Bicycle Show

Sunday Bicycle Show   Home  

On Sunday, in the ballroom under the same roof as the worlds greatest motorcars, a dazzling array of the worlds most beautiful and technically advanced-for-their-age bicycles will be brought together.  While the main focus is lightweight racing and touring bicycles from the 1930’s through mid 1980’s, modern steel custom built bicycles will also be on display and judged. High-performance, non-suspension mountain bikes of the period are invited. Antique bicycles and especially those from the 1920’s and 1930’s are warmly welcomed. The organizers of Classic Bicycles Auburn want to “curate” a fantastic display of vintage bicycles, but also recognize that folks really enjoy displaying their pride-and-joy.  Therefore the organizers screen bicycles to make sure they are of a minimal quality standard, but are committed to not being overly restrictive.  This should be fun, not like trying to qualify for a mortgage!   Sunday Bike Show Set-up 7 am to 9 am Bicycles must stay on display floor until 3 pm

Judging and Awards

 

There will be a great number of amazing bicycles on display.  It’s going to be an exciting challenge to judge and evaluate them.  

There will be a two-tier structure to awards. 

First, bicycles will be assigned “groups” with defining characteristics likely to include nationality, age, bicycle type,  small vs large manufacturer, restoration status, and possibly “user” vs garage queen.  The exact group definitions won’t be decided until the overall list of approved bicycle entries is considered.  An objective is to place bicycles in groups of relatively comparable size.  So there will be a number of “groups”, and the winner of each group will receive a well-deserved certificate.

Second, there will be “trophies” awarded that will transcend the strict boundaries of an individual “group”.  Winning one of these trophies will convey serious bragging rights!  

And of course, modern construction “keeper of the flame” steel frame bicycles will have a valued place in the show!

 

Bicycle Registration

May 5th Newsflash – Tentatively Full

We have placed a “hold” on accepting additional entries for the bicycle show.  If you’ve submitted your bike registration form(s) and haven’t heard back regarding acceptance, you will hear back very soon.  

If we can reconfigure space, have cancellations, or if you are agreeable to having your bicycle on display indoors but not in the main bicycle display area, then more space may open up.  Email us at classicbicyclesauburn@gmail.com to get on the wait list. 

 

Click Here for the link to bicycle registration.  Please complete one form for each bike you wish to display.  We’ll then get back with you within a few days to tell you if your bicycle(s) is accepted. 

Note – we have a fairly large area dedicated to the bicycle display, so we’re not being overly restrictive at this point – yet.  As the space gets close to being filled up, we’ll be more selective.  Not every bike is a show-winner, but we like to give folks a chance to show-off their pride and joy.  This shouldn’t feel like college admissions, this should be fun and we want folks to participate!

Note – if we’ve accepted your bicycle(s), you must sign-up for the Sunday admission with bicycle(s) display, or a weekend package, within 4 days of notification or your bike(s) may loose their approved status.

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 There are tentative plans for additional “pop-up” displays on Friday and Saturday.  Friday would be resto-mod/user bikes and Saturday afternoon bicycles from “unsung” builders.  So these will provide a great opportunity to show of your pride-and-joy instead of (or possibly in addition to) Sunday’s main show.

 

 

Stand Issues?

Are you traveling from far away (i.e by air) or are you really having trouble sourcing a stand?  If so, please email us at classicbicyclesauburn@gmail.com  and we’ll see if we can help.

 

Shipping a Bike(s)

You can ship a bicycle to the museum.  You will then need to pack it up Sunday afternoon just after the show and have a label you can affix to the bicycle – and arrange to have the bike picked-up from the museum on Monday.

Note that this is done at your own risk and the museum will require you to complete a waiver form in order to receive it.  Please email classicbicyclesauburn@gmail.com and we’ll send you a copy of the waiver you’ll need to send to the museum.

 

 

Additional Information

You will need a stand to support your bicycle that is not wobbly.  We need to avoid damaging the ballroom floor, so sharp contact points on your bicycle and/or stand most be treated to avoid damage. 

Volunteers will have their eyes on the display area, but neither the museum nor Classic Bicycles Auburn can be responsible for loss or damage to your bicycle.  There may be a waiver to fill out when you arrive to display your bicycle

Unlike some shows, if a bicycle you are showing is also for sale, you can provide your cell number and it will be printed on your bike’s display sign. 

Stand Info

We want bikes on stands that aren’t tippy.  Tippy is subjective, but if folks do their best to bring stable stands we should be fine.

A stand that offers what we think offers a reasonable level of stability and which worked well at the 2022 show is the Superstand shown below.. 

Another stand that some folks used in Auburn in 2022 and which worked fine is the PRO stand (distributed by Shimano).  There are two versions, silver is for 26″ but seems to work swell for most vintage 700c bikes.  The black version is specifically for 700c/29er and is taller.

A great stand is the Nitto C-2 – any shop that buys form EuroAsia imports can source one for you.  But it’s pricey.

There are other stands that support one or both sides of the axle which work nicely.  The key is someone should be able to gently back into a bike without it tipping over as they “feel” the bike and stop backing into it!

Below are images of stands that are too tippy.  We think the common feedback stands are too tippy – relative to the Superstand, just a slight bump makes the bike fall over. 

Stands Below Are Unacceptable*

* There are some stands sorta like the middle one below that when used in pairs (one on each wheel) seem to give good results and doing so is acceptable