Rigs of the 2026 MADE Bike Show: Attendee Edition

This is now our fourth time showcasing attendee rigs at a bike show, and it remains one of my all-time favorite projects. We weren’t entirely sure what to expect when we put out our first callout at MADE last year, but judging by the turnout, laughs, smiles, and familiar faces, it’s clearly something worth continuing. This time around, it felt more like a family reunion than a one-off series. A few minutes before our scheduled start, I got a text from my friend Rick with a photo of a posse already forming outside the bike valet area, waiting for us. There’s something special about setting aside an hour or two to chat with regular folks and hear about the bikes they love, especially at a show packed with so many extraordinary creations.

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I’m happy to report this attendee rigs shoot was our biggest yet. Neil and I had a constant stream of cyclists roll through, and now that we’ve done this a few times, we have a pretty good system. Neil calls someone over, we have a stick on the ground to indicate where they should stand, he asks them their name, where they’re from, about their bike, and what they’re most excited to see at the show, and I snap a quick portrait. Most take a minute or two, and we had over 60 people come through this year. Some people saw our callout earlier in the week, and some just happened upon it and decided to take part. As an added perk this year, we gave everyone who participated a BIKEPACKING.com bottle and some stickers.

Portland might be the most interesting place to document attendees’ bikes. In the roundup below, you’ll see titanium dream machines, stunning handbuilt bikes, budget builds, cargo bikes, vintage mountain bikes, and rowdy mountain bikes. It’s got to be one of the most well-rounded collections yet! Walking through the bike valet area over the weekend, I came across hundreds of stunning bicycles from the folks who took time out of their schedule to attend the show. After all, the MADE bike show wouldn’t exist without them.

Mara

Seattle, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Friends, cool bikes, and just having a good time.
BIKE: Wilde Supertramp.
FAVORITE PART: I love the orange accents.

Richard

Issaquah, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: All my YouTube heroes and friends I haven’t seen in a while.
BIKE: Singular Peregrine.
FAVORITE PART: My new White Industries cranks.

Landre

Seattle, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Everything, this is my first MADE.
BIKE: Primos Dame.
FAVORITE PART: The color, it’s my favorite color ever!

Rob

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: I’ve got my eyes on some new PDW bottle cages.
BIKE: Fairlight Secan.
FAVORITE PART: My Swift Industries handleabar bag, I use it for everything.

George

Kent, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Yesterday I just spoke with friends, so today I’m excited to see the bikes.
BIKE: Fitz Dirt Rando.
FAVORITE PART: John Fitsgerald’s signature on the frame.

Rick

Bainbridge Island, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Digging into the bikes and the detailed stuff.
BIKE: Otso Warakin.
FAVORITE PART: My Porcelain Rocket frame bag; they don’t make them like this anymore.

Zach

Seattle, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Chatting with great people.
BIKE: Custom Liberation Fab.
FAVORITE PART: The slightly unusual silver Cane Creek headset.

Mike

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Whatever Mone brings, he’s a talented dude.
BIKE: Bantam adventure bike.
FAVORITE PART: My purple Sotto Voce headset from Chris King, made exclusively for Eurobike one year, and my custom rooster head badge.

Isaiah

Lander, Wyoming

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Ronnie’s stuff; I’m a huge fan of his bikes.
BIKE: Crust Evasion, 1st gen frame, 2nd gen fork.
FAVORITE PART: My rear hub.

Dave

Redwood City, California

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: I always like being surprised.
BIKE: Surly Midnight Special.
FAVORITE PART: My dynamo lights, they are essential.

Max

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: All the ingenuity and creativity.
BIKE: Mostly Forever trail-packing, everything bike.
FAVORITE PART: The headtube badge, with is an offcut from the downtube.

Kelsey

Seattle, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Meet people I know from the internet in real life, and to get some inspiration for my next analog bike.
BIKE: Riese & Müller Load 60.
FAVORITE PART: Being able to bring my kids on adventures.

Rodney

Salem, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: People I follow on the internet, like Russ from Path Less Pedaled, Blue Lug, and Swift Industries.
BIKE: My 90s Giant step-thru ATB conversion.
FAVORITE PART: My saddle, I’ve had it for over 10 years and I bought it for $40.

Dario

Bellingham, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Something that isn’t a 32-inch bike.
BIKE: My hardtail.
FAVORITE PART: How abused the head tube is. There’s a horrible amount of material missing.

Brad

Bend, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Neil’s Rare Earth.
BIKE: 2001 Bianchi Grizzly.
FAVORITE PART: This chapstick holder I got from Travis at Paul Components yesterday.

Michaela

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: All the little details and some gravel bikes.
BIKE: Gnargo cargo bike.
FAVORITE PART: Riding in the lower power modes and still cranking out some watts.

Jaden

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Justin’s Fiddlehead.
BIKE: My own creation from Danielle Schon’s framebuilding class.
FAVORITE PART: I love the color, the zucchini theme, and the bits of rust.

Danielle

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: All the cool bikes and what people are doing with bicycles.
BIKE: Salsa Fargo.
FAVORITE PART: The whole thing, it’s a bit of a frankenbike.

Paul

Minneapolis, Minnesota

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: I’m always a sucker for anodized stuff.
BIKE: All-City Super Professional.
FAVORITE PART: My Teravail Feldspar bar. They are super comfortable and great for gravel and riding around town.

Chester

Seattle, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Talking to Black Sheep and the EVT bike stand guy.
BIKE: GT Karakoram.
FAVORITE PART: My bell and my XTR parallel-pull brakes.

John

Seattle, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: The bikes the builders are actually riding.
BIKE: 1989 GT Karakoram.
FAVORITE PART: My U-brake.

Dustin

Seattle, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Talking to the people, Schon, and Woodpecker.
BIKE: 1993 Bridgestone X02.
FAVORITE PART: The frame, which is made from Ishiwata tubing from Japan.

Hasol

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: The SimWorks booth, La Marche, and Mone.
BIKE: Tanglefoot Hardtack.
FAVORITE PART: I’ve been loving the Wolf Tooth Waveform pedals.

Matt

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Everyone’s creations. I’m really interested in handmade frames.
BIKE: Schwinn Crisscross.
FAVORITE PART: The frame.

Aaron

Seattle, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: If they have any green tires…
BIKE: Litespeed Appalachian.
FAVORITE PART: My green tires.

Thomas

Burlington, Vermont

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: The bikes. It’s so overwhelming.
BIKE: Chromag Arcturian.
FAVORITE PART: The fork. I’ve lusted after Intend forks for years, and when they announced a limited edition run of colors, I knew it would be mine forever.

Jeremy

Minneapolis, Minnesota

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: I’m actually looking forward to seeing all the bikes outside in the bike valet area, the daily drivers.
BIKE: Surly Karate Monkey.
FAVORITE PART: My pink Paul dropper level. That was the first part, and everything else came together from that.

Kevin + Eloise

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: The people, accessories, and booths.
BIKE: Tern GSD.
FAVORITE PART: The bench on the back to hold my two girls.

Ryan

Milwaukie, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: The mini velos.
BIKE: Mosaic GT-2X.
FAVORITE PART: The tire clearance, there are 2.4s in there right now.

Ari

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: The local Portland builders.
BIKE: Soma Double Cross.
FAVORITE PART: My frame bag, I love it.

Andy

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: I’m going in blind this year. I’m looking forward to being surprised.
BIKE: Kruch GTREX.
FAVORITE PART: The bars, they really draw people in.

Skyler

Powell River, British Columbia

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: The most crazy creations of really artistic bikes.
BIKE: Esker Japhy.
FAVORITE PART: The rack, which I make, and the pedals from Outlier Components in Canada.

Alexi

Lake Oswego, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Meeting other wooden bike riders.
BIKE: A Bamboo Bike made with Portland State University.
FAVORITE PART: The micro cracks in the bamboo, which absorb all the chatter.

Ty + Cody

Portland, OR + Saint John’s, Newfoundland

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: All the bikes and meeting cool people.
BIKE: Parkpre Team 925 + Trek 970
FAVORITE PART: Ty: The titanium coated frame.

Eric

Eugene, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: All these great trends influencing the builder has got me really excited.
BIKE: Neo Atlantis from Jarod Bourdeau of AMG Cyclery.
FAVORITE PART: This little flower holder Jarod put on the fork.

Reverend Phil

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: We’ll see if I make it, this is such a good scene out here. Pretty good vibes.
BIKE: Dust Bowler tall bike.
FAVORITE PART: That when I ride it everyone can see me, so I don’t fear for my life.

John

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Center stands on cargo bikes.
BIKE: OMNIUM Mini.
FAVORITE PART: I really like my Paul cranks.

Ray

New Jersey

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Neat gadgets and fun ideas.
BIKE: Lynskey Elysium.
FAVORITE PART: My Better Bolts.

Chris

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: All the cool parts.
BIKE: Fuji Feather.
FAVORITE PART: The brake bridge that I cut off to fit bigger tires.

Logan

Vancouver, British Columbia

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: The King Cage guys bending some cages.
BIKE: Landyachtz CB II
FAVORITE PART: My Threefold Objects front rack, I project I launched this spring.

Brian

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: People like Cjell Mone and Chris Wilson.
BIKE: Mostly Forever Livingwell.
FAVORITE PART: My bags. I use them for commuting, social rides, everything.

Blake

Beaverton, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: This is my fourth MADE, so I like seeing all the new stuff and what’s coming down the road.
BIKE: 2023 Salsa Warbird.
FAVORITE PART: My Redshift Top Shelf handlebars and my Swift Industries bag.

Brian

Vancouver, British Columbia

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Just to hang out and meet people.
BIKE: Bassi Hog’s Back.
FAVORITE PART: My small chainring and stickers from my travels.

Nora

Los Angeles, California

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: The paint jobs and perhaps another future bike.
BIKE: A custom GuidolinPepe from Rosario, Argentina.
FAVORITE PART: The custom paint job, which was a suprise.

Mike

Seattle, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: I’m desperately curious about 32-inch bikes.
BIKE: Black Mountain Mod Zero.
FAVORITE PART: The frame, but also my Swift Industries bag.

Shaggy

Inland Empire, California

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Everything.
BIKE: Land Shark.
FAVORITE PART: The titanium stem.

Oscar

California

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: To chat with some industry friends who just got to town today.
BIKE: Brompton Sea Lion.
FAVORITE PART: The cool raw lacquer paint job.

Sadie + Quinn

Portland, Oregon

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Sadie: Tomii Cycles. Quinn: All the cool frames people are putting together.
BIKE: Massi Special Giramondo + Velo Orange Polyvalent
FAVORITE PART: Sadie: all the bronze details. Quinn: My Ghooost Flower or Fauna Components fork cages.

Aaron, Billy, + Wendell

Poulsbo / Whidbey Island

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Aaron: the bikes behind the booths that people ride. Billy: Last year, I bought a bike I saw. I’m going not to repeat that this year.
BIKE: Esker Solitaire, Bearclaw Beaux Jaxon, Surly Bridge Club.
FAVORITE PART: Aaron: Rat King bars and rack. Billy: I’m a heavy bike guy, so having a fast and light bike for once.

Ashley

Bellingham, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: I like the shiny bikes that blind you.
BIKE: Kona Rove.
FAVORITE PART: My giant basket and my fork.

Katie

Olalla, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: I’m just stoked on seeing the people and what they bring to the show.
BIKE: Kona Sutra.
FAVORITE PART: My frame bag patch.

Jordan

Berkeley, California

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: All the little details, whether you’re supposed to notice them or not.
BIKE: 2017 Surly Ogre.
FAVORITE PART: My handlebar and stem.

Ben

San Jose, California

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Everything people have worked on and getting some inspiration.
BIKE: Trek MultiTrack.
FAVORITE PART: I like the brakes and the old Hadley hubs.

Ken

Tacoma, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: To see some of the frames I’ve seen online, but in real life.
BIKE: Ritchey Outback.
FAVORITE PART: I’ve always wanted DT 350 hubs, and I finally built a bike with them.

Nathaniel

Tacoma, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: Thomson and Paul Components booths.
BIKE: Thomson Piedmont.
FAVORITE PART: The titanium frame.

David

Tacoma, Washington

MOST EXCITED TO SEE: I wanna know if Ronnie brought any of his wallets.
BIKE: Brompton M6L.
FAVORITE PART: The fold and the gold.

RIGS OF THE 2026 MADE BIKE SHOW (VIDEO)

In our eighth video from the 2026 MADE Bike Show, Neil chatted with more than 60 attendees about their favorite part of their bike and what they were most excited about seeing at the show. From custom creations to well-loved adventure rigs, there were some great bikes in the mix!. Watch it below…

Further Reading

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