The 'Vergine' by Zullo of Italy. Built with Columbus XCr stainless steel tubing
The latest masterpiece from San Diego, California legend Brian Baylis.
A 2006 're-working' of a 1961 Masi, by Californian master Rob Roberson.
Close-up of the Masi 'Clone Project'; stunning from any angle.
Frameforum's 'Bike Of The Year': the minimalist beauty of Fixie Inc's 'Five Star'.
Superb in every detail; nothing is left to the ordinary on Fixie Inc's 'Five Star'.
Frameforum is a site dedicated to the art and craft of the handmade bicycle. It’s about the people who make them; it’s about the people who ride them. Frameforum is the place to be if you’re considering the 'custom alternative' – a bike that gives you everything 'off-the-shelf ' bikes don’t.
It’s about you - not Mr or Ms. Average. A custom bike is more than just a paint job. A custom bike isn't about shaving grams for bragging rights either. It’s about you and your builder considering every aspect of the bike. The process starts with finding the best dimensions, followed by designing and building the frame, then deciding on each and every component part of the bike - your bike.
A bike that's been custom-built for you will fit you better than a stock bike ever could. It can be as individual as you are; it can suit your particular style of riding, your particular needs and be built from a material that suits you ... not the coffee stop crew.
Frameforum is also a great place those who build, or aspire to build, custom bikes. In the forum section, you’ll find members embarking on their first steps in framebuilding as well as some of the greats of the framebuilding game; iconic builders making iconic bikes. If you want to ask questions and get answers on frame building from the folks who actually build them, this is the place.
In short; if handmade bicycles are your thing - whether rider, collector or creator - make Frameforum your first port of call!
Alistair Gow has been a stalwart of the West of Scotland cycling community for more years than he cares to remember (or admit!).
He’s the archetypal ‘clubman’; a tireless worker for his club Glasgow Nightingale CC and a font of knowledge on all things cycling.
Over the years, he’s helped literally hundreds of Scottish cyclists find their feet when they first enter the sport; just read the chapter of Graeme Obree’s autobiography on his formative years in the bike game to find out the part "Big Al" played in Graeme’s transition from 'gringo’' to world beater.
As if that wasn’t enough, he’s also a first-rate wheelbuilder and mechanic.
With his encyclopaedic knowledge of hubs, rim types and spoke lengths, he’s the man Scottish bikies go to when they need ‘real’ wheels. The West of Scotland is hard on riders and hard on equipment. In this age of boutique, factory-built hoops with exotic lacing patterns, he’s as busy now as he ever was. Gram-shaving ‘for racing only’ stuff doesn’t really cut it around here.
Alistair’s talent for building wheels means his small but well-stocked shop, Wheelcraft, in the picture-postcard village of Clachan of Campsie, is a magnet for local riders. Pick up your wheels from Alistair, and he’ll tell you to drop them back for a quick check-over after a few hundred miles. Chances are they’ll need no adjustment, thanks to Alistair’s ability to get it right first time and his good judgement in applying just the right number of turns on the nipples.
For this set of wheels, only one requirement was made – silver rims. Alistair settled on the Ambrosio Evolution for their consistent quality, their resilience, and importantly, the cost of replacement if a rim gets pretzelled. Like I said, the roads round here are hard on equipment and no rim is invulnerable to Scottish pot holes.
If you’re ever close by, pop in and say hello. You’re sure of a warm welcome, a hot coffee or a cold beer. Oh, and a disapproving glance at your boutique wheels.....
Alistair after all, knows best!
{mosimage}Registrations for the 1st EUROPEAN HANDMADE BICYCLE EXHIBITION are gathering pace, with some big names already showing commitment to the Show by grabbing their booth space nice and early!
Perhaps the best known of the exhibitors on board so far is Italian legend De Rosa.
For over 50 years, De Rosa has set the benchmark with their superb construction and exquisite finishing.
De Rosa will be exhibiting the 2009 range; in particular, their titanium and steel models. Each and every one of the highly-prized De Rosa Ti2,Titanio XS,Corum and Neo Primato models is "su misura" - custom built - by Doriano De Rosa, demonstrating he has inherited all of the skills and flair of father and company founder Ugo De Rosa - arguably one of the worlds' finest framebuilders.
Another big name who will be joining De Rosa as one of the major show attractions is Independent Fabrication of the USA.
IF are rapidly gaining a reputation as being amongst the best of the US 'micro-brands', with each of their sought-after models fully customizable and made-to-measure.
Switzerland is represented by touring specialists Stolz, plus Schlumpf Innovations, who design and manufacture a range of decidedly different gearing systems.
Negotiations are under way with other high-profile framebuilders and components manufacturers, which the organisers hope to announce after Eurobike.
The show runs from May 8th - 10th 2009 at the Congress-Centrum Stadtgarten, Schwäbisch Gmünd, in southern Germany. Getting there is easy; Stuttgart Airport is close by and the town is easily reached by major road networks and rail.
For further info on registration, please contact the organisers 2Souls Cycles or ask your questions on the EHBE dedicated forum HERE.
Check back regularly for updates or visit the EHBE website HERE.
