The Radavist

It’s that time of year again, where I flip the switch into production mode. Last year’s NAHBS coverage was by far the most work I’ve ever done for the blog. This year, I’ll be doing my thing again, but a bit differently. I’m not going to go into it too much, but the content will be much easier to digest and easier to access.

For last year’s coverage, check out the 2011 NAHBS Category Archives and my entire Flickr Collection here. For this year’s coverage, I’ve added the 2012 NAHBS Category link to the top navigation bar.

Is there anything you’d like to see differently this year? Drop a note in the comments.

NAHBS is upon us and framebuilders across the country are unveiling their latest creations. One of the booths I’m looking forward to visiting is Map Cycles. Mitch’s work is impeccable and any builder that will show off their fillets on a show bike deserves some lens time. Check out more of Mitch’s Disc-Ville here, at his Flickr.

Every year, NAHBS brings out the best in a few choice frame builders. While some people do the same ol thing, year after year, people like Dave Wages of Ellis Cycles find those special projects to display. Last year, his bikes were some of my favorites and from the looks of this year’s offerings, he’s bringing his best, yet again. This stainless rando with S&S and his pink Di2 TT are sure to be show stoppers.

Check out more at Dave Wages’ Picasso galleries here and here.

NAHBS is just a week away and I feel like I’ve yet to recover from last year’s coverage. Those three days were hell for me (77 posts?!). Talk about burning a candle at both ends and I can’t complain because I just took photos.

The builders are the ones who have been putting in crazy hours. And from what I’ve seen on Flickr, they’re bringing their best this year. First up is this fender tease from Signal Cycles.

Check out more below.

Year after year, Erik Noren from Peacock Groove wows the NAHBS attendees with over-the-top bicycle designs. This year, he’s playing homage to Sam Raimi’s finest work: Evil Dead 2. How sick is that? Oh and this is the front, non-drive side wheel at 90% completion. Read: it’s not finished yet. All I gotta say is, the frame better be painted the same color as the car from the movie (which is in every Raimi movie IIRC).

Hmmmm. I wonder what this is all about? Guess we’ll have to bake wait till NAHBS.

Burro

Instagram really is the best app for the iPhone. You can look at kittens, girls, coffee, feet, trees, food and even framebuilder’s NAHBS progress. Aaron at Six-Eleven Bicycle Co has been putting up these teasers all week. Follow him @AaronADykstra.

Dirt Rag‘s studio photos from the 2011 NAHBS are hands-down some of the nicest on the net. While I don’t usually go all drooly-mouthed over studio shots from tradeshows, the angles and lighting they use in theirs are truly inspiring. Speaking of inspiration, check out these two killer photos of Chris Bishop‘s work. Dan’s Rando and the Horton town bike getting some more, much-deserved love!

Check out all of Dirt-Rag’s coverage here and check out my recent entries on Bishop here.

What’s that saying? Something about working hard and partying harder? Who the hell cares! Once the show was over, out came the Whiskey, the 40’s and the Texas green. We all had a blast and I just got back a few rolls of film from the official 2011 NAHBS 35mm party camera!

Check out more below and one last god-forsaken slideshow. PROMISE!

Man. What a whirlwind of a weekend. No, wait. What a whirlwind of a process. Ever since I was in Boston, I mean Allston getting fit for my custom Geekhouse Woodville, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the 2011 NAHBS. Take all the excitement of getting a custom bicycle tailored especially for you and pack that into a crazy weekend like NAHBS and you’ll know how I felt. For the 2011 NAHBS, the Boston-based Geekhouse Bikes brought out their classiest collection yet. Each for people with special ties to the brand and each custom-tailored to fit their needs.

Check out more photos and a slideshow from my coverage of the 2011 NAHBS Geekhouse Bikes booth below.

Where do I start with Aaron and Six-Eleven Bicycle Co? To be honest, I have no idea. Should I mention that he won last year’s NAHBS new builder award? Or the fact that his throw-away bike was a show stopper? Or that his booth cost him $80 and is made from old Harley Davidson pallets? Or that one of the bikes in the show belongs to Simon May from Hipster Nascar? Or that Simon got in a wreck opening night and Aaron still held his composure together the entire time? Should I go on?

Bottom line is that Six-Eleven Bicycle Co. blew me away at the 2011 NAHBS. Aaron had the finest bicycle collection on display but you don’t have to take my word for it!

Check out more photos and a slideshow from my coverage of the 2011 NAHBS Six-Eleven Bicycle Co. booth below.

King Cage had the most hands-on booth at the 2011 NAHBS. The owner of the company started working in the cycling industry in 1992 at Fat City Cycles. He went on to work for Ibis Cycles, Merlin Metalworks, Jo Breeze Cycles, Ted Wojac cycles, and Yeti Cycles. Now he spends his days making Titanium and stainless cages. He’s really got it down to a science, which you can see in the video below.

Check out a video and a slideshow from my coverage of the 2011 NAHBS King Cage booth below.

Herbie Helm had one of the more ornate bicycles at the 2011 NAHBS. This touring rig had hand-carved lugs all over and despite it’s delicate appearance, is meant to truck across the country.

Check out a slideshow from my coverage of the 2011 NAHBS Herbie Helm booth below.

I had intentions of documenting all the hot, hot rides that were Locked Up outside the 2011 NAHBS but was so overwhelmed documenting the show that the only two photos I snagged were these two bikes. First up is homie’s from Cali (forgot your name dude, sorry!) and the second is Cassidy’s old Kalavinka. Both Beautiful Bicycles in their own right.

Anyone got photos of all the bikes Locked Up at NAHBS?

The first time I saw Engin Cycles work in person was at the 2010 Philly Bike Expo. When I came across their booth at the 2011 NAHBS, I was stoked to see they brought out all new bikes with new purposes. Sure, they had their mountain bikes but their rando bike was stunning. This bike will be partaking in the Paris Brest Paris ride in 2011.

Check out more photos and a slideshow from my coverage of the 2011 NAHBS Engin Cycles booth below.

A.N.T. Bikes had some of my favorite details at the 2011 NAHBS. Mike Flanigan went overboard with flipping classic decals and stickers on all of his beautiful bicycles. His booth was packed every time I tried to take photos but I’m happy with the results.

Check out more photos and a slideshow from my coverage of the 2011 NAHBS A.N.T. Bikes booth below.