Anyone worried about the demise of the cycling industry needs to head to the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS), an annual gathering of the world’s best independent bicycle frame builders. First held in 2005, the event has quickly grown to be one of the most popular annual bike industry events.
But despite the growing amount of attention it receives, NAHBS is always about the builders, many of whom spend most of their time in small workshops working to fill orders. The show gives them a chance to display the fruits of their labors, share new ideas and methods, and recognize their colleagues’ achievements.
“NAHBS is the Oscars of our industry and continues to be one of the most important influences on the development of our product and company,” says No.22 Bicycles’ Bryce Gracey, whose bike won the prestigious Best in Show award this year. “For us, this level of recognition—in a room full of builders that we not only respect, but admire—is a massive validation of our relatively young brand.”
This year’s event was held in Sacramento, California, and it served as a true testament to the power of creativity, inspiration, and craftsmanship. Awards are broken into three divisions: Riding Discipline, Construction, and Overall Design, with several of the show’s sponsors giving out awards as well. Here’s a look at some of this year’s big winners.
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