PEDAL DANCER GUIDE PAGES

20 February 2013

Fun and Facts at the Handmade Bike Show

North American Handmade Bicycle Show rolls into town

This weekend the big show is coming to town. In a three-day event, the show will exhibit at the Denver Convention Center and feature some of the most beautiful and innovative modern handmade bikes. Bike lovers will be coming from far and wide to see this show. Growing every year in both exhibitors and attendees, you won't want to miss seeing the variety of handmade bikes from national and international craftsmen at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show.

Summary: 199 exhibitors (sold out!), makers of handmade bicycles, bike parts, accessories and clothing. See the list of Exhibitors.

Place: Denver Convention Center, 700 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202 (directions)
Hall D, southwest end of convention hall (east side).

Dates: 22-24 February 2013

Times:
February 22, 2013, Friday 9 AM – 11 AM Industry and Media Only
February 22, 2013, Friday 11 AM – 6 PM Show Hours
February 23, 2013, Saturday 10 AM – 6 PM Show Hours
February 24, 2013, Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM Show Hours

How to get there:
Ride your bike! Bring a good lock. The weather should be good on Saturday, expect some snow on Sunday. Or Denver light rail goes directly to the convention center. Parking at (under) the Convention Center is $12 for 8 hours; expect to pay $15-20 in nearby outdoor public parking lots; enjoy free metered parking along the street on Sunday. Friday and Saturday metered parking has a 2hr limit at the meters, bring your quarters or card. NAHBS attendees get a discount on Super Shuttle from the Airport. Or hail a cab for shorter distances (303) 777-7777, (303) 444-4444, (303) 333-3333 (we make it easy here in Denver).

Tickets:
If you buy your bike show ticket today online (register online until 11pm 02/20/13) you will get a $4 discount. From Thursday-Sunday you must buy tickets at the door, Friday $22, Saturday $22, Sunday $19. $41 for both Friday and Saturday admission, $38 for Saturday and Sunday, $58 for all three days.

App/Layout:
The NAHBS show guide is available via mobile app and will guide you through the exhibit hall during your visit, with exhibitor lists, locations, reminders, and photos. Scan the show guide barcode online now or bring your device to the floor on the day where you will find the barcode to scan and download the guidebook (you'll just need to have a scanner app on your phone or tablet and you will be good to go).

Not everyone gets a medal:
If you like your bikes categorized, here is the list of category award contenders. Be sure to stop by each booth and form your own strong opinions about who should win. 2013 NAHBS Award Entrants. Awards presented Saturday 1-3pm at the booths, Sunday 3pm on the stage.

Social Media:
Official website http://2013.handmadebicycleshow.com/, at the NAHBS Facebook page, or follow on Twitter (#NAHBS)

Social Activities:
For added fun during the bike show, show organizers have arranged an After Party (Fri 7pm, at Blake St Tavern), and Beer and Swag Hour (Sat 6-7pm, onsite). The NAHBS Framebuilder Party, for Builders, will be 7-11pm, Saturday, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Ballroom. (more details below)

Be a tourist:
For those of us who are lucky to live in this state, it is always fun to play tourist in our own town, so plan on going to the show in the morning, skipping out for some lunch and a beer in town, then returning for more bike time in the afternoon. For visitors, please note that Denver rocks when it comes to micro-brews. Read Best Beer Pubs and Breweries in Denver - a piece I wrote for those of us going to the NAHBS bike show in Denver.

Travel map: Open this link in your google maps app, it'll show you all the good beer places (and eats) near the convention center, plus the map is good for guiding your way around downtown, zoom in for landmarks and street names. Link: The coolest Beer map of Denver breweries and pubs ever.

More info:
Also read additional information provided by our local trustworthy informative 303Cycling.com: 2013 - NAHBS. Another good recently written read at House of the Handmade: NAHBS 2012 Retrospective, By PavedMag.com

Related posts by Pedal Dancer: Handmade Bicycles (NAHBS) and Colorado Cycling Event & Race Calendar and A handmade Pegoretti bike.

Event Happenings:

Thursday night before the show Alchemy Bicycles is hosting an Open House at their new shop at 7700 Cherry Creek South Dr., Denver, 7-9pm. Anyone welcome.

Thursday night Vecchios Bicicletteria in Boulder will be hosting an evening of Metal Suds and Munchies at their shop with Moots, Soulcraft, Waterford, and Gunnar bicycles. 1833 Pearl St., Boulder. 5pm. Anyone welcome.

Also Thursday, Bikes & Beer at Creekside Bikes in Parker, CO. Lots of steel on show, industry partners with deals, SIDI Mobile Fit Studio, Selle Italia Saddle ID Fit System, carbon frame give-away. 9801 S Parker Rd, Parker, CO 80134. 5-7pm. Anyone welcome.

On Friday night Salvagetti Annex will be hosting a private VIP only party The Chris King Freedom Party featuring chef Chris DiMinno from Portland’s Clyde Common serving sliders and New Belgium providing suds, at the coffee shop next door to their shop. This party is at Salvagetti's Baker location in Denver - Address: 8 W. Ellsworth in Baker (corner of Broadway and Ellsworth), 6pm. more info (not open to the public!).

*NAHBS After Party* (held on the first night) at Blake Street Tavern, Friday 7pm till late, 2301 Blake St, Denver, CO 80205 (directions). Hosted by Oskar Blues Brewery and Gates Carbon Drive, in support of Trips for Kids and Bike Denver. This is the event associated with the show for all attendees. Anyone welcome, FREE entrance. more info

Also Friday night, just down the block, XRockstheSpot Loop Ride and Party. Group Ride Friday 6pm (6:30 start) meet outside the convention Hall at the big blue bear for a loop ride to the party at Breckenridge Brewery, live music and beer. 2220 Blake St, Denver, CO 80205 (directions) . Cost ? more info

Pete Weber and Boulder Cycle Sport are hosting a 3hr guided group ride from Boulder, CO to the show in Denver on Saturday morning. Ride leaves 9am sharp from Boulder Cycle Sport, 629 S. Broadway St. Boulder, CO (directions). Cost: $15 + show entry. Peter Weber is our 2013 American Masters Cyclocross National Champion (40-44) and Boulder Cycle Sport is his team. Anyone welcome to join the ride, preregister. more info

Beer and Swag Hour of Power, Saturday 6-7pm at the NAHBS show hall awards stage at the Convention Hall. A fundraiser for Trips for Kids, there will be a trivia contest and more than $10,000 $15,000 in swag given away. Here is the Hour of Power Cheat Sheet, study up. Open to all attendees and exhibitors. more info

Salvagetti Bicycle Workshop is throwing a Brooks Dashing Party Saturday night with Mosaic and food trucks. Salvagetti 38th Street location at 3800 Irving St., Denver 80211 (directions). Anyone welcome, 6-9pm. more info

The NAHBS Framebuilder Party has very limited space, Exhibitors, VIPs, Media only – your NAHBS credential gets you in. They will be partying 7-11pm on Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Ballroom (oh that sounds lovely). Presented by Alchemy Bicycle Co. & Oskar Blues Brewery. 1450 Glenarm Pl, Denver, CO 80202. (directions). Or listen in on the Podcast of event or read more (not open to the public!)

Group Ride Join Alpha and Moots for a ride, meet at the big blue bear statue outside the convention hall Sunday morning 10am. Anyone with a bike welcome. "A casual 1.5 hour ride will include urban bike trails and possibly a bit of dirt. A cross bike is the ultimate tool for the job, but bring what you got. Mtn, Road, Whatever!" more info