Today, we’re continuing our MADE Bike Show Australia coverage with a selection of stunning machines, ranging from road to mountain and everything in between. Read on for selects from Palmer, Prova, Simpatico, Skingrowsback, Squid, Stinner, Stridsland, Wondercross, and Woods…
Palmer Custom Bicycles Disc All Road
Palmer Bicycles are tailor-made with a functional, raw, hand-built aesthetic and clean internal cable routing inspired by the inherent beauty of carbon fiber. Chris makes each frame using tube-to-tube construction with a reinforced joint as part of the layup. He can engineer each frame according to his client’s wishes.
Displaying a striking patterning, the filament-wound carbon tubing is specified to meet the customer’s particular riding style. This type of tubing is stiff under torsion for pedaling efficiency and resists twisting forces while allowing some compliance for smoother ride quality.
The new disc frame features internally routed cables, which required designing an all-new headtube and bottom bracket junction. Palmer Bicycles debuted its forged carbon finish on the disc model, further advancing the industrial aesthetic of these bikes.
Prova Cycles Mostro Drop Bar MTB
Featuring the Pinion Smart.Shift system, this Prova Cycles Mostro dirt drop MTB stole the show and my heart. It utilizes TRP’s all-new drop bar Hywire shifters and a Gates belt drive. The beautifully designed sliding dropouts allow for 25 mm of adjustment for dialing in the perfect belt tension. These dropouts, along with the Pinion cradle/yoke, are 3D-printed in New Zealand and are industrial design projects on their own.
What is perhaps most striking about the bike is the raw finishing, atypical for Prova, who is known for its meticulous and perfect paint jobs. Speaking of which…
Prova Integrale LW Speciale Disc
Speaking of flashy paint! This stunning red Prova Speciale Disc was on display before being handed off to the customer. It features wet 2pac paint by Velocraft, which is also based in Melbourne. The high-polished titanium is completed in-house.
Shooting bikes like this is equal parts adoration and anxiety! They don’t want to sit still while photographing, and rightfully so. The aim for the Speciale was to create one of the lightest metal road frames. Mark and his sister Kelly are a two-person show with Dan from Superbe Velo Service doing the builds.
The Integrale is Prova’s take on the clean aesthetic of the hidden cable or integrated bike. It takes the Speciale platform and adds a unique headtube design using a CNC-machined lower section with a Prova-designed 3d printed upper. The bearings are Ceramic Speed solid lube bearings, and the aero cover and lock ring are Prova-designed and made of titanium. The perfect balance between road and “all-road” is measured by the Integrale LW, which has a maximum tire size of 34 mm.
Simpatico Bunyip Touring Bike
The bunyip is a mythical semi-aquatic creature of Aboriginal mythology of southeastern Australia, said to lurk in swamps, billabongs, creeks, riverbeds, and waterholes found in remote places. Simpatico took this as inspiration for its adventure touring bike. This titanium chassis touring frame features a CNC milled chainstay yoke, truss fork, matching cerakote hits done by Sand Soda Cerakote, and all the touring accouterments you could want for a bike designed to go further into the bush.
Simpatico Gamma Integrated Gravel Bike
When it comes to aero gravel bikes, the Gamma does it all. Simpatico implemented a zero stack fully internal headset with a full 3D-printed headtube for a modern design aesthetic while maintaining legit tire clearance. For properly balanced handling, Simpatico designed the Gamma with short chain stays and a proper gravel frame geometry to add both speed and comfort for the rider. The platform was designed around future-proof open standards, such as a UDH hanger and a T47 bottom bracket.
Skingrowsback Ultralight Dyneema Racing Bags
Jamie and Catt from SkinGrowsBack have been making bags for cyclists since 2006. Originally making portage products for bicycle messengers, the brand grew into offering bags for everyday rides, both in-town and longer rides. On display at MADE, Jamie brought the new ultralight 1-ounce Dyneema and VX21 bags, perfect for ultra racing.
The double-decker setup utilizes the Hot Dog top tube bag (129 grams) and the Ninja frame bag (175 grams.) These bags utilize an easy-lacing cord and hook design, offering all the stability of lace-up without needing to thread each time you remove the bags. This system can connect the Stem Feed bag (102 grams) and frame bag as a pair or stand-alone. The Overnighter 6L handlebar bag (303 grams) fits between road drop bars.
Completing the lineup is the Flash PAK saddle pack, which weighs 147 grams.
These bags will be for sale this Friday, July 5th 18:00 AEST.
This setup was aboard a Curve Cycling Air Kev titanium and carbon frameset.
Squid Bikes SoEz Fixed Gear
All the way from Sacramento, California, Squid Bikes’ and Spray.Bike’s Australian distributor brought along this green and yellow SoEz fixed gear, equipped with silver components from Zipp, Sugino 75, Paul hubs, Mavic Open Pro rims, and a 44RN chainring.
Stinner Frameworks Refugio Integrated
Saint Cloud in Melbourne is the Australian dealer for Santa Barbara, California’s Stinner Frameworks. In a proper display of coastal Australia livery, this Refugio features a FLOW layered paint motif inspired by the epic surfing found Down Under. This size 56 cm frameset includes completely integrated cable routing thanks to the Ritchey Superlogic Butano Ridge handlebar/stem cockpit.
Mullets are in vogue here; as such, this Refugio utilizes the Stinner UDH dropouts for a GX/Force drivetrain to go full cashed-up Bogan on your mates. Holler at Saint Cloud Bikes to purchase this exact bike! I gave it a kiss for ya…
Stridsland Beachcomber
Loop Cycles proudly stocks all things Stridslands in Australia. Olson built this Beachcomber up with a suite of choice bits from some of the brands he carries in his shop, including Thomson, White Industries, DT Swiss, and WTB. What caught my eye were the new-to-market offering from Lewis Brakes and the polished Shimano crank.
You can read all the details on how it came to be in our archives: Design Slow, Sell Whenever: The Stridsland Beachcomber Origin Story
Wondercross Rambler Titanium All-Road
With a loud paint design by Velocraft and some flash wheels built by Superbe Velo Service, this Wondercross was one of the flashiest bikes on display at MADE Australia. The Rambler, Wondercross’ versatile road bike, has a timeless aesthetic made for all-season riding. This Rambler features a titanium AR fork designed for cargo cages or a lightweight rack and features fully integrated dynamo light routing.
Woods Bicycle Co Nomad Steel Gravel
The Nomad is Woods Bicycle Co.’s flexible design gravel bike. Flexible means it allows you to transition from gravel roads with 45 mm gravel tires to road rides with 34 mm tires. Inspired by the elegance of traditional steel frames, the Nomad seamlessly integrates modern technology and components. It utilizes a T47 bottom bracket and an integrated cable system designed in-house.
Woods Bicycle Co Road Runner Titanium Disc Road
At MADE Australia, Woods Bicycle Co. announced titanium framesets. Titanium is now offered as part of the brand’s welded in-house Road Runner and Nomad range. This titanium Road Runner was displayed at the SRAM Australia booth, which provided the build kit and Zipp wheels.
This bike looks flash!
I’d like to thank the FYXO team for flying me out to Melbourne for MADE Australia! I’d like to sincerely thank everyone at the showcase who welcomed Cari and me with open arms, fed us snacks (Looking at you, Ian, and Nat!), and expressed warm stoke.
I’ll be wrapping up our MADE Australia show coverage on Thursday!