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Pedaler’s Fair showcases the forces behind Seattle’s growing bicycle economy

Haulin' Colin (center) shows off a newly-designed front-loading cycle truck conversion kit

The first Pedaler’s Fair (Seattle Bike Blog sponsored!) took over a historic Ballard industrial building last weekend to showcase some of Washington State’s most creative handmade bicycle goods and art. Inspired by Portland’s Bikecraft events, Swift Industries and Go Means Go organized the Pedaler’s Fair to support local small businesses making everything from bicycle clothing and accessories to handbuilt bike frames and art.

By all measures, the fair was a huge success. Bolstered by two days of fantastic weather that led half the city (estimated) to dust off their bikes and cruise around town, hundreds showed up to check out the goods on display and meet the people behind them (due to illness, this editor’s time at the fair was limited, but the Path Less Pedaled posted a great profile of the event).

Another telling sign of the fair’s success? The good folks behind the Bicycle Heroes upcycled wool cycling caps told me this: “We made more sales here than at the Seattle Bike Expo.” Wow.


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This idea is a winner with tons of room to grow. My main questions: When is it happening again? And can we have a pre-holiday one?


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7 responses to “Pedaler’s Fair showcases the forces behind Seattle’s growing bicycle economy”

  1. Devin

    The Mayor was apparently there as well. (I was at a training at city hall of all places, otherwise I could confirm. Nuts. :( )

  2. melinda

    Yup, he was there. I saw him!

  3. Oh, a pre-holiday one? Great idea. I can get all of my shopping done in one spot.

  4. JN

    This event was awesome! Not to mention getting to see the Swift bags in person pushed me over the edge to getting them…More events like this, please!

  5. Leif

    How about a summer version? More people out on their bikes = more potential customers. Hold it somewhere along the BG and get tons of bike in traffic from the weekend warriors out cruising the trail. Basically do the exact opposite of the poorly located, poorly timed Seattle Bike Expo. :)

  6. Kevin Carrabine

    Different strokes for different folks…great event, great day for it, and great location (ballard, close to home) Bike Expo is a different animal altogether –

    Is there a critical mass yet of bike related stuff to make this a weekly sidelight of the Ballard Farmer’s Market? Ballard Pedaler’s Market?

  7. […] were at the debut fair last year and loved it, of course. What’s not to love about a celebration of local bike goods and small […]

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