New Framebuilders’ Collective

An influential new organization has emerged from the ranks of handmade frame builders.

According to a press release issued 26 February, eight frame builders from three countries have spent the last 24 months working together to create an international organization which they hope can strengthen the trade, pay homage to its past, and work towards ensuring that its future is bright and profitable.

The Framebuilders’ Collective includes Curt Goodrich, Sacha White, Nick Crumpton, Dave Kirk, Carl Strong, Dario Pegoretti, Darrell McCulloch and Richard Sachs.

A website www.framebuilders.org provides information about the group’s mission statement and an FAQ list.

The press release adds: “All founding members are enthusiastic about the Collective’s potential and are now looking forward to finally being a public entity after two years of planning. Efforts are underway to expand the names involved so that the Framebuilders’ Collective will be a true representation of the talent and the commitment that is part and parcel of the professional frame-building trade.”

The new collective will build on work started by NAHBS to raise standards in the industry.

Paul Skilbeck and Naomi Szczesiul

Why Indie?

Logistics, cost and convenience added to a region full of cyclists hungry for a good show in determining how NAHBS chose Indianapolis for its 2009 convention. Don Walker, promoting the show for the 5th year, pointed out that Indy convention executives made the city a reasonable choice.

It was Indianapolis’ cycling notable Jeff Gold, now of De Rosa cycles, who said it best. Gold pointed out that, while Portland, Oregon, and many other cities are wonderful places and known as cycling hot spots, Indianapolis is within comfortable driving distance from Chicago, and Detroit . . . Cincinnati and Louisville.

It’s a very accessible town. As well, Gold observed, more and more cycling companies are choosing the Midwestern city because of its central location. Endura, a clothing manufacturer, recently chose Plainfield as its home base — possibly because of its accessibility to Fed Ex and DHS shipping facilities. Endura joins Zipp Speed Weaponry and Speedway Handmade Bicycle Works as cycling suppliers local to the area.

Additionally, it’s entirely appropriate for NAHBS to visit Indianapolis — the city, the home of what Major Taylor Velodrome manager Linda Fink says is one of the nation’s top five velodromes. The velodrome, approximately 5 miles northwest of the convention center at 3800 North Cold Spring Road, has hosted both the USCF Masters and USCF Collegiate Cycling Track Nationals. Once home to the 1987 Pan Am Games, the facility is now home to cycling teams from Indiana University, DePauw University and the national champion Marian College cycling team, among others.

The show fills a gap in a comparatively underserved area. Indiana has long been host to competition, first on the wooden velodromes of Major Taylor’s era, then on the cinder tracks of DePauw and Indiana, and on mountain bike trails throughout the state. As well, enthusiasts who participate in regional events like CIBA’s Hilly Hundred and the NITE Ride and who commute on the area’s Monon Trail certainly merit an event of this magnitude this close to home.

Kim Hunt

NAHBShow 2009 Eve ...

This is Exhibition Hall D, The Indianapolis Convention Center, IN, this morning, just before the first exhibitors started setting up their displays.

I took a walk around trying not to get in the way and took these images ... just to give you a taster.

Vicious Cycles' incredible Thunderwing.










Alternative Needs Transport's Boston Roadster.










It's not all about the bike. Shiela Moon Athletic Apparel.




But lots of it is about the bike. Richard Sachs' cyclo-cross bike.










Retrotec | Inglis Cycles making final adjustments.





Serotta and intriguing brake ...











Thanks to all exhibitors for allowing pictures during set up.

The NAHBShow blog will be posting regularly from now on and include links to images direct from the show.

Find out more ... here.

Online Ticket Sales Deadline

---

Online ticket sales for the NAHBShow end at 12.01AM EST, Thursday 26th February.

---

Tickets will only then be available at the door at $20.00/day, so there are just a few days left to get the online deal; $15.00/1 day; $25.00/2 day and $35.00/3 day.

On the door:

• adults $20.00/day
• children under 5 $free
• children 6-14 $8.00/day

You can still register for the online deal here.

Essentially, you need to do this by the end of Wednesday to make savings ...

Westward Ho!!!

The next couple of days will see me traveling from the East into deepest Indiana to run the web presence of the North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show from Indianapolis - splash page here and information hub here.

I will be compiling a daily, if not hourly, blog right here to keep those who can't attend informed and at least give some ideas of the latest trends and superb craftsmanship on show, as well as chat from personalities and just a feeling for the whole expo. We will also be uploading as many images as we can get here.

It will be busy for sure.

Sign on for RSS updates at the bottom right-hand side of the page.

Be seeing you ...

NAHBShow 2009 moves into top gear

With the opening of North America's most prestigious hand built bicycle show just a few days away, the website is starting to move into live mode.

• Catch up with the latest show information from the website's information hub ... here.
• The latest images from the show will be available here as the show begins.

And, of course, daily reports will be available here, on the show blog.

Bookmark this page now or sign up for RSS feeds on the bottom right hand side of this page.

Blog Update ...

We've taken a moment to harmonize with the NAHBShow website.

Continue to look in to keep up with the latest developments or subscribe to the blog using the RSS feed on the side of the page.