North American Handmade Bicycle Show canceled completely for 2020
The 2020 North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) was originally scheduled to be held this past February in Dallas, Texas, but show organizer Don Walker made the decision to postpone the event until August, citing concerns with COVID-19 transmission — and rightfully so, given that the show exhibitors and attendees would not only be tightly packed indoors, but would also be hailing from all corners of the globe.
Unfortunately, infection rates continue to be heading in the wrong direction, and Walker has now announced that the 2020 show will be canceled entirely.
“While Texas is currently in Phase 3 of its reopening plan, COVID-19 cases in Dallas are still on the rise,” Walker said via press release. “And unfortunately, the governor hasn’t made any plan to allow large groups and events to take place. With NAHBS scheduled to take place in less than three months — and based on what we currently know and predictions for the summer — we’re making the difficult decision to cancel NAHBS 2020 and focus our efforts on 2021.
“Based on the many exhibitors I’ve spoken to, no one wants to be in a large crowd, primarily indoors, this summer. I’ve received similar feedback from the local cycling community in Texas. I’m certain that even if we held the show this August, attendance would be extremely low, which none of us want. Throw in the current difficulties of international travel and limited domestic travel, and the challenges of putting on a successful show this summer are insurmountable.”
Additional changes are on the way, too.
While NAHBS has always been held early in the calendar year, Walker says the 2021 edition will be pushed back by several months. He’s now looking at some time in September or October, and is also considering other host cities as well.
“Being in the third quarter has huge advantages, the highlights being: 1) It offers a better opportunity for more framebuilders to exhibit because they aren’t under the gun for spring deliveries; and 2) It puts us in the old Interbike timeframe that many of us had become accustomed to, during a time when there are no other shows domestically in the USA.”
Currently, the cities and dates being considered are as follows:
– Chicago, IL // Sep 9 – 12 2021
– Hartford, CT // Sep 29 – Oct 3, 2021
– Dallas, TX // Sep 16 – 19, 2021
– Indianapolis, IN // (dates to be confirmed)
“The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted each and every one of us in ways we never could have never anticipated,” Walker concluded. “I look forward to working with each of you in the months and years ahead, and coming back stronger than before. Thank you for your time, support, and dedication to the craft. And please, stay safe and healthy.”
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