Well I know some of you are a bit sniffy at this show coming to London. However put your hankies down for just a second.
It was bloody good.
I have been surprised more times today than in the last 6mths. Some stunning bikes, but more importantly, some amazing attitudes towards bikes and building bikes.
Lets not be overly angsty about the location, if you can get there to Lee Valley CP then I can highly recommend making the effort.
You may all think it would be full of fixie fakes and wobbly looking right leg jean folding, but it isn’t. Some very serious craftsmen adorn the velodrome. Favorites like Condor are there, but hey blokes who’ve just started out on the fillet brazed eyebrow singeing triangles.
I have two favourites, well to be truthful I have about 7, but 2 really stuck out, Sparrow Cycles form Liverpool. You have to see the etched Sparrows in the tubes and antique finish this guy achieved on a sublime elegant work of art. Then there was the Mawis uber Southern German handcrafted piece of art. He’d managed to combine a simplistic view with ingenious front twist grip disk brake.
But there are so many exceptional bikes, passionate craftsmen and enough to keep the most disinterest, interested.
For a first time in London, I think it’s a massive hit. There were so many folks bumbling and meandering ooohing and aaaahing that I truly hope all that made the effort to show their craft have a successful show.
And don’t worry sniffy Bristolians, it’s returning back there next year (so I was informed)
As for the velodrome, it’s really rather good, come see what your taxes paid for.