BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
NAHBS – the North American Handmade Bicycle Show – is preparing for a record-breaking year, with exhibitor figures looking set to surpass the mark of 150 set in Portland, Oregon, in 2008.
Ten weeks remain until the seventh edition of the the handmade bicycle convention, scheduled for February 25-27 in Austin, Texas.
136 exhibitors have so far signed up for the show. The expected total of exhibitors will be 160, believes Don Walker, the show founder. The greatest number of exhibitors at any NAHBS to date was 150 at Portland, Oregon, in 2008. The 2010 figure, in Richmond, Virginia, was 126.
Walker said: "I am confident that this year will be the biggest and best-attended NAHBS yet. I think it shows not only the draw of a great location like Austin, but also the vibrant state of the handmade bicycle industry.
Framebuilder Ben Serotta of Serotta, Saratoga Springs, New York, said: "People who know me know that there’s nothing I like less than spending time and resources on shows. I’d far rather be designing, building or riding bikes than talking about designing, building or riding bikes. So I have always compiled my list of reasons why not to go to a show before listing the reasons why to go. Well, hats off to Don and the NAHBS team….the truth is, it doesn’t make sense for Serotta to not be at NAHBS."
The North American Handmade Bicycle Show moves from city to city each year. Since its first year in 2005, NAHBS has grown from a show with 23 exhibitors and 700 attendees, to 150 exhibitors and up to 7200 attendees.
