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North American Hand Made Bicycle Show -
Portland, Oregon, USA, February 8 - 10, 2008
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Part 3 - Who needs cars?
By James Huang in Portland, Oregon
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Much as Tony Pereira predicted, the vast majority of booths at this year's NAHBS had some sort of city bike or utilitarian commuter on display. Whether that stands as an indicator of growing trends in the marketplace, the local influence of the commuter-infused Portland scene, or a direct consequence of rising energy costs, it doesn't really matter: townies are still arguably the reigning genre of choice at NAHBS.
The growing popularity of these 'lifestyle' bikes comes as no surprise to Mike Flanigan and Betsy Eckel Scola of ANT – Alternative Needs Transportation. Since the creation of the company in 2003, ANT has focused primarily on utilitarian machines that customers can actually use as legitimate replacements for automobiles for most common errands. They're not light nor are they all that sporty-looking (although that's in the eye of the beholder) but they apparently serve their intended purpose nicely.
According to Flanigan, fully 98% of ANT's annual production has fallen squarely into the utilitarian genre since the company was founded in 2003 and he doesn't deny feeling a satisfying sense of validation with how things have shaped up around him. Will the trend continue? We're not going to try to predict the future, but at this point we're at least comfortable saying that it does strike us as a genuine trend and not just a passing fad.
Pereira proved that last year's breakout display was no fluke with a trio of classically-inspired bikes that included, of course, a stylish city bike. Pereira admits to being "strongly influenced by the French bicycles of the mid-century" and each of his displayed creations bore the usual attention to detail and creative touches that won him three awards at NAHBS 2007. Was each one of them a strictly utilitarian machine? Well, no, but they all bore far more usefulness in day-to-day activities than what most of us usually ride. Seriously now, when was the last time you picked up a half gallon of milk on your Cervélo?
The Sycip boys of Santa Rosa, California pulled out the stops yet again with a collection of bikes that drew crowds all day long and were anything but conventional. One of their errand-running machines could also certainly haul a decent load with its custom-built front rack (a common theme again this year). Judging by the enormous beer tap handles used as shift levers, though, it might best be used for bringing a six-pack home instead of dinner (or if you're a Guinness fan, those two could be one in the same). Either way, at least the custom chain- and pants guard will keep your clothes clean.
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Arguably taking the cake in the Sycip booth, however, was a superb fixed-gear runabout. There were no racks to be found but its speedy layout virtually guaranteed that you'd get to your destination quickly and easily stop once you got there courtesy of the single disc brake… mounted at the bottom bracket!
One of this year's showstoppers, though, was a single creation by Canadian Sam Whittingham of Naked Bicycles. The pierced top tube is specifically designed for a U-lock but there's little else about this fixie that would encourage us to leave it unattended around town. Novel eccentric rear dropouts create an elegant means of tensioning the chain, the custom handlebar includes both narrowly-spaced (think messenger style) finger notches and lathe-turned wooden grips out wide, and the straight-bladed offset box crown fork features internal routing for the single front disc brake. The craftsmanship and overall aesthetic screams 'old school' but the integrated seatpost design and modern parts say 'new'. Either way it says 'winner' to us.
Also be sure to check out additional coverage from Gary Boulanger at our BikeRadar.com partner site
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
- Alternative Needs Transportation (ANT) has specialized in utilitarian bikes since the company's creation in 2003.
- Items like the large front rack make it far easier to haul stuff…
- …while the swept handlebars promote an upright and comfortable position.
- A Massachusetts quarter neatly caps the rear of the stem.
- Brooks leather bits were everywhere at NAHBS.
- ANT specializes in utility bikes but rarely are two of them identical.
- Tony Pereira predicted that this year's show would be the year of the city bike and he did his part with this one.
- Racks were perhaps the most common accessory again at this year's show.
- These racks are stock items from Tubus painted to match, but given their quality we can hardly blame Pereira for using them.
- This was a commonly seen profile on bikes at NAHBS this year.
- Who needs headset spacers?
- The hydraulic line for the rear brake is cleanly routed through the top tube and down the seat stay…
- …eventually exiting down near the dropout.
- Once again a Brooks saddle tops everything off.
- Pereira's signature head tube badge has become a much sought-after object.
- The Pereira mixte sported a Shimano Alfine component group for worry-free commuting.
- What will you put on here?
- Swept handlebars were a common sight as were the cork grips.
- The pointed seat binder is fast becoming a Pereira signature.
- Got a long way to go and lots of stuff to carry? Here's a good way to go.
- There is nothing production about these custom racks.
- We can only wonder how long it takes to make these.
- The front rack struts are perfectly curved to clear the front brake cables.
- Even the stem is a work of art.
- Pereira now offers a clamp-on version of the rod-actuated front derailleur that drew so much attention last year.
- Sycip showed off this wild townie.
- The front rack is attractive and certainly functional…
- …but the beer tap shift levers take the cake.
- Leave it to the Sycip brothers to think up something like this.
- This chainguard is probably only minimally protective but it looks so good that the owner might not even care.
- The elegant wheel shroud should keep your pants from getting caught in the wheel, though.
- Sliding dropouts were practically a must-have in the Oregon Convention Center with the plethora of fixed-gear and singlespeed bikes on hand.
- Speaking of fixies, how about this one?
- Nope, you're not seeing things. Yes, that's a hydraulic disc brake mounted around the bottom bracket.
- Sycip's randonneur bike featured a neat little case out back…
- …fastened to the seatpost via a single-armed mount.
- Surprise, surprise, more Brooks stuff.
- In case you're wondering , it's pronounced 'SEE-SIP'.
- Sycip hadn't integrated these new dropouts into any of the frames on display but keep an eye out for these in the near future.
- Canadian framebuilder Naked Bicycles and Design unveiled what was possibly the 'Best of Show' of this year's event.
- The pierced top tube was perfectly sized for a U-lock.
- The custom handlebar was a work of art on its own.
- Brazed-on bits made for grippy sections for your hands.
- Wooden grips… sure, why not?
- Lugged stems were still a common sight at this year's show.
- More wood can be found in the headset cap.
- The straight-bladed fork sported an ultra-long point crown.
- Front brake housing is routed internally through the blade.
- Damn, that's pretty.
- The graceful seat stays join in an interesting seat cluster.
- The eccentric dropouts are slick in appearance and function.
- The style says 'old school' but the integrated post is thoroughly modern.
- Were you expecting someone else?
- Wooden rims finish off the package.
- The Frances Cycle Small Haul Cycletruck is designed to haul serious loads.
- It might not be everyone's idea of beautiful…
- …but how much stuff did you say you could fit in there again?
- The unique steering setup is connected…
- …but cables instead of a solid linkage.
- Who needs a head tube badge when you can just put your name on the lug?
- Dean offered a modern-day titanium townie.
- The cruiser-style frame included well-done titanium bullet caps.
- Tasty.
- Completing the package was a custom-made titanium fork…
- …with titanium dropouts, of course.
- Vicious Cycles is arguably best known for its mountain bikes but shows it can do the city bike thing, too.
- Going somewhere?
- True Fabrication is a new builder out of Texas.
- We're not sure how useful this wooden rack is , but it looks pretty nonetheless.
- True Fabrication offered up this hardtail as well.
- Will we be seeing more of this in the future?
