When you walk the halls at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show you get to me in person the names behind the fabled custom bike brands. These guys are a mix of a typical bike racer, a sales/business person you would meet in any convention hall and a crazy artist. These are some unique people and the product on display not just bicycles they are living proof of this unique combination of talents.
Steel, ti, carbon and even woods it's all there, each builder has slightly different focus for some it's technology for some it's bike fit and for others it's all about paint and looks. No matter your taste, if you walk the halls you are going to find "the one for you" something out there is going to hit you exactly in the right spot. For me it was probably this steel lugged road frame from Mosaic Cycles in Boulder CO
Although many of the bikes at the NAHBS are steel and ti and in some ways very traditional it's here were new ideas are born and eventually make it to the shop floor. If that's true then some years from now the road bike with 33mm touring tires and disc brakes is going to be the norm. Many of the builders were presenting something along these lines. Call it a gravel racer or a race commuter it's a style of bike that's practical, fun and super versatile. This Hed Triple Crown is something I really don't need but would love to own
Handbuilt bikes lead the way when it comes to custom paint and cable management. Di2 and EPS cables are hidden in stems and cables run neat and clean. Some of the bigger bike brands need to send their engineers to the show for inspiration. For us here at Glory we took notes and plan on using some of these clever tricks on our high end custom builds.
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Ellis Cycles Custom Painted Ritchey STem
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| Shamrock Cycles Custom Paint |
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| Ludbeck Cycles Custom Painted FSA Plasma |
For some it's a lifestyle and identity is found in been a custom builder, for others it's about pushing the limits of what can be produced. Bill Holland has been building for 42 years and when you talk to him it's obvious he is still pushing for build the ultimate bike and his HC might well be it. Carbon newcomers Matt Appleman(Appleman Bicycles) and Devin Zoller(L'ecu) are young builders with ideas and the ability to build machines that rival the best money can buy, with the addition customization.
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| Mosaic Crankstar Custom Ti. Everything about these guys is authentic |
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L'ecu custom carbon - pushing the limits
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| Holland HC |
Shimano leads the component charge with the custom builders, the new Dura-Ace and Ultegra mechanical and Di2 groups are sure winners and we could not agree more. The new R785 Di2/Hydro road group is the only of it's kind available and nothing else even on the same lap.Enve are the fork of choice no one challenges in this category, wheels are all handbuilt as well with rims from Enve and Hed and hubs from King, I9 and White Industries.
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| White Industries T11 Road Hub |
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| Shimano R785 Di2/Hydro Shifters |
If you feel a custom bike in your future give us a call and we would be happy to share what we know about the builders we have met and set you you up with build kit and wheels for your custom machine. We relish the opportunity to live vicariously through your build.
Clive de Sousa
