That Los Angeles Handmade Bicycle Show

The gates were thrown wide; most Sundays they may very likely be locked up tight. Not today, though. This Sunday bicycle riders rolled up to them in dribs and drabs, before dismounting and walking through. It was still early - the dribs and drabs would coalesce into a stream soon enough. Feet away, drivers on the I-5 did the slow crawl in perpetual traffic. Some may have noticed the gathering, briefly glimpsing it through their passenger-side window, and sighed before turning their lemming-like focus back to their crowded path. 

It was quite the juxtaposition, and I am not kidding about the "feet" thing - if a driver had stopped on the shoulder, we could have easily carried on a conversation. The Los Angeles Handmade Bicycle Show provided a well deserved showcase for many of the region's small creators, builders, manufacturers, and artists, as well an an opportunity for us aficionados to come out and discover something new, express some appreciation of their efforts, encourage them to continue, and mix and mingle among members of our highly diverse community. I don't know what kind of legs something like this might have if it was done yearly, but clearly, in this instance the demand was there. I for one would like to see it return. Big thanks to Hernan Montenegro for pulling it all together; it was a blast.

The street may not go through, but if you follow those dudes through that last open doorway on the left there is some wild stuff going on in that studio / workspace. I just know I am going to get the spelling wrong, but... Baller Bikes are 50% bike / 50% sculpture. They ain't light, but they will get noticed.

Darren Larkin, of Larkin Cycles, brought a couple "in progress" frames which is always a good call. Everyone wow's over the finished product (and for good reason) but the raw tubing lets you see the gritty fabrication part of the process, examine the welds, run your fingers around the inside, check out the wall thickness. When I commented that tubing of the under three pound steel frame I was studying seemed to have fairly thick walls Darren reminded me it was only like that at the ends, that the mid-sections of the tubing were thinner. Of course, I immediately though of that Moron Tubing sticker on the Ibis. Oh yeah, now I remember.

This hatchet job Larkin came in a little later, but has one eye-catching paint job.

Spark wheels, smooth spinning.

Jared Jerome is the man behind Jerome Cycles. He hand-makes a number of different road frames right here in Los Angeles. Check the website for more info, or the Jerome Cycles Facebook page.

I say that is a look of pride on the face of Stephen Plante. Keep an eye on Stephen. If he can keep going in this very tough business. As young as he is, his stuff looks amazingly good; his Plante #1 received attention, and a write up at the Radavist a couple years back, and his bikes have become even better since then. A graduate of the Yamaguchi school, Plante continues to design and build out of  a "shed" in Rancho Cucamonga.

This Plante gravel bike is so nice

That is Plante #1 in the foreground. You can see more @plantecycles on Instagram

Lets not forget Hernan Montenegro, who hosted this little gathering at his Montenegro Manufacturing (MMFG) facility. As I was standing outside the open doorway to his shop in the afternoon when he emerged for the first time that day. People were bustling about from one tent to another, talking, laughing, bikes were leaned against the wall in rows six deep. I watched his face as he realized the extent of what was taking place, and saw it transform to a look of surprise and amazement. I don't think he ever really considered, or envisioned, how successful this show could be, how much demand for such a gathering existed in the LA cycling community.

Unlike the other frame builders who were showing, Montenegro builds with carbon fiber and, judging by the many frames by other "big name" manufacturers hanging in the shop, he does a healthy amount of frame repair as well.

This is the frame I saw a few years ago in Sacramento during NAHBS

While there were a lot of quality frames on view, the only one I specifically enquired about was this sparkle green painted Dark Moon - Carlos said I could be riding my own in six weeks. You can check them on Instagram @weldstreetloco

The tall man there is Tracy Johnson, aka the cyclingbarberonduty at Instagram. I asked how far afield he would ride for a job, as far as Claremont, perhaps? Sure. I am just not sure I would want to see the bill to cover the travel. If you are in LA though, he rides to you.

Astro carbon fiber wheels

Bikie Girl Bloomers; I am sure I have done a post, or made mention of Karen and her creations at some point

more Astro wheels

Indeed, there is a cactus growing in that niche around the bottom bracket

Long Live Woon

I was next in line and got a new tool roll for the Cannondale - Stationary by Swrve

Time to go...

If you didn't see the couple earlier posts, you still can: Psycho Caps here, and a little informal beer survey here. A bit more photo intensive than I usually do, there are still more photos to check out - see them in the Flickr album.