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!
CYCLEFIT ANNOUNCES EUROPE'S FIRST BIKE-FIT SCHOOL
CycleFit will be operating Europe's first professionally accredited cycle-fitting course this December.
The three-day class will run from 5th-7th December and will be based in Central London.
The school will be run by CycleFit Directors Julian Wall and Philip Cavell. They will be assisted by Dr David Hulse (Sports Physician to The Tour of Britain) and from the USA Paraic Mcglynn (SICI's Director of Applied Cycling Science).
The school is certified and endorsed by SICI - the cycling industry's influential institute for applied cycling science and also the USA's principal provider of fitting-related educactional courses. SICI also hosts the annual Cycling Science Symposium in Colorado.
"I am thrilled that Cyclefit is conducting the first and only SICI sanctioned fitting course in the UK. Cyclefit directors, Phil Cavell and Julian Wall have led the retail cycling industry by providing the highest level fitting experience to their clients, without compromise. We are fortunate that they are willing to share their expertise and ultimately further our mission of optimizing the cycling experience through proper fit"
Kathy Krumme SICI USA Director
The CycleFit classes are primarily intended for bicycle retail professionals, coaches, physios and medical practitioners interested in cycling.
INDUSTRY CONTEXT
Cycling is increasingly popular, aspirational and technical. The goal-setting cyclist is now demanding more performance and efficiency from their equipment and from their own bodies. Proveable science, information and data are part of the modern rider's lexicon. To many discerning consumers a recognised bike-fit is perceived as essential to maximise their efficiency, increase their riding pleasure and protect against injury.
CYCLEFIT CycleFit started in 2002 as the only organisation in Europe that was devoted to the subject of cycling ergonomics and bio-mechanics. The importance of scientifically and painstakingly evaluating each individual's position on a bicycle was, and still is, the core principal upon which all CycleFit's activities are founded. In the last six years CycleFit has emerged as the UK's most prominant and respected voice in the field of building better human-to-bicycle relationships. CycleFit presently has five 'Advanced Certified' technicians at Covent Garden and undertakes in excess of 1000 CycleFit sessions per annum. They work with commuters, sportiv riders as well as Olympic champions and past and current word champions.
SICI
SICIis a member-based organisation that has two primary roles. First as the USA's primary provider of 'fitting'-related educational courses to the cycling community. And second they are standard-bearer of advanced cycling science and research by linking the academic and practitioner communities - the focus of which is SICI's annual hosting of the Cycling Science Symposium in Colorado.
THE COURSE The SICI Personalised Class is ideal for dealers and other interested parties who want to offer professional bike fit services. Individuals who pass the course and provide documentation of completed training fits receive the SICI/CycleFit Bike Fit Professional certification.
The CycleFit course will be run over three days in Central London on December 5th-7th.
The cost of the course is £1100 per person - this includes snacks, and beverages as well as training manual, certificate, one group meal and in-store branding. The cost does not include travel to the course, accommodation or main meals.
There is more information about CycleFit Training on the CycleFit website - more For booking information please call or email Kimberly at CycleFit on 0207 430 0083
