Bikes and Builders of MADE 2024 (Part 1)

With additional words and photos by Tyler Dawson

Over the weekend, the MADE handmade bike show returned to Zidell Yards in Portland, Oregon, for its second edition. It drew an eclectic mix of the most talented framebuilders and makers from across the United States and beyond. Last year, MADE was a new event. It was hot, it was dark, and it was everything I hoped it would be—a culmination of beautiful minds and human-powered machines. This year, it was bigger, brighter, and more refined.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Along with a massive crowd of attendees, I spent several days wandering around the show grounds, chatting with builders, meeting new people from around the bike world, and seeking out the most interesting handmade bikes and products. My first roundup includes a selection from Rare Earth, Chumba, Mostly Forever, Doom Bars, Goodday Bikes + Curiosity Bags, Mosaic, Mone, and several other talented folks. See them all below, and stay tuned for more later this week!

Mosaic link

Boulder, Colorado

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

One of the first bikes that caught my eye was the Mosaic GT-1x in this stunning green-to-raw fade finish. Fully decked in JPaks bags with a fly patch to match, it’s ready for speedy single-trout-tracking. To make sure its pilot arrives in time for the hatch, it’s rolling on ENVE SESE 4.5s. The external cable routing for hassle-free de-hassling is a welcome touch on a premium frameset. Another well-thought-out detail is the “eye-patch” and 3D-printed spacer that shields the headtube badge from wear. Overall, this bike is a stunning example from one of the more prominent staple brands in the domestic frame-building world.

Rare Earth link

River Falls, Wisconsin

Many friends told me I had to visit a fellow Wisconsinite, Brian, of Rare Earth Cycle. He had two bikes on display, featuring twin top tubes (two bikes and four top tubes for those keeping track). His hardtail received lots of love, but the endurance-performance gravel bike stood out. It’s the kind of bike I yearn for in my shed: a comfortable bike with the pace of a race bike.

• 
• 

Brian built this for the Japanese Odyssey race. The cerakote finish was inspired by Japanese patterns and features bronze leaves in various places. Thin stays and a light tube set offer compliance, while relatively narrow tire clearance (42mm max, maybe) hint at this bike’s fast and efficient nature. A higher stack makes the entire cockpit more usable throughout a long ride. These Deda Gera handlebars have a fair amount of backsweep to allow a more natural wrist angle when riding on the tops. I’d certainly like to try them.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Brian’s design background is in footwear, furniture, and blacksmithing. His inspiration to get into building bikes is that he wanted to have control of the entire manufacturing process —something that his other work didn’t allow—while building the machines he found most alluring. The demands of bikepacking heavily influence Brian’s designs. He has completed the Great Divide and the Baja Divide on bikes of his own craft. When I asked about a particularly memorable bikepacking experience, he told me how heinous the Baja Divide is. “You’re somehow going into a headwind up loose sandy roads. It’s the worst riding conditions you can possibly have, but you’re still having the greatest time of your life.”

If you’re looking for an incredibly unique-looking bikepacking rig that still retains double diamond functionality, check out Rare Earth Cycle.

Apogee link

West Coast, USA

I met the crew at Apogee at last year’s show when they were still under the Albatross brand. Since then, they’ve refined their suspension module (now named the Free-Float Module, highlighting the floating nature of the shock) and slid the full-suspension project under the Apogee brand. The suspension system has become notably more compact while also adding some refinement to the kinematics that make it more linear and reduce pedal bob while seated.

• 
• 

I’m excited to see how these ride on trail given how efficient it felt riding one of their bikes around the parking lot. In the chunk, they should maintain plenty of composure thanks to the low center of gravity afforded by the clever packaging of the Free-Float Module. This attention to weight distribution was also a point made by Erik Fenner of Old Man Mountain Racks when lauding the advantages of a rack and side bags over a seat bag. This bike was finished with a giant Rockgeist frame bag with Swift Industries Gemini cargo packs. On a bike designed to move through rough terrain, getting the weight as low as possible makes a huge difference for stability and agility. The Apogee One is an incredibly exciting bike.

Announced at the show, Apogee opened their books for the first 25 customers. Those interested can currently purchase one of the Founder’s Edition bikes in a frameset or complete build.

Meeting People and Personalities

Tyler: As a hardcore cycling enthusiast and passionate admirer of bike culture, photographing MADE was an opportunity to immerse myself deeply in a world I love. Experiencing the event for the first time was surreal, and I was truly awestruck to be among so many legends and familiar faces from the cycling community.

• 
• 

From geeking out over bikes with Ronnie Romance himself, to witnessing Tom Ritchey casually brazing a set of handlebars like it was no big deal, to bombarding Mr. Paul Component with questions about his unique vintage brake levers—MADE was like a candy store, and I was the kid with an insatiable sweet tooth.

• 
• 
• 

As a relative newbie to the whole world of bikepacking, it was both humbling and inspiring to be amid so many badass humans. Picking a favorite moment is impossible. The whole thing was a dream. But, if I had to choose, I’d say the Barbaquas BBQ bike from Prandus Bicycle Company stole my heart. 

Doom Bars link

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Doom Bars, based out of the fiery inferno of Albuquerque, are bent and built by Keaton Haire. With many different shapes to choose from, MADE was a great place to let people try them out. I have had a particular curiosity in the Bikepacker’s Delight, a not-too-alternative bar that works great on a long tour or shreddy afternoon.

• 
• 

Featuring a 19-degree backsweep, 38 mm of rise, plenty of stem clamp area for accessories, and 875mm of trimmable width, these bars are adaptable to just about any flat-bar bike. Doom and Mone Bikes also had their collaboration bar on display, the Doomone. This high-riser bar would be a shoe-in for a klunker or for those wanting a different hand position on a mountain bike.

Goodday Bikes + Curiosity Bags link

Gunnison, Colorado

MADE brings so many framebuilders under one roof, which is also an important aspect of these framebuilders’ businesses. At Goodday Bikes + Curiosity Bags of Gunnison, Colorado, tubes, tires, and textiles roll in one door, and a complete bike with integrated bags rolls out the other.

Chris Besnia and Arly Landry are the minds behind this beautiful contraption. Chris began building bikes because he liked the old Schwinn-style frames but couldn’t afford a Retrotec. Being unable to find a bike that fit him as he wanted also motivated him to start building. Arly had a similar take on why she began sewing bags: there wasn’t a bag maker whose aesthetic perfectly matched the bike Chris had made her. She sewed one herself, which was the start of their partnership to create complete bikepacking rigs.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Designing their bikes with a holistic idea of how the customer will use the bike is an essential aspect of their process. Nobody perfectly fits the small, medium, and large dimensions that production bikes are built around; Chris and Arly believe everyone should have the experience of riding their perfect bike, designed with their body, use case, and desires in mind. A highlight of their time making bikes is how many customers have cried joyfully when receiving their personalized creations.

Chumba link

Austin, Texas

Chumba was out in force at this year’s show, with bikes at many booths, including their own. They teased their new model, the Cenote, a speedy bike designed around 40mm of fork travel and 50mm tire clearance. Named after the water-filled sinkholes of Texas, this bike will round out their gravel and all-road offerings. Also being teased is a longer stem from Industry Nine designed for drop-bar bikes.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

If longer travel is more your thing, they also changed their Yaupon. Now featuring a 3D-printed chainstay yoke made in Texas, it sports better tire and chainring clearance and a new M/L size. This model is quite intriguing as it comes in two different tube sets. The oversized, double-butted tubeset prioritizes strength and durability, while an optional Velospec heat-treated (USA-made) tubeset is more race-focused by being lighter and more compliant. This attention to detail makes Chumba a compelling brand in the performance bikepacking market.

• 
• 

Chumba even displayed a charity bike, their Terlingua, which lived at the Rolf Prima booth. Clad in Paul Components, White Industries, Astral Wheels, and a color-matched Old Man Mountain rack, the raffle is live on their site, and you can enter until September 16th.

Swift + Treehouse Cyclery Ride

Tyler: By Sunday, after two whirlwind days, we were itching to stretch our legs and enjoy some fresh air before diving back into the final day of Made. The sun had been playing hard-to-get since we arrived on Thursday night, so when we flung open the curtains to a gloriously sunny Sunday morning, it felt like a personal gift from the weather gods.

• 
• 

As luck would have it, Swift Industries and Treehouse Cyclery were hosting a group ride, and we couldn’t resist joining the fun. We met at Coava Coffee, and let me tell you, the turnout was massive—80+ riders, all buzzing with anticipation and caffeine. After fueling up, the whole crew saddled up and hit the road. The energy was electric, and the group seemed to grow with every block as we cruised down the east side of the Willamette River and looped back around and up to the venue.

• 
• 
• 

Huge shoutout to Beija Flor of Swift Industries and Alyssa Gonzalez of Treehouse Cyclery for organizing and leading the ride. It was hands down one of the highlights of the weekend—nothing like a community ride to remind you why we love this bike life!

Significant Other link

Front Range, Colorado

Ashley King of Significant Other Bikes had this wonderfully anodized bikepacking-focused hardtail on display at the Wolf Tooth stand. So many makers, like Ashley, designed their bikes with racks and gear in mind. I would be curious to know if consumers prefer a bespoke carrying solution or a more standard—and therefore more flexible—option?

• 
• 
• 

She started framebuilding with fixies inspired by NYC street cycling. Now based in Colorado, she still makes fixes but with greater tire clearance for tracklocross and gravel riding. If that’s your thing, she offers her Supersmash frameset in steel ($2,500) or titanium ($3,250). Want a full custom bike like this hardtail? She offers that, too. This bike has the tire clearance to have a date with whatever muddy route your burning heart desires.

BTCHN link

Chico, California

BTCHN Bikes always brings a stunner to the show. My favorite bike from last year was present and covered in dust. This year, they brought a significantly more complicated contraption. Using a heavily modified dropper post that retracts when you push the custom Paul Components lever, the bike’s seat tube angle changes about 10 degrees, from 73 to 83 degrees, which makes me incredibly curious to ride it. The ability to change geometry on the fly makes sense in Chico. Rolling but punchy hills mean a steep seat is ideal for climbing and a slack seat tube aids in comfortable descending. With no wheelbase or steering geometry change, the bike’s handling remains consistent anywhere within the infinite adjustment range.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

After seeing an Albatross hardtail at last year’s show, builder Tyler was intrigued by the idea of decoupling the seatstays and seattube. That Albatross hardtail had seatstays that met the downtube, which freed up the seattube for sick tricks. As Tyler says, framebuilders are solitary creatures who don’t often see each other, so events like this are vital for the survival of their species and evolution of their designs. Displayed next to the gravel bike we saw last year, it was cool to see the range in design capability that BTCHN is capable of.

Swift Industries link

Seattle, Washington

To nobody’s surprise, Swift had lots of bags on lots of bikes at the show. My favorite ended up being this modified Rivendell Susie Longbolts with a disc brake conversion. Back home, I have a repaired Baphomet Hardtail that’s fully rusted where we re-brazed sections. I have a soft spot for bikes with their intentions on their tubes. This Rivendell owned by Swift’s employee, Weston, is the one all of us in the PNW want. When a normal ride is a couple thousand feet of wet descending, rim brakes just don’t cut it.

• 
• 

Shows like MADE are equally a place for brands to display what they’re offering and for consumers to discuss the products they want. I know it’s sacrilege that this bike exists, but I love it and I want it. Swift is also coming out with the bag in the basket soon. I can’t give you all the details, but know that Weston had to remove the prototype and put a newer pre-produciton sample on the bike for photos. That took two seconds and the securing mechanism is simple. Compared to their Sugarloaf, this looks like a more casual, everyday kind of bag.

Mostly Forever link

Bend, Oregon

Last year, we featured builder Maxwell Keegan’s unpainted and perfectly rusted Oregon Timber Trail bike. For this show, he decided to paint his bike but kept the brown aesthetic rolling. The simple brown bike was a breath of fresh air in a venue filled with anodizing of every color imaginable and paint lines more intricate than the internals of the BTCHN dropper post top tube. This bike is as practical and capable as they come. It featured his own titanium handlebars and bar bag cradle prototype. The cradle is designed to house a Wolf Tooth Encase tool. There will be a final model available on his website soon. The semi-integrated rear rack is for bikepacking and is easily removed for day rides.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

On Saturday, I showed up to Zidell yards a bit early. Most exhibitors were just filing in or getting as many Zs as possible at their hotels. Max? He was hitting the klunker course on his BMX. If fun is your thing, you should look at Mostly Forever. He says his favorite part of building bikes is having fun riding them, and I completely believe him. The name Mostly Forever comes from how long he had been wanting to make bikes, and one day he just decided to start. Max, I hope you keep making bikes, mostly forever.

Coffee Outside Portland

Tyler: There’s no better way to dive into the local cycling scene than by hitting up the weekly Coffee Outside, where a bunch of local riders gather to sip their favorite brews and bond over bikes. This weekend, we dragged ourselves out of bed early, shook off the sleep, and cruised down to Willamette Park to join the Portland Coffee Outside crew.

• 
• 

The turnout was awesome—a delightful mix of locals and out-of-towners, all united by their love for cycling. I can’t think of a more welcoming community. The moment I rolled up, it felt like I was right at home. We saw some killer bikes, met some amazing folks, and even got to pet a pup. Seriously, what more could you ask for?

Sanitas link

Durango, Colorado

On initial inspection, this Sanitas looks like a titanium full-suspension bike. Get closer, and it becomes clear that this is far more interesting than that. Many soft tails suffer from a lack of damping, which leads to a bouncy ride feel. Sanitas solves this by building a shock-driven single pivot but without the pivot. Instead, they rely on titanium’s “infinite” fatigue life to provide 70mm of tuneable, efficient flex.

• 
• 

The Sanitas brand has a long history with their knowledge in titanium craftsmanship. The brand was partly started by the founder of Dean bikes. The intentional use of its properties evidences this deep understanding of the space-like frame material. Efficient and lightweight, this bike sounds like a very desirable bikepacking rig.

Mone Bikes link

Silver City, New Mexico

One of the more amusing parts of the show was hearing a distant train horn echo throughout Zidell Yards. The culprit: Cjell of Moné bikes. Throughout the show, Cjell would give an excellent toot to entertain the crowd. Last year, he brought an intricately brazed full-suspension. This year, he brought far simpler bikes: a fixie, a klunker, and a children’s strider.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Cjell loves coaster brakes, to the point that he designed his own coaster cooler for sustained descents. This klunker featured his collaboration with Doom Bars, Chris King, his own stem, and iconic Moné touches like brass nipples and seatpost collar. The strider kids bike was, as all striders should be, specced with Paul Components parts and Vans tires. Both bikes were finished in his iconic “Turbo Midnight” to display the quintessential brass fillets of the Moné brand.

Chris King Buzz

Tyler: Thursday evening kicked off with a bang for makers and industry folks as we gathered for a chill “get to know each other” ride that set the tone for the excitement ahead. Starting from Zidell Yards, the crew pedaled through Portland’s endlessly charming neighborhoods, climbed up through Forest Park, and then coasted down to the Chris King headquarters.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Once there, we were greeted with a live band, Cajun food from Cajan Papa’s, and a special brew—a collaboration between Block15 Brewing Co. and Chris King—aptly called Buzzworks Northwest Pilsner. It was the perfect drink for the occasion, catching up with old friends and making new ones, all set against the backdrop of the legendary machine shop. The energy of the evening was contagious, and it was a perfect start to what promised to be an unforgettable weekend.

Ombraz link

Bellevue, Washington

And lastly, something that’s very exciting for those of us who are Ombraz obsessed. For some context, I’ve been wearing prescription Ombraz for the last three years. I’ve found them to be revolutionary. Unlike the traditional glasses I wore before, I haven’t broken or lost them. I have even been in a car crash, leaving me with a small cut where the glasses cut into my face after I bounced my head off the steering wheel. The glasses were undamaged (Ombraz, 1… face, 0).

• 
• 

One problem I have had is that they can get dirty due to how they sit pretty close to the bridge of my nose, which is why I was quite excited to find them at MADE with some new products to fix this. Hanging out in the sun were new side shields for various models, an excitingly speedy-looking upcoming model dubbed the Rifugio, and a Nose Rider to alter the fit of your shades. The Nose Riser should help with how close the glasses sit while aiding in ventilation. It will also allow folks with very shallow nose bridges (commonly called “Asian Fit” by big glasses) to customize the fit.

These 3D-printed parts are made in the same facility that produces the futuristic honeycomb saddles we’ve started to see from increasingly more brands. Again, the inspiration and collaboration between vendors at events like these are why they are so important. I was stoked to meet the crew behind Ombraz, as their product is one of my favorite things to use daily. The Rifugios are set to launch next spring.