The Clairebarian Photogs the BC Bike Show, 2024

Claire was four years old when we last visited the BC Bike Show. The year was 2019. Jordie Lunn was running the Jump Jam. Her show highlights were purple Chromag Radar pedals and climbing up, up, up into a rooftop tent. My show highlight was chatting with Paul Brodie about his frame-building school. We had a good time, saw some interesting stuff, and bumped into a bunch of nice folks we know.

This year I’ll admit that we hummed and hawed about making the journey. It’s not exactly arduous, consisting of a bus ride, a Seabus ride, and a short walk. But, that did mean missing a mountain bike ride, so you can likely appreciate the dilemma. Plus, I remembered 2019 being very motor-assist-ized heavy. Would there be much to see?

Anyway, our friend Jaclyn at Essential Cycles fronted me a pass (kids are free) and told me I should go check it out, and Claire was eager to come along and take photos. Claire’s show highlights were picking some really cool socks at Outway and “watching people go upside down.” My show highlights were watching Claire frame photographs on my battered bought-used Olympus and catching up with some industry folks who are genuinely stoked on bicycles.

I’m going to leave anything else I have to say for the captions and some future follow-up pieces I hope to reap so in the meantime, here’s the BC Bike Show, 2024, through Claire’s lens.

Brodie Bicycles

Brodie didn’t have any current mountain bikes on display, but it’s still very much a part of their ethos.

Hi! Who knew there was so much fun to be had photographing photographs?

Nice looking rigs with good geometry and solid value from the Burnaby-based brand.

We both loved this Vancouver graphic.

Not everything Brodie does is steel, but my favourites are all ferrous.

Battle Axe Global

Claire thought these lowrider rigs were rad and took a lot (A LOT) of pictures. We’ve selected some of her favourites.

East Van.

That’s a lot of spokes.

That’s a lot of metal.

Vorsprung

(Nb. Vorsprung was next to an open outside door and the cold air flowing in was brutal. So if it looks like Claire was shivering when taking these photos… well… she was.)

Good parts make good parts. Almost all the parts for Vorsprung’s new shock are made in Whistler, BC. It’s also assembled there.

The Canadian twin-tube coilover will sell for a similar price to other premium rear shocks (think EXTesque pricing).

BC Bike Show

“It’s a bit blurry, but HE’S UPSIDE DOWN!”

Is this a corked 360° tail whip?

Lal Bikes

Not my first time seeing the Lal Bikes drivetrain. It’s sort of the opposite of my prefered rigid single-speed aesthetic.

The system is nifty though, if you haven’t had a chance to check it out in person jump on the opportunity if it comes up.

Is it the future, or even a future? I don’t know about all that. But there are advantages to the system.

Landyachtz

Do you ever wish bicycles had as much surface area for graphics as skateboards do? I suddenly find myself wondering how screen printing and full-frame bags go together.

Landyachtz does some sweet bicycle finishes all the same.

They’re passionate about locally made steel and titanium bicycles.

And skateboards.

Anodized titanium tubing.

Anodized titanium graphics.

And, skateboards.

They’re also the folks behind Reform Saddles.

SuspensionWerx

Our friends James & James from SuspensionWerx had a vacuum bleed machine and a whole collection of moto and mountain bike suspension upgrades, and some finished product on hand.

CaneCreek IL Coil shock. I’ll happily argue that this, or the air version, is the best aftermarket shock option for the most riders.

Claire quite enjoyed shooting the metal displays.

Volume spacers. Taste… I mean, experience the rainbow.

The highest level moto upgrade options custom tuned and installed.

MX-Tech shock upgrades.

There’s a story behind every bit of machining in the booth. If you have a few hours be sure to swing by the show next year.

NOBL Wheels

Lots of colour going on in the NOBL Wheels booth.

Valve stems colour options galore from Peaty’s.

Aenomaly SwitchGrade

I have quite a lot of hours on an Aenomaly SwitchGrade. The value proposition isn’t there for everyone, but folks that love them, LOVE them.

It’s a nice, BC designed, BC manufactured, and BC assembled piece that does work as advertised.

Trek Bikes

The Trek Wahoo 24 Trail HAS TO BE the creation of the same person who sold them on making the Stache?! $900 CAD for a rigid trail bike with good geo. I’m very surprised it only comes with 2.2″ rubber.