountain bike
A hard-to-miss gravel bike from Hunter Cycles
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A hard-to-miss gravel bike from Hunter Cycles
Hunter Cycles had this mini-fat-tired commuter bike on display
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Hunter Cycles had this mini-fat-tired commuter bike on display
Frances manufactures these hammock-like Farfarer bike trailers
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Frances manufactures these hammock-like Farfarer bike trailers 
Check out the skinny seat stays on this stainless steel road bike from English Cycles
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Check out the skinny seat stays on this stainless steel road bike from English Cycles
A Kilo linkage suspension fork, made by German:A
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A Kilo linkage suspension fork, made by German:A
You can't help but notice this titanium road bike from Dean
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You can't help but notice this titanium road bike from Dean
One can't go wrong with sparkles, as is seen on this offering from Mosaic
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One can't go wrong with sparkles, as is seen on this offering from Mosaic
Co-Motion Cycles was showcasing this tandem that's equipped with a Pinion gearbox, and three Gates Carbon belt drives
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Co-Motion Cycles was showcasing this tandem that's equipped with a Pinion gearbox, and three Gates Carbon belt drives
Nicolai 's full-suspension mountain bikes forgo a derailleur and chain for an Effigear gearbox and a Gates Carbon belt drive – Cavalerie utilizes a similar system
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Nicolai 's full-suspension mountain bikes forgo a derailleur and chain for an Effigear gearbox and a Gates Carbon belt drive – Cavalerie utilizes a similar system
A smart-looking titanium electric-assist cargo bike, from Ti Cycles
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A smart-looking titanium electric-assist cargo bike, from Ti Cycles
A track-style fixie commuter bike, this one a titanium model from Lowii Bicycles
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A track-style fixie commuter bike, this one a titanium model from Lowii Bicycles
The top tube becomes the seat stays, on this Favaloro road bike
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The top tube becomes the seat stays, on this Favaloro road bike
Cherubim's gorgeous award-winning Airline road bike
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Cherubim's gorgeous award-winning Airline road bike
A color-matched Lauf suspension fork on a Sarto gravel bike
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A color-matched Lauf suspension fork on a Sarto gravel bike
Even though NAHBS is a bike show, bicycle-related cars weren't excluded
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Even though NAHBS is a bike show, bicycle-related cars weren't excluded
A titanium time-trial tandem from English Cycles, that can be taken apart and packed in cases for travel
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A titanium time-trial tandem from English Cycles, that can be taken apart and packed in cases for travel
Bilenky Cycle Works' electric-assist ViewPoint eHarmony semi-recumbent can also be taken apart and packed up
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Bilenky Cycle Works' electric-assist ViewPoint eHarmony semi-recumbent can also be taken apart and packed up
A carbon-fiber-intensive Favaloro rigid mountain bike, with an integrated seatpost
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A carbon-fiber-intensive Favaloro rigid mountain bike, with an integrated seatpost
Beautiful cruiser bike from Wolfhound Cycles
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Beautiful cruiser bike from Wolfhound Cycles
A classic Mini, being used to demonstrate the SeaSucker suction-cup roof rack
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A classic Mini, being used to demonstrate the SeaSucker suction-cup roof rack
Built by Paul Sykes, this wooden fender is actually made from old skateboard decks
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Built by Paul Sykes, this wooden fender is actually made from old skateboard decks
Bert Vermeulen's previously-featured folding titanium Alpaca Bike is now sleeker, as it incorporates a Pinion gearbox
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Bert Vermeulen's previously-featured folding titanium Alpaca Bike is now sleeker, as it incorporates a Pinion gearbox
The newest version of the Alpaca Bike offers this unique handlebar-folding feature, for packing it up when travelling
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The newest version of the Alpaca Bike offers this unique handlebar-folding feature, for packing it up when travelling
The DAVE (Downhill Assault Vehicle Extraordinaire), built by students in the Cal Poly Bike Builders club
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The DAVE (Downhill Assault Vehicle Extraordinaire), built by students in the Cal Poly Bike Builders club
CeramicSpeed's DrivEn pinion-style shaft-drive system made its North American debut at NAHBS
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CeramicSpeed's DrivEn pinion-style shaft-drive system made its North American debut at NAHBS
Do not adjust your set – English Cycles' Right single-speed road bike doesn't have a fork leg, seat stay or chain stay on one side
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Do not adjust your set – English Cycles' Right single-speed road bike doesn't have a fork leg, seat stay or chain stay on one side
A special version of Weis Cycles' Hammer Track is the first marketable bike with a frame made from Super Magnesium
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A special version of Weis Cycles' Hammer Track is the first marketable bike with a frame made from Super Magnesium
The paint job on this Mooro Cycles gravel bike may look abstract, but it's actually a map of North America's Pacific Northwest region
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The paint job on this Mooro Cycles gravel bike may look abstract, but it's actually a map of North America's Pacific Northwest region
A child-size high-end road bike, built for a client by Plante Cycles
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A child-size high-end road bike, built for a client by Plante Cycles
Rivet Cycle Works brought along this stool made from inner tubes, rims and cogs – the patch is a nice touch
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Rivet Cycle Works brought along this stool made from inner tubes, rims and cogs – the patch is a nice touch
A groovy gravel bike from Smeltzer Bikes
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A groovy gravel bike from Smeltzer Bikes
Spooky thunder-and-lightning paint job on a Plante Cycles road bike
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Spooky thunder-and-lightning paint job on a Plante Cycles road bike
The finish on this Squid Bikes road bike is bumpy to the touch
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The finish on this Squid Bikes road bike is bumpy to the touch
Mr. Potato Head, on a sparkly Alliance Bicycles mountain bike
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Mr. Potato Head, on a sparkly Alliance Bicycles mountain bike
Intriguing surface treatment on both the frame and pump of a touring bike from Ioklin Frameworks
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Intriguing surface treatment on both the frame and pump of a touring bike from Ioklin Frameworks
It may look like this Shamrock Cycles bike has a solid seat tube, but the holes were actually drilled into a regular hollow tube, and cylindrical sleeves were then placed inside of them
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It may look like this Shamrock Cycles bike has a solid seat tube, but the holes were actually drilled into a regular hollow tube, and cylindrical sleeves were then placed inside of them
Beautiful lug work on a carbon fiber gravel bike from Calfee Design
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Beautiful lug work on a carbon fiber gravel bike from Calfee Design
A bony paint job on this steed from Don Walker Cycles
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A bony paint job on this steed from Don Walker Cycles
This gravel bike from Celilo Cycles looks almost as if it were hand-carved from a single piece of wood
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This gravel bike from Celilo Cycles looks almost as if it were hand-carved from a single piece of wood
A road bike from Drift, which combines a stainless steel main frame with a carbon fiber seat tube
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A road bike from Drift, which combines a stainless steel main frame with a carbon fiber seat tube
This spoke-dimpled carbon fiber rim from Princeton Carbonworks is claimed to have an aerodynamic advantage over standard rims, plus it reportedly makes for a stiffer, faster wheel
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This spoke-dimpled carbon fiber rim from Princeton Carbonworks is claimed to have an aerodynamic advantage over standard rims, plus it reportedly makes for a stiffer, faster wheel
An electric-assist mountain bike from SyCip Designs
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An electric-assist mountain bike from SyCip Designs
SyCip Designs was displaying this electric-assist cargo trike, which is ready for a cookout – note the built-in grill and cutting board at the back
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SyCip Designs was displaying this electric-assist cargo trike, which is ready for a cookout – note the built-in grill and cutting board at the back
The crazy Bamboo Fixie concept from Calfee Design – it was built as a way of seeing if a frame could be made only from small-diameter bamboo
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The crazy Bamboo Fixie concept from Calfee Design – it was built as a way of seeing if a frame could be made only from small-diameter bamboo
Intricate paint job on a touring model from Blaze Bicycles
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Intricate paint job on a touring model from Blaze Bicycles
The frame of Lance Rake's Cooper Bicycle is made from the charred and wine-stained staves of old wine barrels
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The frame of Lance Rake's Cooper Bicycle is made from the charred and wine-stained staves of old wine barrels
This stainless steel commuter/rigid mountain bike from Dekerf Cycle Innovations is quite the work of art
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This stainless steel commuter/rigid mountain bike from Dekerf Cycle Innovations is quite the work of art
The bottom bracket lug on Dekerf's stainless steel bike
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The bottom bracket lug on Dekerf's stainless steel bike
The Dekerf bike's rear dropout/brake mount
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The Dekerf bike's rear dropout/brake mount
Normal Bicycles utilizes frame tubes made from laminated layers of maple veneer, as opposed to the more traditional wooden-bicycle-building approach of taking two carved-out sides and bonding them together down the middle
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Normal Bicycles utilizes frame tubes made from laminated layers of maple veneer, as opposed to the more traditional wooden-bicycle-building approach of taking two carved-out sides and bonding them together down the middle
Bamboo Bikes Hawaii included one of Hycore's electric Centinel Wheels on this bike
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Bamboo Bikes Hawaii included one of Hycore's electric Centinel Wheels on this bike
A cruiser from Japan's Atelier Kinopio, which has a laminated birch frame that includes a layer of carbon fiber for added strength
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A cruiser from Japan's Atelier Kinopio, which has a laminated birch frame that includes a layer of carbon fiber for added strength
The cast aluminum frame sleeves/rear dropouts on Atelier Kinipio's wooden bike
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The cast aluminum frame sleeves/rear dropouts on Atelier Kinipio's wooden bike
Front end details on Atelier Kinipio's wooden bike
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Front end details on Atelier Kinipio's wooden bike
The one-off Pubesmobile (yes, that's what it's called) was built in a partnership between bike merchandise-maker BicyclePubes and frame-builder Petor Georgallou – the latter is the force behind Britain's Dear Susan bikes
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The one-off Pubesmobile (yes, that's what it's called) was built in a partnership between bike merchandise-maker BicyclePubes and frame-builder Petor Georgallou – the latter is the force behind Britain's Dear Susan bikes
Although the Pubesmobile does have functional disc brakes, it also has cantilevers – the front one of these squeezes a horn when its dual-action lever is pulled
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Although the Pubesmobile does have functional disc brakes, it also has cantilevers – the front one of these squeezes a horn when its dual-action lever is pulled
The Pubesmobile's rear cantilever brake squeezes a whoopee cushion
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The Pubesmobile's rear cantilever brake squeezes a whoopee cushion
Made by the company Built, for a client with leg and back issues, this titanium road bike has a dropper seatpost for easier mounting/dismounting, along with front and rear shocks for absorbing road bumps
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Made by the company Built, for a client with leg and back issues, this titanium road bike has a dropper seatpost for easier mounting/dismounting, along with front and rear shocks for absorbing road bumps
The rear suspension on Built's custom-built titanium road bike
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The rear suspension on Built's custom-built titanium road bike
A very classy upright bike from Porter Cycles
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A very classy upright bike from Porter Cycles
Fine details on Porter Cycles' bike
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Fine details on Porter Cycles' bike
The Porter Cycles bike's amazing front end
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The Porter Cycles bike's amazing front end
Candy apple red paint job on a road racer made by Italy's Zullo Bike
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Candy apple red paint job on a road racer made by Italy's Zullo Bike
This Zullo Bike features an Omata One GPS-equipped analog speedometer
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This Zullo Bike features an Omata One GPS-equipped analog speedometer
View gallery - 79 images

Last weekend, the annual North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) took place in sunny Sacramento, California. Once again, we were there, checking out all the beautiful, unusual and just plain innovative bikes. Scroll down to see some of the best for yourself.

Now in its 15th year, NAHBS attracts boutique bicycle builders from all over the world. This year's show featured around 210 exhibitors, hailing not only from the US but also countries such as Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Russia and Taiwan.

Over the past week, we've featured some of the more interesting bikes and other products that we came across. These have included a track bike made from an exciting new material known as Super Magnesium, a cruiser bike made of old wine barrels, an electric-assist semi-recumbent that can be taken apart for travel, a system that allows Pinion gearbox users to shift gears using standard levers, bikes with wooden-tube frames, and lights that are built into the wheel hubs' quick release skewers.

For a quick recap of all those, but more importantly for a peek at what else the event had to offer, just pay a visit to the photo gallery.

Show website: NAHBS

View gallery - 79 images
1 comment
1 comment
KaiserPingo
Disapointing. Not much is new, except CeramicSpeed. And even more ugly paintjobs, and a growing lack of real craftsmanship among bikebuilders.