{"id":1532106,"date":"2024-06-30T09:50:12","date_gmt":"2024-06-30T06:50:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1532106"},"modified":"2024-06-30T09:50:12","modified_gmt":"2024-06-30T06:50:12","slug":"bespoked-2024-7-of-the-best-hand-made-all-road-cx-and-gravel-bikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1532106","title":{"rendered":"Bespoked 2024: 7 of the Best Hand Made All-Road, CX and Gravel Bikes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Published June 30, 2024 09:50AM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"bespoked<\/p>\n

Europe\u2019s largest handmade bicycle show, Bespoked, is back in the UK for 2024. In previous years, the Lee Valley Velodrome in London has played host, but this year the show travels north to Manchester, to a rather palatial Victoria Baths. <\/i><\/p>\n

I took a (dry) lap around the 6-foot-deep baths of this former spa (or is it just a glorified swimming pool?), taking in the latest and greatest two-wheeled art forms that originated on, or washed up on, the shores of Brexit Island.<\/i><\/p>\n

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\"medusa
All photos by Jessie-May Morgan \/ Velo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Medusa Cycles<\/h3>\n

The bike that originated closest to the Victoria Baths venue is likely the award-winning Number 2 from Medusa Cycles \u2014 that\u2019s not the bike\u2019s official name (it doesn\u2019t have one yet), it\u2019s just the second one that proprietor Pete Skelton has fabricated under the Medusa Cycles brand.<\/p>\n

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Why Medusa? \u201cMainly because she\u2019s pretty badass,\u201d, Skelton says. \u201cI quite like the idea that in the French revolution, they were using the symbol of Medusa as their emblem, and when I\u2019m riding my bike that\u2019s when I feel the most liberated, so it kind of links somehow. I\u2019ve also got things wiggly chainstay thing going on that\u2019s also a bit snakey\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"medusa<\/figure>\n
\"medusa<\/figure>\n

Part of the reason for the chainstays being the highly unusual shape they are is because Skelton wanted to keep the rear-center short while also shying away from using factory-bent stays and allowing for the wide tire clearance of 29\u2033 x 2.25\u2033. By bending the tubes himself to his exacting requirements, Skelton doesn\u2019t have to use a yoke.<\/p>\n

Skelton uses Reynolds 853 tubing for the front triangle. To keep the weight reasonable, the top tube and the downtube are of the ProTeam variation, which is the thinnest walled steel tubing that Reynolds manufactures. The seat stay is braced on the seat tube and top tube to increase the overall stiffness.<\/p>\n

\"medusa<\/figure>\n
\"medusa<\/figure>\n

There are some jaw-droppingly gorgeous details on this frame. You may have seen it a thousand times, but the sleeved join of the seat stay onto the top tube is so elegantly executed here. Skelton brazes the tubes together with a 40-percent silver solder. On each side, Skelton adorns the joint with a Medusa Cycles embossed coin. One the drive-side, the image of a falcon is painted onto the sleeved join where the raised chainstay meets the seat tube.<\/p>\n

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\"medusa
Tire clearance is 29\u2033 x 2.2\u2033 \u2013 without the fender, you could probably fit a 2.3\u2033<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

\u00a33,500 fetches you the frame and Seido fork, with a lifetime warranty on the frame.<\/p>\n

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More information at Medusa Cycles.<\/p>\n

\"curve<\/figure>\n

Curve Titanosaur<\/h3>\n

A 36\u2033 wheel gravel bike. Need I say more?<\/p>\n

This one has been around in various forms since 2021, but we couldn\u2019t resist giving it more air time. After all, how many 36\u2033 wheel bikes have you ever seen in the flesh? For me, it\u2019s just the one. And, like all bikes from Australia\u2019s Curve Cycling, the Titanosaur materializes in titanium.<\/p>\n

\"curve
The Titanosaur has clearance for a 36\u2033 x 2.25\u2033 Vee Tire T-Monster<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Curve crowd-funded the production of 20 Titanosaurs earlier this year. The brand offered it in six sizes from MD-XXXL, accommodating riders from 172-222cm tall. Interesting geometry numbers on the XXXL frame include a 580mm chainstay length, a 1,482mm wheelbase, and a 564mm reach.<\/p>\n

More information at curvecycling.com<\/em><\/p>\n

\"stout<\/figure>\n
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Hrok by Stout Cycles<\/h3>\n

That\u2019s old Norse for \u201cRook,\u201d and the Japanese written on the top tube means \u201ccyclocross.\u201d This one-off boutique CX bike was the only aluminum frame we saw at Bespoked this year. After all, the vast majority of small scale frame builders choose to work in steel.<\/p>\n

Proprietor of Stout Cycles, Russel Stout, spent many years of his career building and painting steel frames at Shand Cycles before leaving to start his own venture under Hrok. He chose the name because there is a rookery right behind his house in Peebles, Scotland, here he makes the bikes in his shed.<\/p>\n

\"stout<\/figure>\n
\"stout<\/figure>\n

Stout is still learning aluminum, and is a ways off producing bicycles to sell. He does however have a few other ideas up his sleeve; a gravel bike and a 130mm travel hardtail are all in the back pocket, the fabrication of which will help him gain a better understanding of the nuances of working with aluminum.<\/p>\n

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When asked why he chooses to work with aluminum Stout said, \u201cWell, why not. I personally think it\u2019s an overlooked material and easier to work with than steel, lighter, and more resistant to corrosion. It\u2019s also more cost-effective to machine or CNC small parts without resorting to 3D printing or other processes in steel.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t get me wrong, I love steel bicycles, but there\u2019s a place for aluminum and I\u2019d like to personally try something new. I like the feel of the material, the welding process and the different aesthetic. It\u2019s something to explore and have fun with.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"stout<\/figure>\n
\"stout<\/figure>\n
\"stout<\/figure>\n

A distinguishing feature of the frame is the flattened top tube, helping it sit more comfortably on a rider\u2019s shoulder as they navigate on foot any unrideable obstacles presented. Another is the full internal cable routing, something that crops up occasionally but is far from taking the CX world by storm.<\/p>\n

More information at stoutcycles.co.uk<\/em><\/p>\n

\"twmpa<\/figure>\n
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Twmpa AR1<\/h3>\n

Manufactured by Andy Dix in the Welsh border town of Hay-on-Wye are Twmpa bikes. Before becoming bicycle frames, the Twmpa bikes\u2019 constituent components spend their lives growing as ash trees, no less. Indeed, Andy spent 20 years as a furniture maker before repurposing his wood work talents for the production of bike frames.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The AR1 is an all-road affair, with clearance for 700c x 35mm tires (the fork being the limitation here). Aside from the unusual choice of frame material, there isn\u2019t anything too wild about the AR1. It runs a T47 BB, a flat mount brake, a 31.6mm seat tube, a 44mm headtube and standard spacing. Carbon inserts are bonded into the seat tube and headtube to accommodate the seat post and bearings, respectively, and a titanium threaded insert houses the BB.<\/p>\n

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\"twmpa
Andy Dix makes the monocoque frame in two halves and bonds them together. He is able to build around three per month.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Dix chooses ash for its strength and impact resistance; things like cricket bats, hockey sticks, and other things made for hitting other stuff with (mattock handles) are also made using ash. The fibers do a good job of damping vibrations, once of the reasons why Dix says a Twmpa bike is so comfortable to ride all day long on terrible road surfaces. And well, here in the UK, we have an endless supply of poor quality roads to enjoy.<\/p>\n

\"twmpa<\/figure>\n

Andy says that is the main reason one would buy a Twmpa. Not because it\u2019s drop dead gorgeous (though it is), or because of any environmental sustainability claims, but because of the ultra smooth ride quality it affords. Anyone concerned about the frames strength can take assurance from the BS EN ISO 4210-2:2015 safety certification it has, and the fact that Dix sells his frames with a 10-year warranty \u2014 which is about what you\u2019d expect from the manufacturer of a high-end steel frame.<\/p>\n

\"twmpa<\/figure>\n

The Twmpa AR1 weighs a claimed 1.7 kg (3.74 lbs) for the medium frame alone, which would be on the heavier end of the scale as compared to a steel frame of a similar dap. Dix is offering the AR1 in five sizes (XS-XL) at a price of \u00a33,490 \u2014 that fetches you the ash frame with an Enigma C-Six GRV\/ADV Fork and a Hope headset.<\/p>\n

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More information at twmpacycles.co.uk<\/em><\/p>\n

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\"shand
The Bahookie is TIG welded from Reynolds 631 tubing in Livingston, Scotland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Shand Bahookie<\/h3>\n

Made in Scotland is the Shand Bahookie, a steel adventure bike with very generous tire clearance and the option to run a Gates Belt Drive with Rohloff Speed Hub (as pictured), a traditional chain-drive single-speed, or a standard multi-speed drivetrain. With clearance for 29\u2033 x 2.6\u2033 tires, it really is more of a rigid mountain bike with drop bars.<\/p>\n

\"shand<\/figure>\n

It goes for \u00a34,695 as pictured with the Belt Drive, and is sold with a 5-year warranty on the frame. There are four standard sizes to choose from, but Shand also offer a custom geometry option at a premium.<\/p>\n

More information at shandcycles.com<\/em><\/p>\n

\"craft<\/figure>\n
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Craft Titanium Gravel Bike<\/h3>\n

Craft Bikes from Hythe, England, brought along their new titanium hardtail (read about it on Pinkbike), as well as this here titanium gravel bike. Pictured here, the bike is built with 700c wheels, though they can offer a 650b version. It has 45mm tires, but there is clearance for 50mm tires for those wanting the additional suppleness that comes with a high volume tire.<\/p>\n

\"craft<\/figure>\n
\"craft<\/figure>\n

This frame weighs a claimed 1.4 kg (M\/L), which includes 3D printed UDH-compatible dropouts made by RAM3D in New Zealand. Thus, it is compatible with SRAM T-Type derailleurs and conventional derailleurs. It has a 3D printed chainstay yoke, the unique shape of which permits clearance for a 40T chainring.<\/p>\n

\"craft<\/figure>\n
\"craft<\/figure>\n
\"craft<\/figure>\n

Craft offers its bikes in custom sizing only. This one is fairly slack with a 70-degree head tube angle and a 74.5-degree seat tube angle. This complete bike with SRAM Reverb AXS drop and Enve Foundation wheelset is \u00a310,200 (inc. VAT), but pricing starts as low as \u00a37,500.<\/p>\n

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More information at craftbikes.uk<\/em><\/p>\n

\"sour<\/figure>\n

Sour Space Cake<\/h3>\n

The Space Cake is the latest bike from Dresden-based Sour Bicycles. Continuing the line of its drop bar offering, this prototype is given the all-road designation. Tire clearance on the one you see here is 700c x 44mm, but the production version will be 38mm without fenders, and 36mm with.<\/p>\n

Like all Sour bikes, the Space Cake is fabricated in Dresden, with German steel tubes made in Taiwan. It has a T47 BB, a 44mm head tube and Sour\u2019s own design drop outs. However, the production model will see a new drop out that is T-Type derailleur compatible, but not UDH compatible.<\/p>\n

Yes, you read that correctly. No, I\u2019m not under the influence of the mind-altering active ingredient one might hope to find inside a space cake.<\/p>\n

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Chris, the head designer and owner of Sour, designed a new UDH-like derailleur hanger specifically for the Space Cake \u2014 and it\u2019s made of aluminum, not the Delrin that the SRAM UDH is made of. It\u2019s a little more robust therefore, and less vulnerable to the perils of being overtightened. But it is of course not so easily replaced, though you can shave a section off the SRAM UDH to make it fit the drop out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Back to the bike, Joergen from Sour says it\u2019s a really pared-down bike, and the most road-like bike the brand will ever make. There\u2019ll be a little ovalization in the top tube and seat tube, and the tubes themselves are custom-butted to Sour\u2019s exacting requirements. We\u2019re told it\u2019s a go-fast-don\u2019t-crash steel.<\/p>\n

This one will retail at $1,599 as the frame, fork and custom color. Opting for a standard color, you can knock $180 off it.<\/p>\n

More information at sour.bike<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Published June 30, 2024 09:50AM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Source URL: https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-gear\/bespoked-2024-manchester-best-handmade-gravel-bikes\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Published June 30, 2024 09:50AM Europe\u2019s largest handmade bicycle show, Bespoked, is back in the UK for 2024. In previous years, the Lee Valley Velodrome in London has played host, but this year the show travels north to Manchester, to a rather palatial Victoria Baths. I took a (dry) lap around the 6-foot-deep baths of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1532110,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[71],"class_list":["post-1532106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","tag-velo-outsideonline-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1532106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1532106"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1532106\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1532110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1532106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1532106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1532106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}