#framebuilders

Radar

Feskta’s New Scout is Beefier and More Tuned for Off-Road Use

Festka, the Czech manufacturer of high-end carbon frames, just announced their newly-designed Scout gravel frameset. The Scout was the brand’s first dedicated 1x gravel bike and this year, it got an overhaul, making it longer, slacker, with bigger tubes, and bigger tire clearance. The new model’s geometry is designed around an extended wheelbase whose scope can be tweaked further using the adjustable trail provided by the Columbus Futura Cross fork.

The new Scout frameset weighs in at 1000 grams, fits a 700×42 or 650x50mm tire and is offered in production or custom geometry, with a number of paint options. See the full spread at Festka.

Reportage By: Cycles Manivelle

A Look at Cycles Manivelle and Wizard Works’ Concours de Machine 2021 Entry

We are Manivelle, a framebuilder based in Strasbourg, France. Here is our build for the “Concours de Machine” 2021.

“Concours de Machine“, WHAT’S THAT?

The “CDM” is a historical event of the small French framebuilding world, born early in the 1900s, the golden age happened between 1934 and 1949 including Jo Routens and Rene Herse’s work. The Concours disappeared for a long time after the industrialization but is back to life since 2016.

Radar

Texas Monthly Profiles Nao Tomii

Nao Tomii from Tomii Cycles recently was profiled in Texas Monthly. Unfortunately, they didn’t upload the video to Youtube so you’ve gotta go over to their site to watch it. If you missed our Tomii Cycles Shop Visit, then check that out in our Related Archives below!

Reportage By: Daniel Zaid & Karla Robles

File Till You Die: Frame Builder Eli “De Bicla” Acosta From Básica Studio in Mexico City

My partner Karla and I find ourselves in México City after what feels like going in and out of a pipe from Mario’s world. The truth is we took a plane, but after so much time of having this trip in mind, it takes a while to assimilate that it’s actually happening. We spend an afternoon putting our bikes together and some bolts later they’re ready to take us around this city; we feel quite intimidated by its size and the never-not-honking cars but the bike paths that have emerged over the recent years make riding much more manageable. Coming from a place that’s pretty much at sea level, the 2200 meters of elevation squeeze our lungs on the slightest uphill and when we arrive at the address on our map our hearts are beating fast. There’s no sign outside the place but a rack full of bikes indicates we’ve made it to Básica Studio, home of frame builder Eli Acosta.

Radar

Starling Cycles Has Stock NOW!

You know that big bike shortage the world is going through right now? It seems like Starling Cycles didn’t get the memo because they’ve got Starling frames and build kits available to order now. That means all of their Core frames are ready to order – that’s Swoop, Twist, and Murmur in Enduro (long travel) and Trail (short travel) options. Also, all of their Rare frames are ready to order – that’s the Murmur Stainless, Spur, Beady Little Eye, and full custom geo frames.

Starling’s Core bikes are being handbuilt to a 12 week lead time and their Rare bikes to a 16 week lead time. To top off your build, Starling also has a good supply of build kits to create your dream bike – that’s shocks, forks, drivetrains, wheels, cockpits. Pretty much everything you need. So, if you’re hunting for your dream bike, why not consider a beautifully built, brutally fast steel single-pivot?

If you’ve never thrown your leg over a modern steel full suspension, join the cult!

Radar

The Brompton Black Edition Models Land

Since launching in 2016, the Black Edition is a yearly stock created in-house at Brompton that offers new, bright colors (and jet black) normally not available in the standard stock line. These bright lacquered colors are made in small batches, so once they’re gone they’re gone. This year’s Black Edition includes a glossy black frame, Turkish Green, and Flame Lacquer (pictured). The build specs for these small-batch Bromptons include the “6 Gears” or “Dynamo” build kits. See more at Brompton.

Radar

Readers’ Rides: Shaun’s Self-Built Columbus Cromor Lugged Tourer

I’m always amazed at the frequency and abundance of absolutely stunning bikes that come across our Readers’ Rides inbox. Case in point is Shaun‘s self-built tourer, which he’s documented wonderfully below, so let’s get to it!

Radar

Work for No22 Bicycles!

No. 22 is looking for a finishing and fabrication specialist to join our small and growing team of framebuilders in our Johnstown, NY production facility. A great candidate will be passionate about craftsmanship at the highest level and will have previous bicycle manufacturing experience.

The role can be tailored to suit the right candidate, but at its core would involve masking, painting, anodizing, and other finishing-related tasks, as well as ancillary tasks such as packing, shipping, workstation cleaning, and inventory control. Opportunities in fabrication, machining, assembly, and other facets of the framebuilding process can be added to the role for the right candidate.

An ideal applicant will have demonstrated experience with crafting boutique or custom bicycles, outstanding attention to detail, and above all a pride in building bikes to the highest possible standards. The following skills will be helpful in the role:

-Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a collaborative team
-Strong attention to detail
-Previous experience with the manufacturing or finishing of bicycles and components, including masking, bead blasting, polishing, anodizing or painting
-Experience with titanium framebuilding a definite asset
-Comfortable safely working with hand tools and light manufacturing equipment
-Interest in developing own skills and knowledge
-Familiarity with graphic design programs and particularly Adobe Illustrator is an asset
-Bicycle knowledge and mechanical experience is helpful but not required

Please send your resume and cover letter to info@22bicycles.com

Radar

The New Readymade Speedvagen Urban Racer Comes in Three Build Specs

This year Speedvagen is doing something a little different with their Urban Racer coaster brake bike. For one, the coaster brake has been upgraded to a Moné Bad Ass Coaster Wheel. Then it also got three different build kits: a drop bar with big ass tires (pictured here – $4150), the same build kit but with moto riser bars ($4395), and then the original Urban Racer with slicks and a fillet brazed bar/stem ($4500). Of course these bikes feature all the Speedvagen accouterment, including the Berserker dropouts, chain guard, and more. The biggest aesthetic change this year, however, has got to be the matching cerakote paint and components.

These new Urban Racers are built in batches of 11, awaiting orders to be sent off to their new home. Head on over to Speedvagen to see more.

Can I just say “wow” one more time?

Reportage By: john watson

Dillen From Baphomet Bicycles’ “Left Hand Path” Singlespeed 29er

We took a look at Baphomet Bicycles earlier this year and in that post, we discussed the ideology surrounding the iconography of this unique framebuilding operation, nestled in the mountain town of Taos, New Mexico. If you haven’t read that piece, you really should check it out first.

Yesterday I caught up with Dillen from Baphomet Bicycles, as he came to town to ride the BFL, an event Sincere Cycles throws each year, offering a classic 55 mile loop with over 10,000′ elevation gain and a “B” loop with 38 miles and 6,400′ elevation. Both take you deep into the Sangre de Cristo mountains at the terminus of the mighty Rocky Mountains. Doing either singlespeed is quite the undertaking!

Dillen finished this build right before the event and drove in from Taos for the day. We pedaled together briefly and then his chain exploded about 10 miles into the ride, sending him back down to town. Later in the day, we caught up to shoot his new 29er hardtail, aptly named the “Left Hand Path”, so let’s check it out in detail below!

Reportage By: John Watson & Eric Rumpf

From the Pro’s Closet: 1989 Otis Guy from the ‘Art of the Mountain Bike’ Braunstein-Quay Gallery Show

For this edition From the Pro’s Closet, we present the unique 1989 Otis Guy mountain bike, built with Suntour, which was displayed at the Braunstein-Quay Gallery ‘Art of the Mountain Bike’ showcase. The current owner, who is loaning this bike to the Pro’s Closet sent over the story of how he acquired this unique ride, so read on below for Eric‘s words and yes, the chain is out of alignment in the photos. John blames that on the bright sun… ;) Check out the full spread below!

Reportage By: Morgan Taylor

WZRD Bikes: Em’s Personal Collection

A framebuilder’s personal collection is a window into their mainstays and their experiments. Yesterday we brought you the story of BC-based builder WZRD. bikes, where Em is expressing their viewpoint on the world through fillet brazing, progressive geometry, and progressive politics.

Today we take a look at three bikes Em has built for themselves: their BCXC “big” bike, their XCXC “little” bike, and their 26” park bike. These three bikes, WZRD. frames 11, 18, and 22 respectively, represent a lot of what Em is up to with WZRD.™ geometry, but is just skimming the surface of what they’re up to down in that dungeon.

These bikes are all ridden, HARD. That means they’re not perfect and that’s exactly how it should be. Since these are Em’s personal bikes, I’m going to pass the mic to them now. Make sure to click through to the gallery to peep all the details.

Reportage By: Morgan Taylor

Inside / Out at WZRD. bikes

In a dank and dark industrial basement lies the realm of a modern wizard’s apprentice, where they envision, then create their disruption. Where they derive their power and what sacrifices have been made to get to this point are a mystery, though the products of their spells are obvious: rideable works of art, built to enable transcendence for those lucky enough to partake.

While Em has been known as the WZRD. for many years, I feel like they truly began their apprenticeship when they began crafting their dreams from raw steel. Harnessing the divine intelligence of ancient magic, Em’s long-standing moniker became their expressive direction. The alchemy and creativity of the craft became their passion, but this is no average wizard.

WZRD. bikes officially launched in early 2020 with a focus on progressive geometry and progressive politics. Unapologetic about their radical ideologies, Em forges forward. At the front of the wave, WZRD. geometry is the kind of thing you’re going to see on “progressive” production bikes in years to come. That’s always been the beauty of custom, but not all custom builders have such radical ideals.

Based in Victoria, BC, at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Em’s designs are inspired by their own relationship with the environment as much as the shortcomings they see in production bikes. We’ll get a bit deeper into the numbers side of Em’s bikes tomorrow, but suffice to say they like their reach long, their bottom brackets low, their seat angles steep, and their head angles slack.

Reportage By: john watson

The RockShox Rudy XPLR Gravel Fork and SRAM AXS XPLR on John’s Sklar Gravel Bike

We joke that time is a flat circle in cycling all too often. Gravel bikes are just ’90s mountain bikes, etc. Yet, we have to accept that we’re in an era of electronic shifting and yes, suspension forks on gravel bikes. This tech, however, is nothing new especially not for RockShox, who for the 1994 Paris Roubaix unveiled a suspension fork on team Lemond GAN’s bikes. In that same year, Mavic even had some Zap electronic groups on the exact same bikes.

Now, 27 years later, we have my Sklar gravel bike which is familiar to most of you, with a suspension fork and electronic shifting, under the banner of SRAM and RockShox’s new XPLR lineup (explore, not explorer). While I haven’t taken on the Hell of the North, I have spent a lot of time being a weirdo in the woods on this kit and have a really fun review to share with y’all, so read on below.

Radar

Steve Potts’ Mountain Type II R Rigid Fork and Gravel Fork Is a Perfect Upgrade for a Gravel, Mountain or Touring Bike

Say you’ve got an older mountain bike frame or a newer adventure-style bike with a threadless carbon fork but you really want a steel fork on it. Well, look no further. Steve Potts has taken his tried and true Type II fork design and broken it into two categories, a Mountain fork, and a Mini Gravel fork. Both of which have cargo bosses on the fork legs, that iconic sleeved unicrown design and thru-axles. The retail for both forks is $500 a pop, which is not bad at all!

Mountain fork specs:
Chromoly construction:
Steer tube 1.125″ x 350 mm long, ( threadless)
IS disc mount
Everything pack mounts
Standard rack mount ( Pass and Stow, etc.)
12 mm x 100 mm thru – axle
Axle to crown: 419 mm
Rake: 47 mm
Stock color: Silver crown, black legs:
Will fit tires up to 75 mm x 736 mm tall, ( 27.5 ” x 3″ 0r 29 ” x 2.25″ )

Gravel fork specs:
Same chromoly specs as the Mountain Fork but with:
Axle to crown: 401 mm
Will fit tires up to 700c x 50 mm

See the full lineup at Steve Potts Cycles.

Reportage By: the Service Course

The Service Course’s Bikes of Oslo Showcase Features OPEN, Legor, Bella, English, Stribe, and Speedvagen

The Norwegian city of Oslo recently played host to the Service Course Oslo‘s Bikes of Oslo Showcase, featuring a plethora of custom bikes during a weekend of riding and soaking in the summer sun. We’re honored to host the report here, at the Radavist, featuring the bicycle photography of Magnus Nordstrand and the riding/lifestyle shots from Herman Ottesen. Check out the bikes along with an interview with the Service Course’s Jonas Strømberg below…

Radar

Ride in Peace Max Kullaway: 333 Fab

It is with a heavy heart that we have to share the news that Max Kullaway from 333 Fab passed away after spending years fighting cancer. His wife posted on Facebook this morning announcing the sad news. We’d like to extend warm thoughts and love to all who knew Max and to all of his customers, his legacy now lives with you. Ride in peace, buddy.

See you on the other side of the pass.

xo

If you can and would like to support his family, you can at this GoFundMe.

Radar

Brompton Announces the Superlight Titanium Folder in a New Color

Shaving an impressive 1kg off the total build weight when compared to their traditional steel framesets, Brompton announced today the Superlight, a made from titanium. These frames feature a titanium fork, rear swingarm, while keeping the steel main frame for stability and frame stiffness. The Superlight come in three build kits, including a 2-speed build kit in their new “Cloud Blue” color and topped off with a Brooks saddle ($2,330). Other build kits come in with 6-speed drivetrains at $2,490. Check out all the details at Brompton.