philly bike expo 2022

 

I don't go to the Philly Bike Expo expecting to buy anything in particular, although I've never walked out with al the cash with which I entered. I don't go expecting to find anything I can use in my cycling, although I have found useful items. 

I go to be surprised, appalled, and delighted with the world of cycling.

We'll get to the pretty bikes later (of course we will!). I wanna rant for a little bit first. 

I can't believe I didn't get pictures, but Silca had a booth. Silca makes cycling accessories, and the accessories they make are beautiful and expensive. Silca, for example, made pumps years ago, that were high-quality, rebuildable, and expensive for the time. The company stopped production; the name was resuscitated, and the Silca pumps you get now start at $150 and go up to $500. This is not just a pump; this is jewelry.

But Paul Component Engineering had a booth:

...as did White Industries:

Both make beautiful, if expensive, components that are actually used. I'm just a sucker for the fine machine work.

Other companies are making interesting components: this AARN is making sculpted chainrings:

... and Ignite is making similarly sculpted (and colored) cranks.

Advocacy groups take a number of the booths, and it pleases my anti-capitalist, anti-misogynist, homophilic soul to see them. 

Above, promoting African-American men in cycling. Not to be outdone...

A personal note: I volunteer at the New Brunswick Bike Exchange, and we partner with this Girls in Gear program, getting young girls on bikes.

I'd met Gabrielle, but introduced myself again at the booth. She was so taken with the support we offer that she gave me a "Boy in Gear" hat as a supporter. I was touched. I now have headgear I will wear regularly when I'm at the Bike Exchange.

OK, more neat bike stuff. This Golden Velo is a source for new old stock.

The folks at Bike List see their venture as a bike-specific alternative to Ebay.

But I mostly go to see the beautiful bikes. There wasn't a lot of carbon fiber this year (I didn't see many of the big manufacturers), nor were there any e-bikes that I noticed (I suspect the e-bike manufacturers are established now, and know that this show isn't really their crowd). But here's some of the steel bikes:

Above: Drillium!

That bike above, with the tall frame and the suspended, crocheted saddle, is a modern remake of a bike that was manufactured last century. I wish I could remember the name of the original. Edit 11/1/22: The originals are Pedersen bikes. I feel better for having found out!

There will be more steel bike pics... but I was also taken with the number of titanium bikes:

If you've got way too much money, and want to hide some by giving me a huge gift certificate to Merlin Bikes, I promise to play along.

And just because I can, more steel bikes:

So I didn't see the specific stuff I was looking for. I still wound up spending way too much on a portable tool set and note cards. (Yes, I still use note cards in 2022. I also wear neckties, wear a wristwatch, and listen to dead white guy music.)