Bespoked Bicycle Show 2015

Apr 28, 2015
by Fraktiv  
Hosted in Bristol, a city steeped in engineering history, the 5th annual Bespoked Bike Show was teeming with passionate craftsmen, tales of hours of toil in workshops, and numerous weird and wonderful machines. Like last year's show in London, this year's event - held at Brunel's Old Station - was incredibly busy across its 3 days, and featured 90 exhibitors, from established big names to new and exciting frame builders.

For those more used to the marketing hype around bigger shows, Bespoked has a decidedly low-key approach, with every conversation had with the builders taking you through a world of ingenious creations, each with a unique story behind the why and how of creating a bicycle. Talking to these engineers and designers face-to-face is a unique opportunity to find out what it takes to painstakingly craft a bike, either as a one-off, or a business venture; what thoughts go in to materials selection, the geometry, the parts and the paint job...or lack of it. This show is about dreams being turned into reality.



- Automatic Cycles -

Automatic Cycles - Superbeast
Automatic Cycles - Superbeast
Automatic Cycles - Instrument and Commute

John Ross spent his past life working in the bike industry and racing endurance in North America, that was until he and his wife went on a frame building course at The Bicycle Academy. Since then, John has been busy expanding his home workshop in Bristol and his latest creation for Automatic Cycles is a rather personal one. Built for his wife who always wanted a fat bike, John designed and built this bike to her exact specifications, including the dazzling pink paintjob.



- BTR Fabrications -

BTR Fabrications - Chaser
BTR Fabrications - Chaser
BTR Fabrications - Chaser

BTR Fabrications was taking centre stage on The Bicycle Academy's stand. Owner/designers Paul Burford and Tam Hamilton have been going from strength to strength over the last few years, with the company now supporting riders in 4X and Enduro. Their latest bike, the Chaser, is a 29" singlespeed XC frame, based on the principles around a BMX race bike. Designed around 80mm forks, the frame on display was the first prototype and will be run by Ryan McKee who will be racing in endurance and single speed events. A geared version will be available soon, using 142 x 12mm rear drop-outs, and will come in four sizes (small to x-large). The large Chaser frame weighs in at approximately 2kg (4.4lbs), and is built from a Reynolds 853, 631 and Columbus Niobium front end, with Columbus Zona and Reynolds 525 stays.
bigquotesBTR is going as well as it ever has done really, we've got new models coming through like the Chaser, and other things like new drop-outs on all the bikes. We've got a nice new raw finish coming out too, which means people can have a clear lacquered frame that lasts! - Tam Hamilton, BTR Fabrications


- The Bicycle Academy -

The Bicycle Academy - Africa Bike
We're always impressed with what comes out of The Bicycle Academy, and it's great to see Andrew and his team as busy as ever. Their passion to share the knowledge and love of frame building is world class, and judging by the number of people we interviewed at the show who cited TBA when explaining how they got into frame building, it's safe to say, they're becoming a bedrock institution on the growing UK frame building scene.

The Bicycle Academy - Un-named
The Bicycle Academy - Un-named
The Bicycle Academy - Un-named

The Bicycle Academy provides frame building courses and skills masterclasses for novices, keen amateurs and pros. The workshop, based in Frome, Somerset, is a biker's dream, with tools and machines aplenty, some of which were on show at their stand. This year, the guys were launching their own range of frame building tools and jigs, all to sit alongside their bicycle sizing and fitting courses for frame builders, along with other brand new frame building and skills courses too boot. One of their recent student's creations was this 29+ which is made with a mix of Columbus and Reynolds high tensile double butted main tubing, custom formed Columbus chain and seat stays, Paragon Machine Works 44mm head tube, x-12 x 157mm rear end, chain-stay yoke and post mount brake mount. The bike was designed and made by Mark Hester (the first bike he has ever made) during an 8 day frame building course at The Bicycle Academy under the tuition of the team. Mark, a motorsport and automotive engineer originally from Australia, is soon to set up as a part time frame builder back in Australia under the name Prova Cycles.



- Ted James Designs -

Charge TJD - Cooker Custom
Charge TJD - Cooker Custom
Charge TJD - Cooker Custom

Ted James started his company back in 2010 and has swiftly built a name and reputation for himself building some of the sweetest steel BMX bikes around, as well as road, commuter, touring, street and mountain bike for customers. Ted is a dedicated craftsman who machines everything from his own head tubes and bottom bracket shells to drop-outs and of course his own head tube badges. This year, Ted is teaming up with Charge Bikes to create a special edition TJD-enhanced Cooker Custom adventure trail bike with some very special features.
bigquotesIn collaboration with Charge, I'm working on building a limited number of customer titanium 27.5+ models with custom geometry, including 3D printed titanium drop-outs made by Airbus. Price-wise, it's going to be around the £2500 to £3000 mark for the frame. - Ted James, Ted James Designs


- Cloud 9 Cycles -

Cloud 9 - Street Racer
Cloud 9 - Street Racer
Cloud 9 - Street Racer

Cloud 9 Cycles is a bicycle shop that specialises in hand-built frames in the heart of London. Working with steel or titanium, these guys have an eye for the detail and the bikes on show were stunning, particularly their street racer which is designed to be ridden along city streets as fast as possible. The racer has an extended top tube with a short stem, and features Columbus oversized tubing, which is designed to take the strain when it comes to dropping off kerbs and dealing with potholes. With no bottle cage bolts in sight, and shod with Schwalbe One slick tyres, this bike is clean and simple...and goes like a rocket.



- Curtis Bikes -

Curtis - AM7
Curtis - AM7
Curtis - AM7

Brian Curtis and his team have been building competition race bikes since the 1970s, with every part of the bike specifically designed around the rider. Their pedigree shows - as does their gorgeous fillet brazing - with their sponsored riders having some incredible results at the first round of the British National 4X season earlier this month.
bigquotesOur new AM7 comes with a 142 x 12mm back end and a 66 degree head angle. The front end is Reynolds, and the back end Columbus. It's lower, longer, slacker, wider, faster! - Gary Woodhouse, Curtis Bikes


- Farrer -

Farrer - LoamRanger
Farrer - LoamRanger
Farrer - LoamRanger

Instead of just riding the trails, North Yorkshire-based Rob Farrer started frame building when he was just 18 years old. With just two years in the industry under his belt, he's made several successful prototypes, and had the brand new LoamRanger on show.
bigquotesI started off with a few prototypes, and then sold three bikes to York Cycle Works. This bike - the LoamRanger - is for a mate of mine; number 9. I'm a welder/fabricator by trade and I also used to race mountain bikes, so I thought I might as well have a go at making one. I plan to go full time and try to do a bit of everything, from aluminium to titanium. - Rob Farrer, Farrer


- Mawis Bicycles -

Mawis - Stefan custom MTB
Mawis - Stefan custom MTB
Mawis - Stefan custom road bike

A one thousand mile journey (even after forgetting his passport) didn't put off Mathias Scherer from exhibiting at the show. With a fine German beer in hand, Mathias explained to us where it all started for him when he had a bike stolen at a training camp, and when he asked for a bespoke replacement, what he got was far from his expectations. With that, he made a bet with his team boss that he would build his own frame and not long after, the bet turned into reality. Mathias's Mawis bikes don't come with a catchy model name but instead, every bike is built around the owner and has its owner's name emblazoned on the top tube. You can't get more personalised than that. Mathias produces around fifty frames per year to order, and he admits, most of the time is spent in the pre-production phase, running through every bit of detail to get the bike just right.
bigquotesThese bikes are made out of titanium. All the top tubes have the name of the owner on them - one bike one customer - no production models. It starts being your bike when we start talking about it, you're already there when the ideas start following. It's not everyone's cup of tea going into the details, but I prefer doing it together with the customer. - Mathias Scherer, Mawis Bicycles


- Wooden Bike Co -

WoodenBikeCo - Un-named
WoodenBikeCo - Un-named
WoodenBikeCo - Un-named

In a field of unique bikes, frame builders are experimenting with all sorts of material, including wood. We usually see a few wood-based road bikes from time to time, but Peter Charnaud’s Wooden Bike really pushed the inventiveness. Based on the Specialized Stumpjumper’s FSR Horst-Link design and geometry, Peter hand crafted the linkages and the main frame, made from of a mix of walnut and London plane. This bike isn't a show bike either. It's ridden on the Sussex Downs by Peter himself, attracting a lot of attention along the way.
bigquotesMy living is selling woodworking machinery, but I wanted to use traditional techniques and tools to make this bike. In my humble opinion, wood is the best material for bicycle frames, and I think it's been overlooked in favour of metals an inanimate materials. For this bike, I used London plane and walnut, which combined, provide great toughness with flexibility. It's the first wood-made full suspension mountain bike I know of, and after spending many hours in the workshop putting it all together, I now know why! - Peter Charnaud, Wooden Bike Co


- Weld One -

Weld One - Ogre DH
Weld One - Ogre DH
Weld One - Ogre DH

The Ogre DH, Weld One's DH bike, was an impressive sight amongst the touring and street bikes in the middle of the Brunel Hall. Framebuilder Eiji Konishi didn't speak much English but his passion for frame-building shone through. Based out of a small workshop in Kyoto, Japan, Eiji-san has been designing and building since he was a teenager, and now has a raft of titanium-based road, mountain trials and commuter bikes under his belt. Eiji-san told us the complete DH bike weighed in at 17kg (37.5lbs) without pedals, which is an impressive number, given the amount of metal involved. Although the design was in his mind of a while, in took Eiji-san two months to design the frame on paper and a further month of solid work to build it. Again, this bike isn't a design-piece but is raced; Eiji-san recently competed at the 2014 Red Bull Holy Bike race in Kyoto.



- Olsen Bicycles -

Olsen - Lamb
Olsen - Lamb
Olsen - Lamb

A New Zealander by birth, Steven Olsen started frame building in his quest to make the perfect all-terrain bicycle for riding in the British weather all year round. Specialising in belt-driven bicycles, Olsen Bicycles' designs use a lattice construction downtube, which reduces lateral bottom bracket flex and optimises stiffness. Each of Steven's models is named after a Sussex pub along the South Downs Way, a 100 mile long trail in the south of England, where Steve now lives.



- Rowan Frameworks -

Rowan - Un-named

Like many other frame builders at the show, Timmy Rowan stumbled upon his passion for frame building by going on a frame building course at The Bicycle Academy. Now running Rowan Frameworks, Timmy was exhibiting at the show for his very first time and much to his amazement, he was awarded 'Best in Show' as well as a host of other rosettes for what was the fourth bike he has ever made! The award winning bike - though a little way off what you might expect to see on Pinkbike - was designed by Timmy as a 'throw your leg over and travel' weekend tourer, maybe with a pannier strapped to the front or back, or just a lunch hamper stashed in the hand-made front basket. The bike features nods to classical French touring bike design as well as nods to other frame builders Timmy has been inspired by along the way. Aside from the hand-whittled cherry wood bar ends, the bike features a monumental list of other building materials - both metal and organic - resulting in a pretty special machine.
bigquotesI've been planning and dreaming about it for the past 7 or 8 years. A few things aligned and the opportunity arose, although it was never the right time. I quit my day job and haven't really looked back. It's hard work, it's graft, it hurts. At the start you're really shit at it and make loads of mistakes. I learned at The Bicycle Academy, and they helped me along the way, they gave me guidance and showed me how to spot mistakes and learn from them. I then locked myself in the workshop and tried to make the best bike I could. There's a bit of a waiting list now. I think, as a designer, you need to look at the bike as a whole with the customer, it's a collaboration. In terms of the show, to get awards is like a dream, I feel almost dizzy but then again I have been working 20 hour days for the past two weeks. I think I'll take Monday off. - Timmy Rowan, Rowan Frameworks


- Seren Bicycles -

Seren - 24 Cruiser
Seren - 24 Cruiser
Seren - 24 Cruiser

Ollie Downward has been building touring bikes for a while at his workshop above The Bicycle Academy in Frome. Not that long ago, the pump track round the corner from the Academy got him thinking about making a bike he could ride to brush up on his skills and have a bit of fun on, and so designed and built Seren's first BMX/cruiser frame. Taking a bit longer to complete than his regular builds, Ollie had to learn new techniques like using bending machines on his plain-gauge chrome-alloy tubing. The seat tube is oversized with an aluminium shin, allowing for more stiffness in the bottom bracket, whilst being able to run a lightweight seat post. The all over hydro-dip transfer graphics proved to be icing on the cake.
bigquotesIt hasn't been ridden yet, and I think its first ride is going to have to be at midnight when there's no one on the pump track because otherwise I'm just going to embarrass myself. The build has allowed me to practice my fillet brazing. I've been frame building for about three to four years on and off and spent over a year working at Enigma near Eastbourne where I learned quite a lot, and then I wanted to control what I was doing on my own, especially working with steel using traditional techniques. It's nice to do your own thing but it's very difficult to make a living from it. I'm now lucky enough to be upstairs from TBA, which is amazing because there's always someone there that can help solve a problem. - Ollie Downward, Seren Bicycles


- Swarf Cycles -

Swarf - Spline 29
Swarf - Spline 29
Swarf - Spline 29

With over 4 years of making eye-catching frames, including full suspension models like the Curve, shown at last year's show, 2015 saw Adrian from Swarf Cycles deliver an award-winning 29" to the show; the Spline. With a 120mm fork, the Spline features a 75 degree seat angle, a 67.5 head angle (sagged), a long top tube, Reynolds 853 at the front and Columbus at the rear, with modern aggressive geometry. The Spline featured elegant cable routing which gave the bike an overall clean look. The frameset is available to buy in three sizes, and comes in at £820 with a powdercoat finish or £940 with a wetspray finish. Sadly, the full-sus Curve proved too much work for larger scale manufacture, so for now Adrian's concentrating on the Spline, but who knows what the future might bring!



- 2015 Show Award Winners -

Best In Show - Supported by ReynoldsRowan Frameworks
Best Road Bicycle - Supported by Columbus
Donhou Bicycles
Best Off Road Bicycle - Supported by SchwalbeSwarf Cycles
Best Touring Bicycle - Supported by ReynoldsHallett Handbuilt Cycles
Best Track Bicycle - Supported by ColumbusMoss Bikes
Best New Frame Builder - Supported by Academy ToolsRowan Frameworks
Best Utility Bicycle - Supported by BrooksHartley Cycles
Steve Worland Innovation AwardLongstaff Cycles
Spirit of CyclingCamille McMillan
Best Finish/Paint - Supported by BrooksSatoma Cycles
Best Cyclo-cross Bicycle - Supported by SchwalbeSaffron Frameworks
Public Vote - Supported by SchwalbeToad Cycles

Shand



Author Info:
fraktiv avatar

Member since May 14, 2008
227 articles

85 Comments
  • 48 2
 How this ogre dh works!? No seriously, my brain keeps wanting to pull this shock!
  • 11 2
 The swing arm pushes the tiny transfer link into the acceleration link which pivots at top swinging underneath to push the shock...
  • 29 1
 Also dat slack chain
  • 4 2
 It looks like the lighter silver part pivots around the bolt on the seat tube, and pushes the shock up that way. Looks like it has very little leverage on the shock, but it must work.
  • 4 4
 i dont think im a fan of that design, the pivots are really close together, there must be so much force on them!
  • 25 2
 I like it when I can look at a linkage and genuinely have no idea what's going on. It's exciting.
  • 9 17
flag h-beck83 (Apr 28, 2015 at 16:12) (Below Threshold)
 somebody should terminate it
  • 9 0
 ya like the ogre may work but the problem is its not wood! and thats just the way the industry is going, its science!
  • 1 0
 thats a hell of a lot of force going through such small linkages, which is probably fine. But the main pivot is extremely narrow, i think that sideways flex might be ridiculous on this frame. and any attempt to counteract it probably results in much more weight than necesarry. unless i'm wrong of course.
  • 3 1
 @Jubbylinseed I always feel that way when I look at that hunk of shock/pivots/spring that is the Scott Gambler. I'm sure it works really well but my brain cannot compute.
  • 1 4
 Someone replace his broken chainstay with mom's clothes hanger.
  • 4 0
 even google translate won't make that funny
  • 1 0
 @banshee-ripper Right. Kind of bearing killer frame
  • 3 0
 its linkage driven single pivot, maybe looks complicated on first look, but its simple
  • 1 0
 chain TENSION
  • 1 2
 actually chain tension looks not so bad (if im looking on placing of main pivot)
  • 2 0
 @RedBurn kickback paradise. Note that Steve Peat asked for more kickback on one of his Orange frame. But I don't want to change my chain every day...
  • 1 0
 who messed up the shifting cable length and chain tension on that DH bike?
  • 2 0
 functionality is over rated... transformers styling ftw...
  • 13 0
 Regardless of whether I like all of those bikes or not, kudos to those making them. It's amazing to see the range from the true purists of steel fabrication to those looking to use alternative materials to make bikes. There are some beautiful bikes on display and some that are just plain wild. Seems like a great event - thanks to all of those who covered it and shared it with us.
  • 17 0
 You think Specialized will sue the wood bike guy?
  • 1 0
 yeah its pretty much s fat Stumpjumper eh?!
  • 13 0
 Do you think it's made of stumps?
  • 12 1
 6th picture down. Blue hardtail 27.5+...... the expression on the face of the lady looking at it, is priceless!!! her face says what we are all thinking.
  • 9 1
 I usually enjoy bespoked stuff and this type of thing. Glorious Steel hardtails and road bikes. Now it is 27.5+ and fat bikes. I am disappointed.
  • 2 0
 I went and looked back at this and realised... that bike is rocking a single crown USD fork... by a brand called flame!? WTF?
  • 2 3
 Same manufacturer as the Carver suspension fork. You can buy them under a number of brand names. Article clearly identifies the bike as a 29+ though.
  • 3 0
 Deeight that fork is made by german answer and is in no way related to the carver usd fork www.german-a.de
  • 4 0
 Blue chair84, the fork brand is German Answer, they actually make some really cool forks. www.german-a.de
  • 1 0
 never heard of them, good share!
  • 13 2
 One day I will own a BTR. And I will ride it. Hard.
  • 2 0
 Even an XC 29er?
  • 1 0
 XC? No thank you. 29er? Maybe. But only if it's as good as my 2Souls. But I was thinking more about something like this:
ep1.pinkbike.org/p5pb11616000/p5pb11616000.jpg
  • 4 0
 Yesss.. that Curtis is mighty fine.

I am not on board with a lot of the latest trends and I ride full-suss 90% of the time because I get too beat up on my hardtail (On One 456 EVO) but I am a bit intrigued by the 27.5+ hardtails...that is if they are sub-28 lbs and can still take a beating. I know that is bad form here but I had to come clean.
  • 1 0
 I'm drooling over the Curtis too. And considering i have a full suss, maybe 27.5+ is the justification i need for getting a hardtail!
  • 2 0
 Expected to see some Starling Bikes here given that they're based in Bristol. Apparently they're going to be selling frames on general release soon; one day (however not likely to be in the near to mid future) I may get to own one! @phutphutend
  • 6 0
 Joe here from Starling Cycles. Things have only really started happening for me recently, so this years Bespoked wasn't really on my list. Maybe next year?

I did go and have a look round, but to be honest, it was 33% fixies, 33% road bikes, 33% town bikes, 1% mountain bikes. Its not really my target audience?

But yes, hopefully I'll have some bikes to sell this Summer. Keep an eye on my Facebook page for updates Facebook/StarlingCycles
  • 2 0
 Cheers for the reply Joe. I remember seeing a link to your first full sus that you put in a comment thread and thinking it was a beautiful thing, so when I heard you were looking to go into production with them I was well pleased. Something to aspire to for me. So the best of luck to you with Starling, I really hope it's a great success!
  • 6 0
 That Curtis is the sexiest thing I've ever seen.
  • 1 0
 Have a look at their website. It's incredible what they can do. www.curtisbikes.co.uk
  • 2 0
 Wow, there's some brilliant creations on hand here, however.... I'm lucky enough to be the owner of a Farrer Cycles Loam Ranger 650B (Production frame 01). This bike is truly an absolute beast (I ended up replacing a Pivot Mach 6 with it), with a fantastic ride feel and finish, plus loads of custom options, from wheel size to geo and materials. Rob is one hell of a rider and a guy who can definitely be trusted to weld you a superb frame, should you be in the market. (www.farrercycles.co.uk)
  • 2 0
 I'm a bespoke tailor and I ride mtb. I can't begin to describe to you the similarities between the 2 industries. Totally unrelated yet totally similar. This article proves it.
  • 5 1
 Way better than sea potter show ! This cloud 9 street racer and the curtis hardtail looks awesome
  • 1 0
 Does anybody even notice or care about ridiculous cable length? That Wooden Bike thing has freaking cables rubbing the fork stanchions! I must be too O.C.D. for this shit because cables looking like crap look like crap. It's a BIKE SHOW! Make that shit look CLEAN!
  • 1 0
 the Stumpjumper is a mess for cable management, I own one, as much as I cut down the cables I have to put cablerub stickers all over the bike.
  • 6 2
 Some rad bikes here. Keep it up!
  • 2 0
 Farrer, solid job on the tig! Best of what I can see all the way from MN! Big ups! Keep bangn out them gems
  • 4 1
 There's some weird sh*t over here...
  • 2 0
 fairly certain that Ogre is Military grade. And the rear swing arm was inspired by a raptor claw.
  • 4 0
 That bike gave me wood
  • 3 0
 Who makes that awesome frame jig???
  • 3 0
 reduce carbon use aluminum
  • 2 0
 Steel hardtails are more fun and lively than Aluminum
  • 3 0
 Peter Charnaud’s Wooden Bike, that is quality work brother
  • 1 0
 thats first fat bike though, literally the first fat bike that i actually want
  • 2 0
 I'm in love with that Cloud 9 Cycles.
  • 2 0
 The Swarf is nice at least. The Farrer too.
  • 1 0
 How much does the wooden bike weigh? Believing wood is a superior bike building material does not make it so.
  • 1 0
 sorry but those two staring at the curtis bike look like a 70's simphonic rock duo
  • 1 0
 Great aggressive hardtails!
  • 3 2
 i would take that City Bike and the Shirt !
  • 2 0
 FARRER Loammy !
  • 2 1
 nice to see my mates bike olsen bikes get a mention
  • 2 1
 Some beautiful creations there...some weird ones as well.
  • 1 0
 damn, how heavy is that wood bike
  • 1 0
 With a few exceptions....Yup its the 80's again.
  • 1 0
 The one weld has a lot more than one weld
  • 1 0
 my mate had a curtis, always wanted one !!
  • 1 0
 i want that shirt!
  • 1 0
 I want that t-shirt
  • 2 2
 How does riding steel reduce carbon?
  • 5 0
 -_- Not sure if joke or... ^
  • 2 0
 Oh yah... duhhhh haha. It was once a debate about riding aluminum or steel, and steel was worse in terms of environmental impact. I haven't seen it framed in that context before. Its good to see that we've progressed in the sport to using something literally made out of the thing we are trying to reduce -_-
  • 2 0
 carbon dioxide and carbon fiber are two completely different things.... The t-shirt is a complete joke, it has nothing to do with environmental things. It's just a way of saying steel is better than carbon
  • 2 0
 The t-shirt is actually a clear pun on environmental things.
  • 1 0
 Eye candy orgasm!
  • 1 2
 Charnaud’s Bike looks like its probably a 2016 Tracer photo.
  • 1 1
 •proto
  • 3 1
 It's my bosses bike, all made from scratch in his garage, even more amazing in person and rides brilliantly too
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