It’s a tool.

I see bikes as tools. Tools for exploring the landscape. Tools for racing. Tools for you to expand your horizons and meet new people.

I want this blog to be a window into my rationale for building bikes and the thought processes behind the decisions I make. When you commission a bespoke bike you are entering into a very trusting relationship. You are asking me to interpret your bike shaped desires into a tool to bring you joy/adventure/release. Therefore you deserve to know what I value in a bike.

A well made bike should be designed for a purpose, but it should also be built well enough for you to subvert that purpose and take it somewhere else. There’s so many compromises in the creation of a frame and considerations of handling or feel that it is impossible to create a bike that feels the same on all terrain. For example, if you have a city bike that allows you to flit through tiny gaps in traffic on tarmac it is going to bite you when you take it off road.

Handling is dictated by a number of different measurements, but because no two riders are the same no two riders are going to be seeking the same kind of handling or have the same level of experience. As we talk through your build I’ll find out more about your experience, the type of riding you’re planning, and the various component choices you’ll be making. In order to provide you with the best possible riding experience I will be looking at how your needs are affected by changes in headtube angle, fork rake, stack and reach (amongst many other things).

I’ve wondered for a long time about making forks for every build and have finally decided that every build will come with custom steel forks, unless you ask for carbon. There’ll be no extra charge for the forks. But carbon forks are so much lighter I hear you shout. Yes, yes they are, but are they as much fun for me to make and do they let me dial your handling and geometry to perfectly match your expectations? In case it wasn’t obvious, no.

I know that carbon is much lighter, but the set fork options available are all based on specific rakes, normally 45 or 50mm this means that I am altering your frame to get the handling characteristics you seek. Now this might be fine for you, but if you have a particular design aesthetic in mind or if your bike fit dictates certain measurements then the creation of a custom fork allows me to do that. Not to mention, internal routing, dynamo routing, mudguards, or rack mounts are all options you can have.

If you would like to know more about how I can build the perfect bike for you. Get in touch using the details at the bottom of the page.