We understand – by now your NAHBS 2010 quota has probably been filled. You’ve seen all the pictures, read all the interviews, and pored over all the awards. So indulge us for a moment as we offer you our take on the “show” that was going on outside the show this year…
NAHBS began for us well before Richmond. Nervously watching the largest blizzard of the winter approach New York City, we wondered if we’d even make it to the Holland Tunnel, never mind all the way to Virginia. Andrew, Justin, Mike and Rich assembled at NYC Velo early Friday morning and began digging a path to the car – literally – and deciding whose bikes would get a cozy spot in the trunk and whose would have to ride on the rack (Mike drew the short straw). We then convinced Rich that the Subaru’s AWD was in fact operational and with that, we hit the road (well, what we could see of it).
Once we got into NJ – and packing fully charged iPhones – we exchanged a few tweets with the Outlier crew who were about an hour behind us. We caught up with other twitterings coming from the show (ok, mostly from the prolific Jeremy, aka @embrocationcycl), and we started to get excited. Our spirits were lifted further as we drove out of the Snowpocalypse and onto clear roads in Delaware. A quick refueling at a bona fide truck stop provided Mike and Justin an opportunity to marvel at the multitude of beef jerkies while Rich contemplated purchasing a 2 gallon coffee mug.
We arrived in Richmond about 6.5 hours later – not bad considering the weather – and we immediately went to the show. Rich had to deliver his IF Rapha Continental bike to the Rapha booth and Andrew wanted to show Marty his newly built-up geekhouse CX frame, then we did a quick run through of the pleasantly calm show floor (things wouldn’t get really crazy until Saturday and Sunday). We shook hands, met a few new people, and headed for the hotel and then dinner with Andrew’s parents. After that we met up with Andrew’s twin brother Todd who had come down from Baltimore to talk bikes and catch up with the family business. Then it was off to the Carytown Bicycle Company party, followed by some much needed sleep.
Taking advantage of Friday’s early recon of the show, Andrew, Mike and Todd decided to start the day by exploring the city on bike. They ended up finding Belle Island and some impromptu cyclocross before returning to the show. The convention was much more crowded on Saturday (unlike Interbike, NAHBS is open to the public). More handshaking followed, and we got to talk to great builders like IF, Bilenky, Serotta, and Black Sheep.
The evening involved dinner with our friend Atom at the Britpub Penny Lane (darts! Trvial Pursuit!) followed by meeting up with the gentlemen (and woman) of Rapha and getting the lowdown on the next morning’s ride. Loitering in the Marriott bar, we also chatted with Jason from Superbe and spotted the Outlier guys (again – they seemed to be everywhere).
Sunday morning meant an early start for the Rapha Gentlemen’s Ride. Some caffeine and sugar got things started, and we rolled out on a scenic jaunt through Richmond. We caught up with Slate, Carey and Jeremy from Rapha, chatted with the one and only Tony Pereira, finally got to meet Kyle from Trackosaurus Rex, and checked out some rad bikes on the road. The ride ended with a great cobbled climb and an awesome view of the city.
After a quick coffee stop at the Urban Farmhouse (and running into those Outlier guys, again!), we packed up the car. This time, the bikes went on the roof rack and we set the compass (ok, the iPhones) for “north”.
On the drive home we started talking about bikes. But ultimately, going to a show like NAHBS isn’t really about the bikes. It’s about the people; new friends and old acquaintances getting together over some metal tubes welded together with sweat and love.
So despite all the back and forth in the car over “Best Bike” and “Dream Bikes” and all the rest, we did manage to agree on one thing – the show was good, but the “show” was better.
