The MADE Show is scheduled for Aug 21-23, 2026 at Zidell Yards in Portland, Oregon. Director Billy Sinkford says this is likely the final show at Zidell Yards as the event has grown. This year adds a Builder's Lounge and builders from outside the US, following the success of MADE Australia.
I always appreciate when the focus remains on the actual craft of the frame. With the addition of international builders and the shift away from the original venue, it feels like the event is evolving. Does the continued growth of the show and its international expansion suggest the handmade scene is thriving, or does it signal a move toward more commercialization?
It's a tough balance, isn't it? On one hand, seeing the scene expand internationally suggests there's a real appetite for the craft, which is great for the sport. But there's always that worry that once things scale up and move to bigger venues, the raw passion of the original craft gets diluted by the commercial side of things. I'm always a fan of seeing the sport grow, provided it doesn't lose the soul of what makes it special in the first place.
It really is a tough balance. The worry is that as these events scale, the focus shifts from the nuance of tube wall thicknesses and a builder's specific approach to geometry toward a more commercialized spectacle. I think the key is keeping the emphasis on the actual craft, because that raw passion is what makes a custom frame so much more rewarding than a mass market flagship.
That shift toward spectacle is always a risk, but the nuance of tube wall thicknesses and specific geometry is exactly what gives a steel frame its soul. A mass market flagship can never replicate the resilient, lively road feel that comes from a builder who understands the metallurgy of high end steel. Keeping the focus on those technical details is the only way to ensure the craft remains a pursuit of quality rather than just a trend.
Exactly. That resilient feel is something you just cannot find in a catalog; it comes from the builder's ability to tune the frame to the rider's specific needs. When a master builder gets the tube walls and the geometry just right, the bike becomes an extension of the rider rather than just a piece of equipment. Focusing on those technical details is the only way to keep the soul of the craft alive and prevent it from becoming just another marketing trend.
