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Photos: NAHBS 2009 Great Big Bike Gallery

Text and photos: Brad Quartuccio, editor and co-founder of Urban Velo magazine (www.urbanvelo.org)

 

 

 

 

 

The North American Handmade Bicycle Show has established itself as the ultimate place for consumers and industry veterans alike to drool over the finest bikes on earth. This year marked the fifth year of the event, following successful showings in Portland, San Jose and Houston in years past. While many were skeptical of the turnout due to the Indianapolis location, attendees from across the country and around the world made the journey to the land of corn and motorsports to prove that show founder Don Walker’s gamble was a wise one. Unlike other tradeshows, the positive vibe of NAHBS is infectious with beaming smiles and loose banter filling the packed convention hall rather than the usual dazed looks and canned marketing pitches so common elsewhere. There is a deep love of bikes at the Handmade Show; the industry has always run on the backs of the little guys and for one weekend a year their passions are on display for us all to share. One big happy family, these are the bike nerds that will inevitably pass the bug to the next generation.

I’ve had the good fortune of attending four of the five NAHBS shows and never tire of the spectacle. Indianapolis was perhaps the best show yet in terms of attendance and exhibitor quality. It’s an honor to spend time with each builder and do my part to lend their work the recognition it deserves. This is fine art in bicycle form, and aside from being there in person, this photo galley is the best seat in the house.


Reader Comments 
Posted Mon Mar30, 2009, 9:10 PM — By Melanie Roberts
FORM is based in Sedona, AZ. Daryl Roberts is the founder, he is on the left, in your pic. Sam Davis is the chief welder, on right. Check us out at www.formcycles.com Thanks! Melanie (Daryl's wife and FORM webmaster)

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