For some context, MADE was in the same venue as Portland’s annual One Moto Show. The One show is going on 15ish (?) years… They’ve really got it dialed at that space. It spills outside with a bunch of food trucks, beer gardens, booths, and live BMX/dirt jump/dirt bike stunt events. There are areas for test rides, tons of vendors, etc. It’s probably 3x the size of MADE. After attending MADE, my hope is that they can follow the One Show’s lead and create something similar that happens annually. If it’s any indication, my 7-year-old daughter loves the One Show… she was over MADE in about 12 minutes. Ha. I think it can only get better… I’ve never noticed any of the bugs mentioned above at the One Show. So, fixable.
And not to rub it in, but since everyone left, it’s been drizzly, with fresh air, and 70 degrees here. I had to bust out the hoody this morning! Such is Oregon. (We’ve actually had a pretty mild summer… MADE caught the hottest, and–so far–only smoky weekend of the season, unfortunately.)
It was awesome meeting everyone, especially those on the forum.
A lot of support for the forum! Even the lurkers (the smart ones) are much appreciated
I think I got more out of the industry days than the public-facing days. It was great picking the brains of the established companies (No22, Argonaut, etc…)
I love checking out everyone’s bike. Everyone has such a unique approach and style, it is very cool to see the diversity of designs
Portland has amazing bike infrastructure. It was inspirational to witness
My biggest reservation about MADE is the underlying assumption that custom framebuilding is a business. In reality, few companies are actually profitable. Requiring builders to have insurance to attend creates pressure to sell bikes to recoup that cost. That makes people feel obligated to create a fancy display, website, merch, etc, in order to stand out in the crowd. Once you factor in insurance, travel, food, lodging, reg fees, and bike stands, you are in the hole of several thousand dollars.
I think MADE should be a celebration of framebuilding as an art, not as a business. I am going to propose that they consider having a separate “builders” section where:
Insurance is not required unless you are openly selling things to the public
Stands are provided. This will mitigate the need for builders to spend $$$ on outfitting a booth
All the “builder bikes” can be set up together, so the builders can network and have fun instead of trying to sell their bikes.
I think showcasing the bikes as art would help the framebuilding community grow. There is plenty of talent being excluded simply because they don’t have the time, money, or desire to start a framebuilding business. Building bike frames and building a business are two entirely different things.
Anyways, it was great meeting everyone. Portland was amazing! I wish I had more time to bike around and explore the city. I felt so safe and normal to be on a bike!
I’m in two minds about that. I do think there is space for the hobby/art guys but I do think the show should be about the business of bike building. It’s what legitimises the niche product as being serious and not a gimmick or art piece. That’s what I like about the Australian show. The people who design/build the bikes are there and the stands are very basic. No props or fluff to distract the punters from the bikes. One of the things I disliked about the NAHBS show, from a distance, is the appearance that people were making bikes to win awards and wow the crowd rather than making bikes they sell each week. Which makes teh niche look like a candy parade instead of a serious business. of building great bikes. There is space for all of it though.
I enjoyed the show and I think the comments of others are accurate. I was happy to meet people and talk about bikes. There was a lot to see, and everyone was cool!
Insurance is not required unless you are openly selling things to the public.
Whether the bicycle is sold, traded, or gifted the liability of risk to the user and maker still exists and matters. Regardless of what one may think of the system, it protects all of us. And, if a frame fails at all and an injury ensues, the costs are borne by all of us - and the rates we (professionals) pay escalate as a result.
Framebuilding is a craft. But it’s also a trade. And the two have never been separate. Being responsible for your actions, or the work produced at your bench - we all share this burden.
I assume @Daniel_Y meant people building for themselves and not frames being gifted or traded. Plenty of beautiful and interesting bikes build by garage builders that are only being ridden by the builder.
