CHERUBIM's Sticky road bike
The North American Handmade Bicycle Show gives bike builders an opportunity to display their wares to the public. It also gives them a chance to gain recognition for their hard work.
At this year’s 8th annual show in Sacramento, a Japanese family business took the top honors with Best of Show and the President’s Award on Sunday.
CHERUBIM by Shin Ichi-Konno is the descendant of bicycle frame-building Konno Cycle Works founded in Tokyo in 1965. Hitoshi Konno launched the business after Japanese cyclists were dazzled by Italian bikes at the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 1964.
By the 1970s, three Konno brothers led the frame-building industry in Japan with their brands CHERUBIM, 3Rensho and Miyuki. CHERUBIM is the only surviving brand that carries the family tradition as its led by Shin Ichi Konno, Hitoshi’s son. Above is the CHERUBIM Sticky road bike.
University of the Fraser Valley won the People’s Choice award. The university east of Vancouver, BC, is home to frame builder Paul Brodie, who offers a continuing education course is steel bicycle frame building.
The Best New Builder award went to Stinner Frameworks of Santa Barbara, and Oregon-based Vendetta Cycles won the Best Finish award.
Previous awards, announced Saturday:
Materials Division
Best steel construction – Bishop Bikes, Ellis Cycles
Best titanium construction – Eriksen Cycles, Potts
Best carbon construction – Alchemy Bicycle Company
Best alternative material (bamboo, aluminum, wood,) – Paketa Cycles
Riding Discipline Division
Best city bike – Muse Cycles, Ira Ryan Cycles, Shamrock Cycles
Best road bike – Demon Frameworks, Rex Cycles
Best mountain bike – Retrotec-Inglis Cycles, Pereira Cycles, Naked Cycles
Best cyclocross bike – Six Eleven Bicycle Co., Moots
Best track bike – Rebolledo Cycles
Best tandem bike – Eriksen Cycles
Best experimental bike – Black Sheep Fabrications, Ti Cycles
Construction Division
Best lugged frame – Bishop Bikes
Best fillet frame – Bishop Bikes
Best TIG frame – Black Sheep Fabrications
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