Going back to 2012. It was in Sacramento, the state capital of California, that I attended NAHBS for the first time. Now, four years later, I stand on that same ground again. It has been a while since NAHBS was held in California. While some things have changed significantly since then and others have remained the same, the realization of how time passes, combined with the fact that there are so many people who always make us feel refreshed, is something we consider truly irreplaceable.
One major point of change compared to four years ago is the rise of semi-custom, short-lead-time handmade bike builders, as represented by Cielo By Chris King and BreadWinner Cycles.
BreadWinner Cycles, who weren't working as a duo back in 2012. Tony, one of the builders, mounts his bike on his favorite car and heads out to the trails every weekend to enjoy the mountains to the fullest.
The new model that the two from BreadWinner brought with them this time is a pure all-mountain bike with the very approachable name, Good Water.
Named after a trail in Utah, this bike is a versatile mountain bike that can accommodate "semi-fat" 27.5+ (3.0″) tires and is also compatible with 29×2.3″ tires. It is a bike packed with the insights of Tony Pereira, who excels at mountain riding.
We installed SimWorks By Honjo fenders on the Continental.
We were fortunate to have the opportunity to prepare this bike, which had already been sold to a customer in Japan, for the show.
Furthermore, among the existing models—the LOLO (road model), HOLE SHOT (cyclocross model), and B-ROAD (gravel grinder)—it is now possible to choose an original rear end with 142x12mm thru-axle spacing for the disc brake versions.
Cielo By Chris King announced a new model called the BASE RACER. In addition to featuring a 142x12mm thru-axle and the new T47 BB standard, it comes equipped with an ENVE GRD fork as standard and has the clearance to accommodate tires up to 38c, making it a true gravel grinder.
And, celebrating its 40th anniversary, Chris King announced an anniversary color: Olive Drab. It seems this option will be added to replace the green color that was discontinued much to everyone's regret.
After the first day, we headed to the official party held at Rex Cycles, a local Sacramento builder who also runs a bike shop. Chris King hosts parties at shows in various locations every year, but using a local shop like this as a venue—while it may seem obvious—is something that can only be done because they care about the people involved and the enrichment of the community beyond.
And I spotted a chef you might all recognize, cooking up a storm and serving meals to the attendees alongside his perfectly synchronized partner!