Dates: 25-27 February, 2011 Location: Austin, Texas.

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Ellis Cycles - Best of Show [1] Dave Wages, owner of Ellis Cycles, would like first and foremost to thank his wife for putting up with the hectic schedule completing his Best in Show-winning bike. "I had a similar bike in mind before last year's show, but couldn't finish it in time." This year's entrant and eventual winner was built for a customer from San Francisco, and the proud owner-to-be flew into Richmond to see his machine take top honors. Asked for the secret of the bike's success, Wages said, "It's shiny but understated. I keep a classic look to my bikes and there's no one element that draws attention to itself. The beauty is integral." Bilenky Cycle Works - Best Road Frame [2] Stephen Bilenky of Philadelphia has been building bikes for nearly 30 years, in the first 25 of which he focused on making tandem bicycles. His award winning model is an old French style tandem, using modern geometry and updated components. "It was built for a tandem review in a magazine. The frame is simplistic--a fillet brazed tandem--but it came out so well with the box pin-striping and luggage racks that we saw it as a show bike," explained Stephen Bilenky. Richard Sachs - Best Track Frame [3] Richard Sachs liked this bike so much that he told the customer he'd like to buy it back if it ever went up for sale. A few years later, the customer sold it back to him. Around the year 1990 Richard Sachs got to a point where some frames he makes get very close to his ideal of how a frame should be. "You never know if you'll get there again, so I'd like to keep a couple of these frames. This is one of them." It is a 1970s style frame, with narrow (by modern standards) sized tubes, juxtaposed with 2009 components." Crumpton Cycles - Best Carbon Fiber [4] Nick Crumpton denies he's rigid. "I've heard from people I'm not flexible," he said. His custom, scratch-made full carbon fiber frames are built using measuring tape and discussion -- and a little intuition. Show him how you sit on a bike and then give him freedom to work, and, he says, he will build the best bike he can build. Having built for about 6 years, he got a call to participate in the first NAHBS show in Houston right after quitting his day job in 2004. Crumpton taught himself how to work with his unusual material. Cracking books, surfing the internet and experimentation led him to a place where he's comfortable crafting a very different kind of bike. Kent Eriksen Cycles - Best Titanium [5] Kent Ericksen chooses each tube set according to the physique, riding style, and intended use of each customer, and he builds in titanium only. The winning bicycle was chosen as a show model because of its clean, simple, elegant and functional design--which represents Kent Ericksen's values. Kirk - Best Fillet Brazing [6] Dave Kirk won the fillet-brazing prize with a 55cm frame with Reynolds tubing (725 front triangle and proprietary seat and chainstays)and standard road racing geometry built for a customer. "It's a stuck-in-the-rack model, similar to many others we do," Kirk said. Asked about his experience at this year's show, Kirk said, "Every year it gets better. It's the only trade show I go to, and I'm proud to be associated with it." YiPsan - Best City Bike [7] Renold Yip is all alone in his bike shop, although he credits his wife with making his business possible. Yip came from Hong Kong, a city with no real bike culture, he said, to Fort Collins, Colorado, an extremely bike friendly town. Yip's bikes are beautiful. His winning bike features a flower patterned wood mosaic on the front carrier, yet he doesn't claim any visual design skill, however. He trained to be an engineer, not an artist. "I should have had a career in management," he said. Yip says he's not as nerdy as one might expect an engineer to be. And building bikes? "It is more fun." Aaron Dykstra/Six Eleven - Rookie of the Year [8] Six-Eleven Bicycles is named after a famous steam engine built in Roanoke, Virginia, the base of this company. "This bicycle is inspired by the aesthetic of the six-eleven steam engine, which is the pride of Roanoke. It seemed fitting that I should make it a track bike, and I've added a small grille to the top of the head tube, and the serial number plate is derived from the train too," said Dykstra. Engin - Best Off-Road [9] Drew Guldalian of Engin Cycles won the Best Off-Road prize with a 29er bike of the same basic design that won at NAHBS in Portland in 2008. Guldalian makes not only the frame, but also the stem, seatpost and fork. "It allows me to tailor everything to the rider," he says. The show winner was destined for a lucky customer. Guldalian was happy to have the show relatively close to his Philadelphia base and just a few hours' drive down Interstate 95. "There's a nice vibe here in the Mid-Atlantic and it's great to be in an environment where more people are familiar with my bikes," he said. Calfee - Best Tandem [10] Craig Calfee won with a "Dragonfly" - his 23lb., carbon-framed, belt-driven flyweight tandem that will go to a lucky customer. "It's built to be light and high performance, yet comfortable," Calfee said. Calfee enjoyed the "new territory" of the Mid-Atlantic visited by NAHBS this year, but noted, "I think it's good that the show moves to new venues. There were so many here in Richmond that had never been to NAHBS before, so we end up getting the show before new faces every year." Spectrum Tandem - Best Steel Frame [11] Fillet brazed joints with fabricated lugs make this frame an outstanding piece of work. Jeff Duser, who works for Tom Kellog, did most of the work on the frame. "It takes a lot of experience before you'd want to even think of a project like this," he said. Kellog and Duser wanted to make a lugged tandem frame, but "You can't buy lugs to make a tandem frame, nobody makes those angles, explained Kellog. Fillet brazing raises the temperature much higher than silver solering, so we wanted to make a frame with silver soldered, lugged joints wherever we could," said Kellog. Di Nucci - Best Lugged Frame [12] Mark DiNucci won with a rust-orange colored city bike designed for and ridden by a friend. Every tube is unique and tailored to the bike's function. The lugs are all custom designed and engineered for stiffness. The bottom bracket shell was designed by DiNucci when he worked for Specialized, and it predates a nearly identical design from Cinelli. The chainstay bridge is a prototype: beefy and designed for stiffness. The fork crown came off an old Masi but was retrofitted with Columbus blades by DiNucci. The gradual bend of the fork blades makes the ride comfortable while maintaining stiffness. DiNucci visited NAHBS in 2008 as a vistor when it was in Portland, close to his Oregon workshop. This year was his first as an exhibitor. "It's a fantastic group here. It's great to come and feel the pulse of the handmade community" DiNucci said. De Salvo- Best TIG welded Frame [13] "This is a bike I built for the show. It's my personal style, rather than what a customer might want," explained Mike De Salvo about a bike that he believes most accurately represents his approach to frame building. The TIG welded frame has steel tubes and carbon forks. "It's a good example of how far steel has come. The frame weight has decreased, while its performance has increased." Llewellyn - Best Paint [14] Darrell McMulloch of Llewellen hails from Brisbane, Australia, but had been to Richmond before - in 1995 as a mechanic with the Australian National Team in the Tour DuPont. McMulloch's friend and business partner Joe Cosgrove painted the award-winning frame in candy-apple red over a gold metallic base from House of Kolor. "The gold base really comes through the red if you look at it in direct sunlight," McMulloch said. McMulloch said of his first NAHBS: "It's a love-fest for frame-builders. An absolutely fantastic time." Cherubim - President's Choice [15] Shinichi Konno's classic/modern bicycle is built with old parts and narrow cro-moly diameter tubes from Kaisei, but it manages to assume a modern look thanks to Konno's careful design. The bicycle is in fact redolent with clever design features, and Konno expects that on return to Japan he will keep it and possibly ride it himself, but he would consider selling it to somebody for a museum collection. YiPsan - People's Choice [7] Renold Yip is all alone in his bike shop, although he credits his wife with making his business possible. Yip came from Hong Kong, a city with no real bike culture, he said, to Fort Collins, Colorado, an extremely bike friendly town. Yip's bikes are beautiful. His winning bike features a flower patterned wood mosaic on the front carrier, yet he doesn't claim any visual design skill, however. He trained to be an engineer, not an artist. "I should have had a career in management," he said. Yip says he's not as nerdy as one might expect an engineer to be. And building bikes? "It is more fun." [1] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ellis-best-of-show.jpg [2] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/bilenky-road.jpg [3] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/sachs-best-track.jpg [4] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/crumpton-best-carbon.jpg [5] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ericksen-best-titanium.jpg [6] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/kirk-best-fillet-braze1.jpg [7] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/YiPsan-best-commuter-peoples.jpg [8] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/dykstra-rookie.jpg [9] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/engin-best-offroad.jpg [10] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/calfee-best-tandem.jpg [11] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/spectrum-best-steel.jpg [12] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/DiNucci-best-lugs.jpg [13] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/desalvo-best-tig.jpg [14] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Llewellyn-best-paint.jpg [15] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/cherubim-presidents-choice.jpg [16] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/YiPsan-best-commuter-peoples.jpg

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[1]A crew of builders and their friends dressed to the nines in their best tweed duds were taking it all in with their musical instruments in hand and displaying nothing less than a piece or two of multi-medium artwork. Banjo cycles hails from Madison, Wisconsin and brought with them both a pugsley style bicycle and this beautiful randonneur. Ahren Rodgers began honing his building skills at a shop in Massachusetts and before that courses at the United Bicycle Institute. Massachusetts is also where he met up with Leah Stargardter who has built the racks for this bike. Between the two they have created a stir amongst attendees at the show. Not only has banjo made a piece of art that is wonderful to look at, but they have done so incorporating functionality that can only be attributed to a serious understanding of the needs of serious riders. While the randonneur incorporates a coupler system for breakdown while traveling, additional measures have been taken to go beyond this well established system for transport. Leah's racks are able to be completely disassembled into several flat pieces that pack flat for storage and transport. Laminated wood fenders, made of four layers of laminate further incorporate additional mediums into the build. Banjo Bicycles is making great looking bike in an artistic tradition that is clearly a representation of the strength of a strong fabrication and design community at their shop. - Will Jacobs Photography:  Erik Lokensgard www.banjobicycles.com [2] [1] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/BanjoBikes.JPG [2] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.comwww.banjobicycles.com

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[1]Mike Flanigan from ANT Bikes has redeveloped how we look at the bicycle as transportation. ANT is short for Alternative Needs Transportation, and Mike with his partner Betsy Scola are reviving the pre-century concept of cycling as a proper blend of fashion and function. The simple lines of the bikes draw your eyes into areas normally unnoticed, where you start to see the artisans' touch on normally mundane bits. The Light Roadster is a contemporary interpretation of a 1940’s era French Delivery bike, with some elegant yet subtle accents. A closer look reveals that all the accessories are purpose-built, fully custom and express strength combined with style. Betsy is yet another voice here at the NAHBS who speaks not as an exhibitor in another trade show, but as a happy member of a builders' community. Listening to her talk of Mike's devotion to the industry and his customers, I realize the meaning of being in the catbird’s seat. A one man show takes a special approach to be able to successfully cover all aspects of a custom build (not to mention complete bike options),keep the customer happy AND not go insane. Many small builders choose to farm out various aspects of a custom bike to maintain quality, yet looking at the ANT all I see is quality tip to tail and a smiling frame builder next to it. Mike is happy with the business size and is able to complete 50 bikes per year. On a lame note, Mike had a beautiful blue folding bike stolen from his hotel here at the show and has pictures on the website. Look for it! Karma will reward anyone who returns it. - Tim Richardson Photography:  Enrique Dominguez www.antbikemike.com [2] [1] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/DSC_0003.JPG [2] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.comwww.antbikemike.com

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[1]The bamboo is a beautiful, dark hue. The bamboo tubes are immensely round and the bike doesn’t even protest. It would be redundant to say that these bikes are organic, but besides being visually obviously made of bamboo, some of the bikes looked almost like they had vertebrae – particularly one of the bikes made in the Philippines by John Climaco for Bamboosero. The joints are svelte, and bamboo bikes today range from cargo bikes to competitive race-winners. The goal of the Bamboosero is to provide livelihood for people in developing countries and to establish an ongoing business. Bamboo grows both in the Philippines, where John Climaco worked, and Ghana, where Suzanne worked. Suzanne heard about the bike project, and was extremely enthusiastic to draw it to her region. - Erik Lokensgard Photography:  Enrique Dominguez http://www.bamboosero.com [2] [1] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Bamboosera.JPG [2] http://www.bamboosero.com/

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[1]Prescott, AZ based Ruegamer Sports boasts some of the lightest frame sets at this year's North American Handmade Bicycle Show. On display are an outrageously light race frame that tips the scales at 720g and- get this-  an 1800g tandem. One of the key elements of Bre Ruegamer's low weight frames is her use of defense grade MS-40 mil-spec high-tech carbon fiber -- the stuff typically reserved for spacecraft.  But she warns that some of these super light climbing bikes, or "Überlights," don't make the best bikes for riding down hill.  "It's not that they're noodly,"  she clarified, " It's more that they're too whispy.  You can have the stiffest bike in the world, but if it's too light, it just won't handle well on a descent. There's really a physical limit to how light a bike can be and still feel right." So for her customers, Ruegamer works to build each bike frame right at the edge of that physical limit to ensure maximum performance.  Still, this hasn't stopped Ruegamer from creating climbing-specific bikes with frame weights as low as 550g. Other standouts at the Ruegamer booth include their blended ti/carbon frame that features an innovative mix of these two high end materials and a mountain bike frame with stunningly unique cable routing. [2]Ruegamer Sports has been selling these creations since 2005, but Bre Ruegamer has a lifelong passion for bikes and has been experimenting with carbon fiber since 1997.  She's even built a tandem that can easily make the transformation from gears to fixed gear.  By incorporating couplers into the frame and building two unique rear ends, the tandem can easily make the switch between road and track. And Ruegamer's innovation doesn't stop with frames -- more products are on the way, including Ruegamer's full carbon crank set.  It will be about the same weight and price-point as other high end carbon cranks, but will allow the rider to micro-adjust crank arm length between 150 and 180mm.  This creates an entirely new dynamic in bike fit, and riders with different length legs will rejoice at the ability to perfectly dial-in each crank arm. www.ruegamersports.com [3] - Matt Shields Photography:  Dave LaMay [1] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Rue.JPG [2] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Rue1.JPG [3] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.comwww.ruegamersports.com

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[1]The newest element of Shimano's Dura Ace component range is the 7850 C24 carbon wheelset. Continuing the industry-wide trend to produce component groups that include more than the traditional drivetrain and brakes, Shimano's top level wheels feature the same technological advances and attention to detail that characterize the rest of the DuraAce lineup. Fittingly for their exhibit at the NAHBS, the C24 wheels are also handbuilt at Shimano's facility in Japan. "Every wheel has a serial number that can be traced back to their individual builder at the factory," explains Shimano USA's Media Liaison, Devin Walton. "Like all of the frame builders here at the show, Shimano's wheelbuilders take pride in their work and are committed to producing products of the highest quality," he explains. The C24 wheels feature 390g alloy-carbon composite rims that will accomodate tubeless clincher tires or a standard tube and tire setup. The rear wheel has a titanium freehub body compatible with an 8,9 or 10-speed cassette, a wider hub flange, and the wheel is constructed with an offset rim. These design features increase wheel rigidity and enable a direct transfer of power from rider to forward motion. Front wheels have 16 spokes and rear wheels have 20.Both wheels feature Shimano's quality proven angular contact bearings with oversized 7075 alloy axles and rim wear indicators. Combined wheel weight for the pair is 1458g. Expect to see the C24 wheels used by Shimano-sponsored teams at this summer's Tour de France, continuing a winning heritage that began back in 1974 with Freddy Maertens and the Flandria team. You need not ride Le Grande Boucle to experience Shimano quality yourself. Look for the Dura Ace 7850 C24 wheelset at your local Shimano dealer. - Matt Butterman [1] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Shimano-Wheels-Moots.jpg

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[1]The top bar curves down like a wave and branches out with subtle swellings. The curves resemble a tree, the fuselage of a bird in flight, a dolphin arching through the water. You can tell that Edward Jones or “Cycle Ed”, CED for short, makes bicycles inspired by nature. He won’t even plan out a frame before he builds it. “I don’t work from any drawings,” he says, yet the product is strong and graceful. Jones starts building a bike with the base and the angles, and goes from there. He sets up the basic structure, then goes for a walk in the woods. He looks at the trees, at the sky, at whatever is around him for inspiration. “Nature is the ultimate architect,” he says. Some osmosis of form must occur during these walks in the woods, for when Jones comes back to connect all the components you can tell just by looking at his finished frame that it is inspired. At the show, the bike is set up on a stand of steel and wood. A wooden branch in the base seems connected to the bicycle like a magic wand organically sprouting into a bike frame. But it’s not just about the bikes. “People are what’s most important,” he said. “This is my outreach to others. This is the media by which I reach other people.” For more information, contact Edward Jones at CYCLEED@EARTHLINK.NET [2] - Erik Lokensgard [1] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/CED.jpg [2] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.commailto:CYCLEED@EARTHLINK.NET

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[1]“We are dedicated to providing an elevated level of performance”. This is the I9 mantra espoused by owner Jeff Baucon, translating to the push of the company to only bring to market products that meet their criteria of "better". I9's Wheel system in overview is a proprietary hub/spoke design that accommodates any standard rim. From a distance, the wheels are visually stunning with a broad spectrum of color options for spokes and hubs. Upon closer inspection I notice the medical quality finish and a most interesting spoke/hub interface. A traditional wheel is a spoke laced into the hub and held into the rim by a spoke nipple with the threaded relationship at the rim. I9 has flipped the equation where an aluminum nail type spoke comes in from the rim side, and threads directly into the hub flange. End result is the lack of nipple and a reduction of weight at the rim where the rotational mass is. The ride is described as laterally stiffer which usually means more weight, yet with the MTB Ultralite Race wheelset on Stans Podium rim, the scale said 1310g.  I am suddenly overwhelmed by wanting to call mom and tell her about having the cake AND eating it. Jeff goes on to tell me some history of the company. The I9 product line is all made in-house at the Turnamics machine shop in Asheville NC. Turnamics is run by Clint Spiegal, a lifelong cyclist with a big brain geared for mechanical engineering.  Clint has literally reinvented the wheel. The hub is pawl style engagement with 60 points of contact. In human speak, that’s an engagement point every six degrees.  My math can be poor at times so I ask Jeff to help me wrap my brain around the proclaimed 3 degree engagement when 360 divided by 60 is six degrees. He sits me down, pats my head and draws a picture of the six pawls in the hub which form a 6 sided star or 2 overlapping triangles. These 2 triangles are slightly out of phase with each other by three degrees. I start to fidget a bit, he smiles then continues that while one set of pawls (triangle) is engaged, the other is three degrees behind it. They play leap frog of sorts around the drive ring, effectively doubling the engagement points. Whew! I got it! But then I asked him with a furrowed brow, "why not just make a 120 point drive ring?". He smiles and says that a 60 point ring allows for more surface contact between pawl and engagement point, and therefore a stronger drive connection. Again, fancy speak that means the Samsonite gorilla can stomp on it with confidence. The best was saved for last: the hub's serviceability. Two different sized hex wrenches are all that is needed to pull down the hub and service it. Jeff says a big part of the design was looking forward to make both the consumer abd shop mechanic happy by not having to buy an exotic tool kit to service the I9.  Also,  the hubs are compatible across many boundaries. You can run anything fro a QR, 15mm, up to a 20mm thru axle on the same front hub by switching end caps. The rear hub can go between QR,10mm and so on by an axle swap. I have been a mechanic for over 20 years and without question, this is the most well thought-out hub I’ve seen. I9 has wheelsets for all flavors of cyclists from road to mountain, cyclocross, and now even BMX that will have a patented “happy bolt” system. I walk away knowing that the phrase "to re-invent the wheel" really can have a positive connotation. -Tim Richardson [1] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IndustryNine.jpg

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Tubesets are to the handmade bicycle frame what wood is to a violin. Pick the right material and they both sing; choose the wrong stuff and they go flat. One of the major themes of this year's NAHBS is the renaissance of traditional frame materials like steel. Tubing manufacturers have all branched off into carbon production at various points of their history, but most are returning to focus on their core business - metals. We'll look at four premier tubing manufacturers to see how their products lend support to, and develop along with, the handmade bike industry. [1]1. Dedacciai Italian manufacturer Dedacciai have been producing tubesets for just 16 years, but during that time, frames built with Dedacciai tubing have been ridden to victory in Grand Tours by Miguel Indurain and Marco Pantani, among others. "Sponsorships are how we promote the brand and gain market share," says Lorenzo Altissimo of Dedacciai. That practice has shown strong returns in the company's short history, as 70-80% of the OEM steel tubing used by the Italian bicycle industry is sourced by Dedacciai, and it is used by many iconic Italian brands such as Bianchi, De Rosa and Pinarello. Dedacciai have branched into carbon frame production, and it's a dominant part of their product line now. But 2010 marks their third year at NAHBS, and steel tubes for North America's handmade builders is a market in resurgence. "Steel is increasing again," says Altissimo. "We're happy about steel coming back." [2]2. Tange Japanese company Tange ("ton-gay") have been in business for 90 years. After sourcing tubes for the Japanese bike invasion of the 1980s, Tange withdrew from the North American market for many years before re-entering 5-6 years ago. Production has shifted from Japan to Taiwan, but Tange has kept its focus on Cro-Mo steel. "The North American market is still small for us, " says Alvin Hsu, Sales Director for Tange, "but it's definitely on the rise again. We're here at NAHBS to see what the trends are, and to remind builders of our long heritage of quality tubesets." [3]3. Columbus The Columbus dove logo is a symbol long associated with quality framesets. Founder A.L. Columbo of Italy opened shop in 1919, and produced metal tubing for all sorts of industrial applications. By the 1930s, bicycles built with Columbus tubing were winning races at the international level. Columbus' latest innovation is XCr, a seamless, stainless steel tubeset unique to the industry and highly prized for its mechanical characteristics and weldability. Add "environmentally friendly" to XCr's list of virtues: stainless steel avoids the toxic process of cadmium plating that other alloys require. XCr carries the load of Columbus' immense reputation for quality and innovation, and is their key player in the big markets of the U.S., U.K. and Japan. "We produce all of our tubing in Italy and really believe in the superior qualities of stainless steel. It's stiffer and stronger than Ti and has wonderful anti-corrosive qualities," says Fabrizio Aghito of Gruppo SPA, Columbus'parent company that also owns the Cinelli brand. "We're here at NAHBS to continue our strong relationship with handmade builders. Steel is back and it will only continue to grow." [4]4. Reynolds Like Columbus, Reynolds has a long history in metal production. In Reynolds' case, it extends back to the roots of the Industrial Revolution in Britain; through the 19th century Reynolds produced steel nails. By 1887, Reynolds produced its first butted steel bicycle tubing. The Birmingham (U.K.)-based company was bought by an American owner, Coyote Sports, in 1997, and in 2000 was bought back from receivership after Coyote went bust. It's been a privately-owned, U.K.-based company since then. All tubing is produced at the company's Birmingham plant. Reynolds' flagship tubing is 953 stainless steel. This wonder alloy has much higher tensile strength than traditional blends and can accomodate thinner walls to produce very light frame weights of 1.1 to 1.2kg. It is offered in a mirrored finish and, new for 2010, 953 stainless fork blades. Titanium is another strong card in Reynolds' hand. They have produced a new hydroformed Ti tubeset and titanium demand has increased strongly over the past year. Biggest sales of Ti tubesets are to builders in Italy and the U.S.. The North American handmade market is very important for Reynolds. "It's a dynamic, changing market, always adding and growing," says Terry Bill, Reynolds' Sales and Production Manager. "Independent builders are always receptive to new ideas, and our job is to listen to their needs and develop our products to meet them. This close relationship between builders and tubing manufacturers is what drives our industry to produce new and innovative products." -  Matt Butterman Photography:  Ward Morrison [1] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/L1150860.jpg [2] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/L1150733.jpg [3] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/L1150677.jpg [4] http://www.handmadebicycleshow.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/L1150842.jpg

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