Our readers love the North American Handmade Bicycle Show, and so do we. That’s why we were all saddened to learn of its postponement due to the COVID-19 virus.
What to do? The show has been rescheduled to August, but we still have plenty of great NAHBS content to share with you. We’re going to have our usual series of pre-NAHBS interviews to put the spotlight on a handful of our favorite builders – and will start sharing these stories NOW, when the original show was scheduled to begin. Economic times will be tough for us all, but perhaps even more so for small independent businesses. Thus, we feel it is our duty to help promote these builders, and keep the excitement going all the way to the forthcoming August NAHBS.
Please enjoy the words and images from our first interview, with Brad Bingham of Bingham Built. Based in Steamboat, CO, they’re known for beautiful rides, perfect stack-of-dimes welding, and some truly unique designs.
Bikerumor.com: What’s your name, your bike brand, and where are you based?
Brad: Brad Bingham, Bingham Built, Steamboat Springs, CO.
Bikerumor.com: How long have you been making bikes? How’d you get into it?
Brad: 20+ years. Had an inherent interest in bikes & frame design, built first bike on my own and then went to UBI and then was recruited to work at Moots. The rest is history.
Bikerumor.com: How many frames have you built, and what’s your material of choice? Why that material?
Brad: I have been involved in construction of thousands of bikes. Titanium for it’s superior ride quality, durability, and wonderful aesthetic.
Bikerumor.com: What’s going to be the highlight in your NAHBS booth this year?
Brad: We’ll be highlighting an all-road disc bike built up with a Campy super record groupset & Campy wheelset. Also a hardtail MTB, a couple gravel rigs, and possibly a touring bike.
Bikerumor.com: What’s your inspiration lately?
Brad: Our customers are an inspiration because everyone wants something slightly different and unique. Also bikepacking has been an inspiration for me since I’ve gotten into it more in the past few years.
Bikerumor.com: Any unique questions you use to help customers get a bike that’s really dialed for them?
Brad: Where are you from & what kind of riding do you do, what are your riding goals, what are you hoping to achieve with this bike?
Bikerumor.com: What’s the oddest request you’ve gotten for a custom build?
Brad: A full suspension road bike with a dropper seatpost. It was showcased in our NAHBS booth last year.
Bikerumor.com: Someone calls you up and says “Can you make me a race bike?” – Describe the first kind of bike that pops in your head?
Brad: A few – because I don’t know what kind of racing they do – is it a road race, gravel race, or mountain bike race bike?
Bikerumor.com: Sum your brand up in one word:
Brad: Handbuilt.
Bikerumor.com: What is your website and Instagram handle?
Brad: @binghambuilt
