For anyone with even a hint of emotional attachment to cycling, the second edition of Laurent Frieden's annual Velo Cosmos event offered a rare and delightful opportunity to reminisce, learn, and immerse oneself in the storied world of cycling. 

The one-off Breezer Kite

The event wasn’t a gallery display or a marketplace; it was a worldly gathering that wove together bike rides, communal dinners, seminars by and about its iconic people and events, bike art, barroom chats, and a concours d’elegance featuring bike designs and innovations that have evolved to meet an ever-expanding range of uses and styles of riding

Mountain bike pioneer Joe Breeze talked about the one-off Tour of California

Venues are important, and the venue for this event was near perfect: the historic, exquisitely restored Holbrooke Hotel in Grass Valley—a former gold mining town nestled in the foothills of California's Sierra Nevada mountains. The room was not vast, but with roughly 100 attendees over the three days and nearly 50 vintage bicycles on display, the scale felt about right.

If you're ever in Grass Valley, this is the place to stay!

Laurent may have wished for a bit more room to better showcase the bicycles and perhaps more lighting, but for me, the event's composition struck a gratifying balance. When the main space got crowded or attendees sought quieter conversation, groups peeled off to the adjoining bar and lounge area, maintaining an easy and self-regulated flow throughout. Should the event expand in the future then adjustments might be necessary, but as it stood, the execution felt both considered and harmonious. Kudos to Laurent for orchestrating it with such finesse.

Laurent Frieden, left, looks on as mountain bike pioneer Joe Breeze discusses his Kite bike

Laurent is a Luxembourg native who became hooked on mountain biking back in the early '90s, and has since become a collector of classic mountain bikes. He founded Velo Cosmos not only as a showcase for classic bikes but more broadly as a tribute to the rich and evolving history of cycling.

For classic bike geeks this was paradise

Most attendees at Velo Cosmos had in common a deep historical connection to cycling, and for them, the event was an engaging journey into the past—often illuminated by fresh or expanded perspectives.

This 1987 Steve Potts bike was a star of the Concours 

For those without such a history, the gathering offered captivating stories and, above all, the profound message that we are part of something greater: a vibrant culture and community so deep and far reaching that even seasoned veterans continue to find new stories and perspectives on things from the past.