The World’s 21 Most Beautiful Handmade Bikes

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Every year, the best indie frame builders and component makers gather for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show to show off their new custom-built whips. At the 2016 event last weekend in Sacramento, more than 150 exhibitors presented every kind of bike imaginable—from custom DH shredders to elegant commuters. We sent photographer Max Whittaker to shoot the highlights. Photo: The Ventana Wolfram hardtail features a 9-speed Pinion gearbox, belt drive, and 27.5+ wheels.

Every year, the best indie frame builders and component makers gather for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show to show off their new custom-built whips. At the 2016 event last weekend in Sacramento, more than 150 exhibitors presented every kind of bike imaginable—from custom DH shredders to elegant commuters. We sent photographer Max Whittaker to shoot the highlights.

Photo: The Ventana Wolfram hardtail features a 9-speed Pinion gearbox, belt drive, and 27.5+ wheels.

The Sycip BBQ Bike comes equipped with a rear rack designed to hold a small propane grill. A cutting board and knife fit in the front rack. Thankfully, it's an e-bike to help you haul all that food and gear.
(Max Whittaker)

The Sycip BBQ Bike comes equipped with a rear rack designed to hold a small propane grill. A cutting board and knife fit in the front rack. Thankfully, it’s an e-bike to help you haul all that food and gear.

The nicest kid’s bike around, the Triton Mitrich is a custom titanium Strider-style ride with a Chris King headset and hubs on 12-inch wheels.
(Max Whittaker)

The nicest kid’s bike around, the Triton
Mitrich is a custom titanium Strider-style ride with a Chris King headset and hubs on 12-inch wheels.

Retrotec is a classic mountain bike brand. Here, Curtis Inglis continues the classic Triple design built around modern 27.5+ tires.
(Max Whittaker)

Retrotec is a classic mountain bike brand. Here, Curtis Inglis continues the classic Triple design built around modern 27.5+ tires.

In production now, the Alchemy Arktos won the People's Choice and Best Mountain Bike awards at NAHBS and will be available in March.
(Max Whittaker)

In production now, the Alchemy Arktos won the People’s Choice and Best Mountain Bike awards at NAHBS and will be available in March.

A Steve Rex-built, full stainless fixie. Rex won for Best Fillet.
(Max Whittaker)

A Steve Rex-built, full stainless fixie. Rex won for Best Fillet.

This English Cycles stainless steel road bike weighs a staggeringly light 9.9 pounds, with pedals.
(Max Whittaker)

This English Cycles stainless steel road bike weighs a staggeringly light 9.9 pounds, with pedals.

The Razik Vortex uses handwoven carbon as the main tubes.
(Max Whittaker)

The Razik Vortex uses handwoven carbon as the main tubes.

Soulcraft's Sean's Treehorn was one of two bikes featuring the new “road plus” tires introduced by WTB at NAHBS. The Treehorn is equipped with the 650x47c road tires for endurance road and gravel rides.
(Max Whittaker)

Soulcraft’s Sean’s Treehorn was one of two bikes featuring the new “road plus” tires introduced by WTB at NAHBS. The Treehorn is equipped with the 650x47c road tires for endurance road and gravel rides.

Bastion Cycles offers custom frames with 3D-printed titanium lugs and carbon tubes. Its website allows you to choose your geometry and see how it compares to a large catalog of production bikes.
(Max Whittaker)

Bastion Cycles offers custom frames with 3D-printed titanium lugs and carbon tubes. Its website allows you to choose your geometry and see how it compares to a large catalog of production bikes.

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