FRENCH IMPRESSIONISTS : Julie Racing Design

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The serendipity continues...

On display at EHBE, just down the aisle from MSH1 (see here), was another new name making a big impression on show-goers.

Julie Racing Design are the husband and wife team of Kris and Julie Vacheron. Natives of the town of Dreux, in the Centre region of France, they brought along a sample of their decidedly different creations, each one drawing huge amounts of admiration from those lucky enough to be at EHBE.

Although most of the JRD bikes on display were of the off-road variety, its hard to pigeon-hole the work of JRD into any one genre; their unique style of construction and finishing is worthy of a category all of its own. Indeed, many of the features incorporated in their work would fit in comfortably on road, track or mountain applications...and not just for show either.

As Julie was happy to explain, there is a sound raison d'être behind each of their design features.

“Nothing is added just for the sake of being different – it also has to be functional. We want to make bikes that are beautiful – but but bikes that work too!”

This is best demonstrated on their striking 29'er design.

The base of the seat tube is moved forward onto the down tube in order to permit shorter chainstays. This allows for a more favourable weight distribution on frames intended for smaller, lighter riders as well as stiffening up the transmission for greater efficiency when climbing. The design is reminiscent of the mid-70's short wheelbase, time trial-specific design of MKM of England. JRD have improved on this by adding extra metal behind the seat tube; something the MKM design lacked , leading to sporadic failures. Not so with the simple, yet effective, remedy by JRD.

Also on display was a racing single speed (Julie's own) which features an extended carbon seat tube, something more likely to be found on some of today's more fashionable road bikes. Meanwhile, at the back of their booth - but deserving of a front row spot - was a delightful off-road tandem, dressed up with hand-painted graphics.

As well as being highly skilled in creating buttery-smooth fillet welded frames, Kris is also an accomplished bike painter and graphic artist. When called upon, he is happy to hand-paint intricate designs which when seen in the flesh, leave you in awe of just how long each creation must have taken to complete. This is painstaking, intricate work; carried out without the aid of templates, stencils or masks and resulting in a true one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

Make no mistake; the bikes leaving the workshop of Julie Racing Design are works of art in every respect. Each one is truly unique; meticulously handcrafted and finely detailed to the point of obsession. These pedal-powered sculptures are functional, practical and beautiful all at the same time.
Yet these are not gallery pieces to be hoarded in private collections and photographed for some glossy coffee-table book. These are bikes to be taken out and ridden; bikes that are fun, bikes that work.

There's a refreshing non-conformity about the work of JRD; there are no identikit frames featuring the same lugs and tubes as the guys in the next booth, no pandering to fashion with 'me too' paint schemes.

Perhaps this is because JRD's inspiration comes from within, not from an internet browser.

The end result are bikes built to the highest standards, with every façet of their design and execution carefully considered. Placing trust in his skill and instinct, Kris builds what he knows will work, resisting the temptation to pander to the mainstream.

And so, through designing and building bikes that please him, he in turn brings great joy to their riders...

...and that, ladies and gentlemen, is what it's all about.

WEBSITE : Julie Racing Design