San Diego Custom Bicycle Show 2010

I volunteered to work at the 2010 San Diego Custom Bicycle Show. I was a great experience, and I got some riding in to boot, because I commuted to the show both days I worked. The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition solicited the volunteers and  provided a bicycle coral for parking. So my bike was protected while I worked the show. My job was door monitor. I basically made sure that only people who paid to get in and exhibitors were allowed in. I had a great position to watch the show and see all the bikes and people. Some people rode their bikes right into the show. Some of the exhibitors took their bike out to ride before the show.

San Diego Custom Bicycle Show 2010

This was the second year for the show. I didn’t attend last year, but heard that the attendance was greater and the number of exhibitors was up from last year.

Speedplay Pedal Museum

The online version of this is available here at the Speedplay Web Site. This is the biggest collection of pedals I’ve ever seen, and may be one of the largest anywhere.

1948 Legnano

In 1948 Gino Bartali won the Tour De France on a Legnano very similar to this one. This bike is owned by the founder of Speedplay Pedals.

Modern deraileur & quick release circa:1948

This is the first time I’ve ever seen this deraileur in person. I have seen pictures. To shift the rider had to pull the quick release (top lever), while pedaling backwards and then shift with the other lever, which has a loop around the chain. Once the shift was complete the quick release could again be secured. I wonder if it became automatic for the racers who used this shifter, like ours are now. I think it probably did.

Rock Lobster Fixie

Because I worked as door monitor for the show and Paul of Rock Lobster Bicycles had his booth right inside the door to the right as you entered, I got a chance to get to know him a little. I really like Paul and his bikes are beautiful.

Paul told me the story of this bike. His first bike, built in 1978 was a fixie. This bike with the fancy lugs was Paul’s 25 years anniversary bike, so he made it a fixie too. You can see by the detail in this picture, there was a lot of work in those lugs. All that cutting and grinding was done by hand.

Rock Lobster Head Badge

If you want to learn more about Paul’s bikes, go here to the Rock Lobster website.

Brian Bayless

Another Bryan Baylis

Brian Bayless is well known among San Diego bicyclists. His paint work is meticulous and beautiful. You can learn more about Brian here at his blog site. Brian is in charge of PR for the 2010 show.

Yipsan Bicycles

I was hoping to see the city bike that won the Best City Bicycle and People’s Choice Award at the 2010 National Hand Built Bicycle Show. You can find picture of it here at the Yipsan Bicycles web site. His metal work is very nice and his choices of colors are intriguing.

1927 Bismark

There were also some very nice vintage bikes on display. Including this 1927 Bismark and the fine collection of Colnagos.

Vintage Colnagos

Rebolledo Randoneuse

Rebolledo Randoneuse

Rebolledo Cycles builds some lovely bikes of all styles. I really appreciated of the fine workmanship of this Randoneuse. If I were in the market I would definitely look at what they have to offer.

Rebolledo Track Bike

Their track bike was pretty too. The lug work is artistic and the paints really show off the fine craftsmanship.

Bill Rider Mixte

Bill Rider Randoneuse

I really like the way Bill Rider interpreted the Mixte frame above. And the integrated racks on the Randoneuse or city bike flowed very well into the bike design. If you’re interested in learning more about Bill Rider’s bike visit his website here.

Wolfhound Bicycles

Fred Cuthbert is an artist in steel. I really enjoyed looking at his display. I talked to him and complimented him on his work. He, like most everyone I met at the show is a modest and likeable guy. If you would like to learn more you can visit Wolfound Bicycles here on the web.

Front showing internal cable guides

This is Fred’s latest creation. Because it’s unpainted you can really see the details of his work. Fred likes to hide all the cables, as much as possible, so they are routed inside the frame. There are routing tubes inside the front fork and inside the seat stay for the brakes.

Fillet brazed top tube at seat post

I think that seeing a bicycle frame like this unpainted give you a real appreciation of the artistry of fillet brazing. You notice that the there is one curved line from the top tube to the seat stays. One of the other builders at the show commented that Fred doesn’t like angles and prefers curves. This frame really shows that design philosophy.

Rear Triangle

The closer I looked at this frame the more the artistry of detail emerged. Painted I’m sure this bike will look like it was molded rather than bent and brazed from metal.

chain ring

This is another of Fred’s bikes. The attention to the details of something even as small as a chain guard shows the pride Fred has in his workmanship.

Colnago painted by Joe Bell

Rivendell pained by Joe Bell

Joe Bell is another local bicycle painter. He got his start working with BIll Holland, also here in San Diego. Unfortunately I was unable to find a web site for Bill Holland. I guess he doesn’t think he needs any more publicity.

Randoneuse by Mitch Pryor M.A.P.

Mitch Pryor is one of the up and coming builders hailing from Portland Oregon. He specialized in Randoneuse, Touring and City bikes. He was another  personable bike builder that I would enjoy spending time talking to over a cup of coffee or a beer. Maybe next time I get up to Portland I can look him up and go by his shop.

Randoneuse by Mitch Pryor

MAP bicycles is owner and builder Mitch Pryor. Located in Portland, Oregon, Mitch builds fine handmade steel bicycles one at a time and has learned the craft of framebuilding from master builder and painter Doug Fattic. Mitch has refined and expanded on these skills to include rack building with the help of fellow builder Joseph Ahearne.

I really had a great time at the San Diego Custom Bicycle Show and I look forward to working there again next year. If you get the chance, it’s definitely worth checking out. The Velo Cult blog has a picture of every bike at the show. They were taking them in and out during the time I was working the door on Saturday.

Hope to see you there next year!