One of the show stoppers was this copper plated steel mountain bike from Edoz Cycles of Oklahoma

Look for the show to return next fall but maybe down the road. After a three year Austin run, rumor is that the next show will return to its Dallas area roots.

As an exhibitor myself, I am amazed a grateful for the quality and diversity of builders we have in Texas. Steel, carbon, road, mountain, cargo… we have it all. Custom bicycles may not be one of the first things you think of about Texas, but you should. Whether you are considering having a locally made bicycle built for you or just want to admire the craft, come check it out!

4th Annual Texas Custom Bicycle Show
Saturday, October 15- Sunday, October 16
10 AM- 5 PM
Austin Convention Center, 500 E Cesar Chavez St

Tickets: $5, $1 of each ticket goes to benefit the Austin Cycling Association

If you can’t make it or want to know more about many of our local builders, check out some of these framebuilder profiles we’ve published in the last two years.

• James Flatman, formerly of Alchemy Bicycle Company
• Scott Ross of Dominion Bicycle Company
• Wes Williams of Willits Bikes (Shop closed)
• Cody Baron, Clark Davidson, and Cole Thompson of True Fabrication
• Brad Cason of KirkLee Bicycles

It’s been a while since I shared a customer build from Violet Crown Cycles, but this recent project was both challenging and satisfying in that I got another person on a useful bike that they’ll love. In this case however, it was to be three wheel joy instead of two.

Last fall during the Texas Custom Bicycle Show, I was approached by a couple looking to have a custom trike built for them. While both loved to ride, the wife had some balance issues that meant she was more comfortable on a three wheel bike. She had a stock trike, but these vehicles are in general built for short, elderly riders. She stands at around six feet tall and is in her forties. The current set up was severely cramping her style.

While all my fellow builders at the show passed on even talking about this job, this was my first trike, and I wanted to investigate the frame design before committing. I took a look at her current stock trike as well as other designed out there. To limit the complexity and cost of the design and maintain easy serviceability, I decided to use the drive train of an established trike, in this case the Torker. I prefer internal hubs for this sort of application but was limited in this case to trike adapted three speed systems since the hub requires two separate cogs, one for the crank part of the drive train and one for the rear axle. The customer lives in relatively flat East Austin and indicated three speeds were really all she used on the stock bike (a seven speed with a derailleur.) With a frame design and drive train settled upon, I accepted the job.

The first part of the project was fairly straight forward. I was essentially building a step-through Ma Ferguson frame with the exception of the rear stays. Since I did not have a rear center wheel to worry about, I had the option of adding an additional chain stay bridge about half way down the stay for added frame rigidity. Other than that, the frame looked like my others.

The challenge began with the frame for the rear axle. Since there are two sets of chain drives that have to be tensioned independently, a separate frame must be built for the rear axle. Tubing selection was important not only for structural soundness but also to snuggly fit the four axle barrings that keep the rear drive both centered and rolling smoothly. It also needed to support the rear basket. I experimented with a couple of designs for the rear before settling on a tubing platform for the basket that also used the stays from the basket to connect to the front frame for additional frame rigidity and a secondary system to the hub and its lock rings to hold the two frames in the correct plane.

One of the drawbacks of the Torker system was its use of the chain tension between the internal hub cog and the axle cog to keep the rear axle centered. After some testing by the customer, this system proved insufficient causing rear chain drop and wheels rubbing the fenders as the axle would shift along the barrings shells. I ended up creating a set of custom aluminum sleeves/spacers for the entire axle to keep the axle from moving back and forth in turns (not pictured here.)

While this trike was a departure for my traditional two wheel designs, I was also cognizant of the purpose of the bike: transportation. This may seem like a no brainer, but believe it or not there are actually racing trikes out there. The customer uses her current trike for riding around the neighborhood and going to the grocery store so the bike needed to serve that function. Unlike the mass produced granny trikes, I equipped this one like any other Ferguson Dutch bike: full fenders and chain guard, dynamo hub powered front and rear lights, internal brakes and hub, cargo carrying basket. We upgrade the basket from the one her previous trike which had a rubbery coating that had disintegrated in a rusty mess. We opted for a galvanized steel Wald basket this time for better outside durability.

One other final post delivery upgrade was a brake lever with a locking mechanism. Since trikes do not have or need kickstands, you need a way to lock in the brake so the bike does not go rolling on non-flat surfaces. Having test ridden trikes previously, I should have realized this but in this case had to depend on the feedback of the customer to get the right part installed on a followup visit.

The final product is a trike that actually fits the customer while providing all the utility of the Dutch bike design.

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Six bicycles were stolen from KirkLee (1006 Brentwood St., Austin, Texas) during the night of March 21st. Please contact us at 512-371-9661 or info@kirkleebicycles.com if you have any information on the whereabouts of these bicycles. Click on the photo to view a larger version of the bicycle.

Bicycle #1: KirkLee Custom Road Bike

• Black with white logos
• Sram Force components
• Rolf Vector Pro wheels (no stickers)
• Red Speedplay pedals
• Easton EA-90 SLX handlebars and stem
• Ritchey carbon one-bolt seat post
• Sella Italia Flite SLR saddle
• Paint chipped on side of top tube

Bicycle #2: KirkLee Hibiscus Flowers Custom Road

• Light blue with hibiscus flowers
• Sram Red components
• DT Swiss 240 wheels
• White Sella Italia saddle
• Pink Speedplay pedals
• Easton EA-90 stem, handlebars and seat post

Bicycle #3: KirkLee Bicycling Magazine

• Featured in Bicycling Magazine’s Dream Road Bike of the Year competition
• Marbleized blue front end with black rear end
• Sram Red components
• Easton EA-90 SLX wheels
• Edge seat post and handlebars

Bicycle #4: KirkLee 26″ Mountain Bike

• Black with Red KirkLee logos and white stripes on the top and down tube
• Sram X0 components
• Magura Marta SL disc brakes
• Magura Durin front fork (white)
• Chris King hubs and Stans ZTR Alpine wheels
• When stolen, it had FSA cranks, stem, handlebar and seat post
• Sculpted carbon lugs and polished 6/4 Ti rear dropouts

Bicycle #5: Specialized Hardrock

• Bright green
• Shimano STX components
• Rock Shox Jett front fork (black)
• Blue SDG saddle
• Weinman rear wheel with rare Mavic 217 Sunset front wheel on a mid-90s XT hub

Bicycle #6: Santa Cruz Superlight

• Anodized silver
• SRAM X-9 components
• Fox front fork (Talus 32 if I recall)
• Mavic Crossmax wheels
• Blue SDG saddle with checkered sides
• Gold shift cables
• Easton handlebars and stem
• Thomson seat post

Thanks again for staying on the look out for these bicycles!

Congrats to Brad Cason and his team. Other award winners were:

Best Road Bicycle: Ellis Cycles – Dave Wages

Best Track Bicycle: Six Eleven Cycles – Erin Dykstra

Best Off Road Bicycle: Black Sheep bicycles – James Ripley

Best Tandem Bicycle: Kent Eriksen Cycles – Kent Eriksen

Best Carbon Fiber Bicycle: Strong Cycles – Carl Strong

Best Steel Bicycle: Bishop Cycles – Chris Bishop

Best Titanium Bicycle: Kish Bicycles – Jim Kish

Best Lugged Bicycle: Bilenky Cycleworks – Steve Bilenky

Best Fillet Brazed Bicycle: Dominguez Cycles – Vincent Dominguez

Best Tig Welded Bicycle: Independent Fabrications

Best City Bicycle: Signal Cycles

Rookie of the year: Cory Rossin

People’s Choice Bicycle: Naked – Sam Winniham

Presidents Choice: Anderson Cycles – Dave Anderson

Best in Show Trophy: DiNucci Cycles – Mark DiNucci

This year’s NAHBS set an attendance record of 7316, surpasing the previous record 2008 show in Portland. There were also a recond number of exhibitors at 174. The 2012 North American Handmade Bicycle Show will be held in Sacramento, CA, March 3-5.

(Editor note: Bicycle Sport Shop is a site sponsor of Austin on Two Wheels.)

My favorite bike of the show so far, a killer rando from Herbie Helms.

Closue up of the integrated rear light on the rando from Herbie Helms.

Yesterday’s crowds were impressive so today will be quite a day. Check out our guide to NAHBS for the show schedule, tickets, and all the parties.

Here is a gallery of shots from the yesterday’s pre-show parties including the 1st NAHBS bike blogger happy hour, a welcome party from Austin hub maker NuVinci, and the Rapha movie premier party at Mellow Johnny’s. Check out our guide to NAHBS for the show schedule, tickets, and all the parties.

Today, I finally got a chance to upload some more pictures of bikes I’ve built. The first is a really cool looking mitxe style Ma Ferguson city bike with belt drive in orange and white. The customer refers to her bike as the Orangesicle.

The next is the original prototype Ma Ferguson I build for my wife Amy back when I launched Violet Crown Cycles. Any guess on her favorite color? For some reason I never got photos of this bike until this week, but it’s been a crowd favorite where ever it is displayed. (If you want a closer look at this bike, it will be on display at Whole Foods Market Downtown starting next week for the next three months as part of a display for our Urban Living Ride series.)

Finally, here’s the bike I will be showing at NAHBS this weekend. It is the S&S coupler, belt drive rando bike I built for the Texas Custom Bicycle Show last fall. Since I’m classified as a new builder at NAHBS, I may only display one bike. I think this one turned out exceptionally well.

I hope you can make it to NAHBS to see the amazing bikes both national and local builders are making. They are truly great. Check out our guide to NAHBS and all the parties here.

Here’s a quick guide the show, some of the parties going on, and info on some of the local Austin builders who we’ve written about in the past.

2011 North American Handmade Bicycle Show
Friday, February 25- Sunday, February 27
10 AM – 6 PM Friday and Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM Sunday
Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Halls 1 and 2

Check the Convention Center for parking info or better yet, ride your bike or take the bus. There is on-site bike valet for $2 or just bring a lock and save the two bucks.

Kirklee of Austin

Registration Prices:
1 day pass: $18 advance (includes $1 transaction fee), $22 at the door
2 days pass: $32 advance (includes $1 transaction fee), $40 at the door
3 days pass: $51 advance (includes $1 transaction fee), $58 at the door
Seminar Pass: $160 (includes $1 transaction fee).

Children: $8, One day admission to the North American Handmade Bicycle Show for children ages 6-13 (5 and under are free).

NAHBS 2011 Seminar Schedule

The NAHBS seminars are three intense days of learning sessions in which the world’s pre-eminent frame building minds divulge the knowledge it has taken them many years to gather. These are ‘do not miss’ events for anybody looking for deeper knowledge about bicycles – be you an amateur builder, a new professional, or simply a cycling enthusiast.

Friday – Feb 25th
10:30 AM- Dwan Shepard- Co-Motion Cycles
12:00 PM- Gary Prange- Screen Specialty Shop Inc.
2:00 PM- Wade Barocsi- Cycle Design
3:00 PM- Ric Hjertberg- Wheel Fanatyk
4:00 PM- Joe McCrink- KVA Stainless

A mountain bike by True Fabrication of Austin, TX. Image courtesy of Cory Swartz.

Saturday – Feb 26th
10:30 AM- Don Ferris- Anvil Bikeworks
11:45 AM- Brent Curry- The Bicycle Forest
1:00 PM- Ric Hjertberg- Wheel Fanatyk
2:00 PM- Bob Parlee- Parlee Cycles
3:30 PM- Tom Ritchey- Ritchey Design
4:30 PM- Craig Calfee- Calfee Design

Sunday – Feb 27th
8:30 AM- Carl Strong- Strong Frames (Framebuilders only)
11:00 AM- Lora Van Dixhorn- Westlake Insurance
12:30 PM- Kent Eriksen- Kent Eriksen Cycles
1:45 PM- Ben Serotta- Serotta

NAHBS Parties

It wouldn’t be an event in Austin without some after parties, right?

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24

Alchemy Bicycle Company of Austin

Rapha Movie Premiere
CONTINENTAL
9:00 pm on the big screen at Mellow Johnny’s • 400 Nueces • in the parking lot
Plus, D’Acciaio (Of Steel) a Ben Ingham film
Join us for movie night with food from the Chi-lantro trailer and free New Belgium beer!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27

Gentleman’s Ride with Rapha
Mellow Johnny’s • 6:30 am for coffee, wheels down at 7.
Supported by SRAM.

Giordana Lunch Ride
Noon from Mellow Johnny’s with a lunch stop.
Supported by SRAM

Violet Crown Cycles of Austin

BBQ and Pub Pedal from Bicycle Sport Shop
The North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS), a showcase of talented individuals from around the world whose original art form is the bicycle, is coming to Austin February 25 through 27. And we’re inviting these talented custom builders to Bicycle Sport Shop for a party with a few of our own local originals, including Real Ale, music by The Rust Tones, Amy’s Ice Cream, Austin Barbecue Co., a photography exhibit by Austin Details and more. If you own a hand-built bike like the ones featured at NAHBS, bring it to the party and show off your personal Austin original. A photographer will be in-store to take a portrait of you and your bike. Plus, all hand-built bikes can be parked inside the store during the party.
BBQ at 6:30. Ride leaves at 8:30 pm • Bicycle Sport Shop, 517 S. Lamar

To get you warmed up for the show, check out some of these framebuilder profiles we’ve published in the last two years.

• James Flatman of Alchemy Bicycle Company
• Scott Ross of Dominion Bicycle Company
• Wes Williams of Willits Bikes (Shop closed)
• Cody Baron, Clark Davidson, and Cole Thompson of True Fabrication
• Brad Cason of KirkLee Bicycles

I’ve also written my own series about learning framebuilding from Doug Fattic and articles on previous customer bikes I’ve built in A Series of Tubes:

• A Series of Tubes: Show Rando Bike with Belt Drive & S&S couplers
• A Series of Tubes: Ferguson City Bike with Carbon Belt Drive
• A Series of Tubes: Xtracycle Long Tail with Stokemonkey Pedal Assist
• A Series of Tubes: Final buildup on Marcus Rando Light Touring Bike
• A Series of Tubes: Marcus’ Randonneur Bike, Details, Details, Details
• A Series of Tubes: The latest Ma Ferguson step through city bike