The Radavist

Continuing our 2024 Philly Bike Expo coverage with more Reportage with words and photos by Brad Quartuccio, featuring Chapman Cycles, Chumba Cycles, and Doom Bars. Let’s get to it!

Picking up where yesterday’s post left off, we’ve got our second and final gallery from the Philly Bike Expo, featuring track bikes, gravel bikes, commuters, and a high-pivot full suspension. Read on for John’s closing thoughts on the offerings from this year’s Expo and a reflective outro on the future of custom bike showcases…

Based in Pawtuxet Village, RI, Brian Chapman builds intricately detailed bikes blending classic design and vintage parts with a modern approach. Brian is no stranger here, as we’ve documented a number of Chapman Cycles over the years. Jarrod Bunk linked up with Brian once again at this year’s Philly Bike Expo to photograph the Basket Commuter bike Brian recently built for a customer that wanted to carry a dog on-board. Continue reading to learn more about this bike and to see all of its exquisite detailing!

Brian from Chapman Cycles brought two bikes to the Philly Bike Expo this year with 99% matching parts and paint save for a saddle, this is the smaller of the two. A mixte with a monumental amount of flair, all the way down to the Campagnolo shifter turned chain-keeper and the double Rene Herse crank turned single with a bash.  The build is a mix of Campagnolo Veloce setup 1×10 with a wide range SRAM cassette, SON dynamo hub that powers both a front lamp and a tail-light the tail wiring run internally to the saddle, a handmade rack designed around the bike. Paul Touring Cantis provide the stopping power.

2018 Philly Bike Expo: Chapman Cycles Bi-laminate Light Road Bike
Photos and words by Jarrod Bunk

The marriage of working with metal and crafting bicycles has kept Brian Chapman on their quest to create the best integrated-bicycle that they can. I feel like Brian’s love for their craft really shines through with this light, bi-laminate road bike.  Clever details such as the Velogical rim dynamo and the integration of the Campagnolo downtube shifter to apply or remove it from the rim really stood out to me.  

With the construction of the frame, fork, rack, and stem all in-house Chapman can create a bicycle with details that carry over throughout the entire build, such as the quill-stem that flows into the headtube.  A build of mostly Campagnolo Athena with Grand Bois Chouette center pull brakes to clear the 32c tires and fenders ensures that this bike can roll in all weather. The culmination of materials, labor, and talent are apparent, and they really pop under natural light.

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Follow Jarrod on Instagram, and Chapman Cycles  on Instagram