We're officially excited: only three weeks until 21st-23rd May when we're going to the 2nd European Handmade Bicycle Exhibition at the Congress-Centrum Stadtgarten, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany.
Following on from the success of the first EHBE last year, the 2010 version will bring together the beautiful people and a lot more beautiful bikes from the cream of European bike & component makers as well as selected highlights from the rest of the world as well. So long as they're handmade.
Schwäbisch Gmünd is within easy reach of the international airports at Stuttgart, Munich and Frankfurt and connected to major road and rail networks. It's a holiday weekend in Germany and the fact that there is also a programme of cycling events being staged in and around the town over the period should make it a busy show, if last year was anything to go by.
Many exhibitors from last year re-booked on the spot and the exhibition organisers promise that there will be even more to see with an improved floor layout and more booth spaces.
Among the stars appearing will be Julie Racing Design and Le Cadre Cycles who will be holding a "build off" as well as, among others, De Rosa, Pegoretti, Moulton, Seven, Independent Fabrication, Brooks, Campagnolo, Hope, Reynolds, Serotta and Chris King.
Designed to be a European equivalent of the already well-established North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show (NAHBS) - which has itself rapidly grown from humble beginnings to become a feature of the US bike scene - the first ever EHBE far surpassed expectations in terms of the number of exhibitiors and visitors. This year's exhibition hopes to build on that and establish the EHBE as an integral part of the cycling calendar for everyone who loves beautiful bikes. See you there?
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