2025 Made show .......I'm not going.

 That's right- if you were under the impression that I was going to be there  I'm not surprised. The show website says that I will be in booth space # 324 ......but I will not. I did not register for the show and I did not pay for the space.... I guess that bit of information was not taken into consideration when the show management laid out the floor plan. The photo above is of my space from last year. Did I like the show ? Yeah, it was pretty good-I sold out of socks and made contact with two great shops from Japan- Circles and Blue Lug- both shops that I had read about and was very happy when they came by my booth and were introduced. 

So, am I done with bike shows forever ? Not really sure about that but this year no shows for me. I opted for vacations instead and I have had a couple and want to have a couple more before the end of the year. I also want to use the touring bike I built - for a show- and finally go on a bike tour before the tires rot off the rims from being stored so long. Yes- self neglect is a problem when you work for yourself and like your work. I'll miss seeing my friends at the show and will also miss spending time in Portland, a city I had serious thoughts about moving to a bit over 20 years ago. I really had a good time connecting with old friends and the pre-show ride around Portland with the visit to Chris King and Torch and File was the highlight for me. Sitting in a booth at a bike show is mostly a boring affair, at least for me-I had to bring some things from home like my bad music collection on cassettes and my guitar with which I can make my own bad live music. I did have bikes there but only got to ride once- that's the irony about bike shows-it's all about bikes but the riding part seems to be missing for the most part. I did do a lot of walking , though. 

So, if you do go to the show I hope that you enjoy it and that it is even better than last year. You are the reason the shows are worthwhile- there can be lots of cool bikes and talented builders there but if there's no people it's kind of pointless and depressing . Also, just in case you are wondering- I am not going out of business or retiring now- I'm just skipping the show........I think that after all these years and all the shows I am allowed to do that ........