Emerging Bastions

This will be my last NAHBS related post. Maybe.

By far the most thought out and thematic booths at the NAHBS belonged to Vanilla/Speedvagen Bicycles and Bilenky Cycle Works. Located almost directly across from each other, both companies displayed their bikes in a faux shop setting. Bringing everything from vices to a full-scale drill press, the two companies competed for best 'set' design. It worked. They blew every other company out of the water when it came to presentation. By creating immersive environments, Vanilla and Bilenky found a way to offset the drab of glass cases and heavy plinths that usually dominate the trade show circuit. The result was a more engaging and enjoyable interactive viewing experience. Of course it helps that the items on display were from two of the powerhouses of the ‘hand made’ bike scene.

On a side note, I really enjoyed seeing people rocking looks that don’t fit the stereotype of the ‘cycle enthusiast’. There were several people hanging around the Vanilla booth looking more like they belonged in a rock band than a bicycle atelier. Same with some of the MASHSF guys that were lurking around - bringing street-wear culture to cycling culture. It reminds me a bit of what skateboarding went through in the nineties when the culture started to segment into different parts. At some point it became ok to be a skateboarder and wear tight jeans, or be a skateboarder and wear baggy jeans. The important thing was to have style, whether it was Jamie Thomas style or Stevie Williams style didn’t matter. It’s cool that people are into bikes and don’t feel the need to wear grease covered Campagnolo cycling caps. Can’t wait to see what this means for the apparel market. Outlier I see you. Rapha, you too.

I should have better pictures to accompany these ramblings, but again I have none. I did however include several nice shots of Vanilla Bicycles to make up for my shortcomings.