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!
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The annual bike show merry-go-round has got underway, with Eurobike first of the bunch.
Record-breaking attendance, more exhibitors than ever - and more new products than you could shake a stick at.
Does Eurobike live up to the 'Globalbike' tag some would like to give it, or is it getting too big for its boots?
Eurobike was big – but now its massive!
The stats say it all:
36,800 trade visitors from 75 countries; 1.430 journalists from 32 countries, and 18,000 visitors through the doors on Sunday's Open Day.
Added to the gate numbers, the Demo Day 'prologue' (the day before the show proper) attracted 1400 retailers and 370 media representatives.
There was indeed plenty to see; over 200 new products – everything from skewers to electronic gearing systems - were launched at the Show. Submissions for the highly-prized Eurobike Awards totalled 361 from 27 countries. Seminars, media conferences and product workshops abounded. The stunts and races on the BMX track were an exciting distraction if one were needed, while the indoor test rink in the Zeppelin Hall had them queuing up to try every derivation on wheels - from city bikes, to cargo bikes, to e-bikes.
While the global megabrands are in no doubt over the importance of putting on a good show at Eurobike, there are still custom framebuilders to be found, braving the trip, the expense - and the scrutiny.
However, all I spoke to were more than happy with the results of their efforts.
Darren Baumbit the bullet and made the trip from Australia to Germany with his range of titanium and steel beauties.
”Amazing; absolutely knocked out!” was Darren's reaction to not only the appreciation his work was receiving, but also the extent of his 'fan base' in Europe!
Word of mouth is still one of the greatest forms of marketing and there was plenty of talk of Darren's work at the after-show parties. Somehow, I don't think he'll be flying back to Aussie disappointed.
Others, such as Italian micro-brand Milani , found both their lugged steel 'Heritage' models and up-to-the-minute custom-built carbon race bikes receiving equal praise; not only from bike lovers, but from dealers and distributors hoping to bag a 'niche' label to enhance their portfolio with.
As for the show itself, its success may be down to the Germananic love of efficiency coupled with fine attention to detail on the part of the organisers. Or maybe its position as the first major show on the calendar gives Eurobike its edge. Perhaps its the enthusiasm of the German cycling public....or maybe a combination of all three. Whatever it is, one thing is certain - Eurobike rocks!
It can be a slog at times, but its well worth the effort.
Whether you look on it as an annual requirement or a once-in-a-lifetime trip, you won't be disappointed. There's more than enough to see and do, you don't get handcuffed to an order pad the minute you step onto a booth, and the overall organisation of the event should be a template for other promoters and organisers to follow.
For 2009, the show takes place a day earlier, opening on Wednesday 2nd September, through to Saturday 5th, to give everyone a welcome day off before getting back work on Monday . (Well, nearly everone!)
So there you have it; mark it down in your diaries and whether exhibitor or bike lover, if you can get there, be there!
