With all the buzz currently surrounding the all-road, gravel bike category, it’s worth remembering that the racing or endurance road bike is how many custom builders got started in the industry, and it remains a mainstay of their businesses.

The NAHBS Awards are considered by many to have the most rigorous and methodical judging standards of any cycling event except possibly the Concours de Machines. This is a full presentation of the 2018 NAHBS Awards winners.

Todd Ingermanson of Black Cat Bicycles talks about an adventure bike he made for a customer, which combines a clever mix of tubes, components and bag incorporation methods.

Around 500 hours of work went into making this titanium bike according to Chris Dekerf, which is likely some kind of record. The 27-year veteran frame builder from Vancouver, Canada, says his horizons are still expanding.

DiNucci creates his lugs with investment casts, and they are proprietary to him. But anyone who looks at his bikes closely will see that his investment in framebuilding is total. Nothing escapes the eye of this master.

Caletti Cycles owner John Caletti offered his friend, the artist Jeremiah Kille, the opportunity to paint a bike, and the company walked off with the NAHBS Best Finish award.

Black Cat Bicycles of Aptos, California, won the coveted Best in Show award at NAHBS 2016. Jury members gave high praise to all the frame builders, saying it is getting more and more difficult to pick the winners.