The pride that is displayed when a custom built frame is being discussed and admired is truly immense. Last Friday I entered a hall where hundreds of people were talking handmade bikes at the Bristol handmade bicycle show.

2012 saw the venue change to Brunel’s old station, handily right next to the station. We rocked up with our complimentary tickets, waded our way nervously with a dog through a sea of fixies and racers parked outside.

It is probably the last year this show will be so relaxed as it had obviously grown from last year with all the usual suspects there.

Sixty-eight stands were in the show guide with nine new builders also listed in their own side room, Robin Mather, Brian Rourke, Ricky Feather, Nick Lobnitz (paper bicycle) and personal favourites Paulus Quiros and Mercian were all there.

But we were there to see the bling. If one thing strikes you about all the bikes at this show it’s the shiny components they have been finished with.

Chris King headsets are everywhere, and for a good reason too. They are my personal choice as well. We are fans of the American Phil Wood’s hubs as well and were happy to see a UK distributor at last.

It was a complete showcase of shiny bling and if you had machined a custom headset you were elevated to god status.

It’s strange how we all go weak at the knees as soon as somebody puts a piece of CNC’ed aluminium in front of us, and if you can anodise that aluminium with pretty colours we are putty in your hands.

Gone are the days when a bike came in a choice of five colours and polished silver was your only option for extras.

We are talking every colour you can imagine being utilised, this is bike heaven on a colossal scale and we were in heaven.

Titanium seemed to be the metal du jour, frames are readily available off the peg if you have a big enough wallet but if you have enough money burning through your pocket you could commission your custom bike in the wonder metal.

Yes forget carbon, everyone is now talking titanium. As if by magic this metal has popped up and proved itself in the bicycle world, lightweight, high strength and resistant to corrosion, the only downside is the price.

I talked to Adrian Ward of Award bicycles for some time about his wonderful belt ready 29er made in titanium.

He is a design maverick who worked for Marin and Whyte before setting up his own company in Oxfordshire.

If you want a custom made 29er with a short wheel base, a rarity it seems, he is your man.

The journey back from Bristol was a sad affair; we could have stayed all evening if we weren’t all on a tight schedule, even the dog seemed rather gloomy as we left the building.

This is my favourite bike show of the year, Bespoke Bristol just keeps on getting better and better and next year is already in the diary.