The best handbuilt mountain bikes at NAHBS

<source media="(max-width: 320px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=160%2C106, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=320%2C213 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=480%2C319 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=640%2C426 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 375px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=190%2C126, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=380%2C253 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=570%2C379 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=760%2C506 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 425px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=215%2C143, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=430%2C286 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=645%2C429 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=860%2C572 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 768px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C196, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=590%2C393 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=885%2C589 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=1180%2C786 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(max-width: 992px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=136%2C90, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=272%2C181 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=408%2C271 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=544%2C362 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <source media="(min-width: 993px)" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=155%2C103, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=310%2C206 2x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=465%2C309 3x, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413 4x" type="image/jpeg"> <img class="wp-image-299139 size-portrait_thumbnail image-handler__image image-handler__image--aspect no-wrap js-gallery-grid-src-image" src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87.jpg?quality=90&resize=295%2C196" width="295" height="196" data-crop-width="" data-crop-height="" alt="Alchemy's Oros hardtail featured a striking finish from Ethic, Alchemy's in-house paint company" title="alchemy-1456615884569-t8995xjnb22n-61dde87" style="width: auto; height: 100%;"> Alchemy’s Oros hardtail featured a striking finish from Ethic, Alchemy’s in-house paint company Nick Legan

While many may first think of road bikes when considering a custom bike show, the number of stunning mountain bikes on display at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show will help dispel that thought.

The recent widespread adoption of the 27.5+ platform has made hardtail mountain bikes relevant again. This is especially good news for small builders who often lack the resources to engineer and manufacture full suspension mountain bikes. From Moots to Retrotec and many in between, mountain bike builders at NAHBS have taken to the mid-fat wheel and tire combo like hipsters to plaid and craft beer.

<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/english-1456613405404-o4ws1nn0n8tn-1000-90-38731f6.jpg?quality=90&lb=1000,562&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/english-1456613405404-o4ws1nn0n8tn-1000-90-38731f6.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,528&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/english-1456613405404-o4ws1nn0n8tn-1000-90-38731f6.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,409&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/english-1456613405404-o4ws1nn0n8tn-1000-90-38731f6.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,312&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/english-1456613405404-o4ws1nn0n8tn-1000-90-38731f6.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,199&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/english-1456613405404-o4ws1nn0n8tn-1000-90-38731f6.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,191&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/english-1456613405404-o4ws1nn0n8tn-1000-90-38731f6.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,179&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="1000" height="562" class="wp-image-299245 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="english-1456613405404-o4ws1nn0n8tn-1000-90-38731f6" title="english-1456613405404-o4ws1nn0n8tn-1000-90-38731f6"> Every bike in the english booth was worth a look, but the Notice anything missing from this English Righty?

Bikepacking rigs also made a strong showing at NAHBS in California, as did slacked-out, dropper-post-equipped play bikes. That isn’t to say that there aren’t full-suspension bikes on offer. Eriksen, Matter, Foes and others all showed impressive work for those wanting a custom dualie.

Click through the gallery above for a close look at the best handbuilt mountain bikes at NAHBS.

<img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/retrotec2-1456613405441-iuxvx5mabkne-1000-90-dba25a2.jpg?quality=90&lb=1000,562&background=white" srcset="https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/retrotec2-1456613405441-iuxvx5mabkne-1000-90-dba25a2.jpg?quality=90&lb=940,528&background=white 940w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/retrotec2-1456613405441-iuxvx5mabkne-1000-90-dba25a2.jpg?quality=90&lb=728,409&background=white 728w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/retrotec2-1456613405441-iuxvx5mabkne-1000-90-dba25a2.jpg?quality=90&lb=556,312&background=white 556w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/retrotec2-1456613405441-iuxvx5mabkne-1000-90-dba25a2.jpg?quality=90&lb=355,199&background=white 355w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/retrotec2-1456613405441-iuxvx5mabkne-1000-90-dba25a2.jpg?quality=90&lb=340,191&background=white 340w, https://images.immediate.co.uk/volatile/sites/21/2019/03/retrotec2-1456613405441-iuxvx5mabkne-1000-90-dba25a2.jpg?quality=90&lb=320,179&background=white 320w, " sizes="(min-width: 992px) 940px, (min-width: 768px) 728px, (min-width: 576px) 556px, calc(100vw - 20px)" width="1000" height="562" class="wp-image-299249 alignnone size-full img-container__image" alt="retrotec2-1456613405441-iuxvx5mabkne-1000-90-dba25a2" title="retrotec2-1456613405441-iuxvx5mabkne-1000-90-dba25a2"> The retrotec was equipped with special edition 40th anniversary chris king stem, headset, headset spacers, hubs and bottom bracket: the retrotec was equipped with special edition 40th anniversary chris king stem, headset, headset spacers, hubs and bottom bracket