DENVER, CO (BRAIN)—Gates Corp., maker of the chain-replacing Gates Carbon Drive™ belt drive for bikes, has entered a three-year sponsorship with the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. The sponsorship, which begins with the 2012 NAHBS next March 2-4 in Sacramento, is meant to support and spur growth in the booming custom bike building industry.
“Custom builders are the lifeblood of innovation and design in the bicycle industry, and Gates is pleased to partner with NAHBS to support entrepreneurs who are pushing the envelope of bike design and artistry,” said Frank Scurlock, director of global sales for Gates Carbon Drive. “We are excited to help promote this vibrant culture of domestic bike building.”
Started in 2005, the North American Handmade Bike Show has become one of the must-attend events in the industry, setting new attendance record year after year and drawing growing numbers of frame builders and fans of handmade bicycles.
“Since the Gates Carbon Drive technology made its debut at NAHBS in 2008, this exciting new technology has been creating more and more buzz, and we are delighted to welcome Gates to the NAHBS family with this significant partnership,” said Don Walker, president of NAHBS “Every year we see more and more beautiful belt-drive bikes on the show floor, and builders rave about these transmission systems.”
The sponsorship includes a new design contest at 2012 NAHBS. The Innovative Belt Drive Bike Design Contest will award $8,750 in cash and prizes to qualified independent frame builders who create the most innovative bicycles with Gates Carbon Drive for display at the Sacramento show. The NAHBS website (www.2012.handmadebicycleshow.com) features a link to the contest rules and entry information.
Contest entries will be judged on their sliding dropouts, belt tensioning systems, frame splits and other design factors. First prize is $5,000 in cash and prizes ($2,500 cash, 10 Carbon Drives valued at $2,500). Second prize is 10 Carbon Drives worth $2,500. Third prize is five Carbon Drives worth $1,250. Winning bikes will be displayed on the main awards stage on Saturday, March 3, and shown in the Gates booth on March 4. To see the official rules and enter go to www.gatescarbondrive.com/designcontest
“I enthusiastically embrace this Gates competition and am eager to see the creative energy it spurs at Sacramento next March,” Walker said.
