Hobnobbing with bicycle techies can be fun! Well Judy might not fully agree with that, but she was a grand sport and let me have a day at the second annual North American Hand Built Bicycle Showcase. This is a gathering of the who’s who of custom built bicycles, assorted home builders and suppliers of gizmos and parts for this industry. These folks are truly the grass roots, cottage industry, bicycle techies. Some of them probably sleep with their bicycles. I have come away so stoked, that I can’t wait to start planning the “Son of Path”.
To back up just a step or two; We have been spending the last couple weeks in Gilroy California and mostly been spoiling our grandkids and getting in Barb, our daughter-in-law’s, hair. At last week’s bicycle race we heard about this bike builders’ convention so we moved ourselves into the heart of San Jose and today we rode over to the Convention Center. We spent the afternoon meeting all of the suppliers and builders and swapping stories about how we build bicycles. We saw many bicycles that could be called pieces of ride-able art. We talked to people who made carbon bikes, titanium bikes, aluminum bikes and steel bikes. There were mountain bikes, touring bikes, working bikes, track bikes and time trial bikes, but there were no recumbent bikes. When we went back to claim our bicycle at the bicycle check room, the guard told us that ours was a very popular bicycle. Lots of people were stopping by and gawking at Path. He is used to the attention, however, because he usually attracts a crowd wherever we go.
One of the exhibitors commented that this show is better attended than the one last year in Huston Texas. The Bay Area seems to have lots of bicycle riders. This could become the annual home of the event. (This is a personal aside for my Bicycle techie buddy, Ray, back in St. Helens, Oregon. I know this isn’t as big as your Inter-Bike event, but I bet you would enjoy it. Shimano had a big presence and even your UBI out of Ashland was there.)
Before I close, I wish to introduce some new members watching the journey’s of the Dinsmore’s. They are Kim and Jason McRobbie, long time friends of Glen, our son, and his wife Barb. We all had a fun time together last weekend at the Monterey Aquarium. Kim and Jason went to San Diego for a cruise to get away from the cold and rain of Portland. From the weather we have had here, they may have gotten cold and wet anyway.
We send along our friendship and love from San Jose, California. Good bye for now.
Gary and Judy
