Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 22 i Urban Cyclist

THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO MAKE CARBON-FIBRE BIKES. One is the mass-manufacturing method, which is to place the carbon in a complex mould, in maybe two or three pieces, and then glue the pieces together to make the bike frame. But small-scale builders like me do what is called tube-to-tube building. You’ve got a set of individual tubes (in this case made of carbon fibre) that are bonded using aerospace adhesives, and then the joints are reinforced with additional carbon fibre and the whole frame goes into a curing oven. CUTTING AND FITTING THE TUBES into the frame jig is kind of similar to how steel bikes are made. But before that, I make all the individual tubes. The whole bespoke method allows me to customise the geometry of the…

HOW WE TEST Our testing is based on this principle – we're honest and we give you the same advice as we'd give our best mate so that you can make a well-informed choice. We use a 0-10 scoring system, taking price into account, and we mark fairly but firmly. Scores of 10 are reserved for flawless leaders; 7 is a good mark and you'll like your purchase; 5 is okay but you could do better; below that it's a question of do you walk or run away. RIDING TYPE ICONS Cruising Products suited to steady riding, performance isn't a design consideration All-round Kit with broad talents that can do fast and slow riding without compromise Racing Performance focused kit that wilfully compromises urban usability AWARDS…

“The shape of the tubing reliably transfers the stress from riding to mid-tube in a predictable manner” “We make a range of steel bikes ranging from touring bikes to race efforts to town bikes and even mountain bikes. I had an interest in engineering and we both love cycling… so collaborated and pursued this as a career. “We choose steel because it’s so flexible to work with, meaning we can create some very interesting tubing shapes, as you can see. Reynolds have a huge range of different tubing with different properties, so we can tweak performance to suit. “It takes around two weeks to build a bike but can be longer depending on the riding aim.” Paulus Quiros is a partnership between Jonathan Paulus and José Quiros, who design and…

“There’s an interesting story behind those chainstays – they used to be a prototype mountain-bike handlebar” Ted James Design was founded in 2010 by Ted ‘Super Ted’ James and has since won numerous awards at Bespoked. “I build all kinds of bikes, from custom one-offs and prototypes to small batches, mostly in steel, stainless steel and titanium. I also makes as many parts and fittings for my bikes as possible including headtubes, bottom brackets, hubs, handlebars, racks and stems.” James actually made his first bike back in 2008 when he completed the Dave Yates framebuilding course. “It was a pink sparkly lugged road bike and it’s still my favourite bike!” He’s also constructed bikes for The Conran Shop, Dface, Shinghai from The Sounds and worked with artist Benedict Radcliffe, making…

“We were often labelled as a retro or vintage brand, which wasn’t the point because we weren’t trying to recreate the past or anything” Rapha were founded in London in 2004, launching their debut range with a month-long exhibition in East London’s Truman Brewery. Entitled ‘Kings of Pain’, it showcased six heroes from cycling’s golden era and beyond: Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil, Raymond Poulidor, Tom Simpson, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault. As well as representing the suffering (and joy) of cycling, they dressed in a style that provided the inspiration for Rapha’s breakthrough into the cycling apparel market. Core to Rapha’s huge growth around the world, in both city and road markets, has been a glorious aesthetic, premium price and its inspirational founder Simon Mottram. And it’s Mottram who Urban…

“We had some crazy ideas about drilling parts but that would have sacrificed power transfer” “Our philosophy at Engineered is that form follows function, and so source the most suitable material needed to provide low weight and positive riding characteristics. “We encourage our customers to bring a story or a point of inspiration, which forms a creative brief that is truly customised and personal.” Engineered Bicycles is a collaboration between graphic designer Adrian Ridley and chartered engineer David Fong. The team are experts in all bike materials but it was this aluminium number that drew admiring glances from the Bristol crowds. “It’s a fixed-gear bike we made for hill-climber Joe Norledge,” explains Ridley. “That’s why it weighs just 5.1kg – and that’s with pedals and a power meter.” The heart…

“The students designed and built the bike for Anna Glowinski to tackle the fixed-gear Red Hook series” “The aim of Moss Bikes is to design and manufacture the best British bicycles. To that end, l make frames and build bikes using as many British-made parts as possible. “My background is teaching design and technology, and I also have an extensive portfolio of product design and engineering projects including packaging designs for Fenwick’s bicycle cleaning products – another successful British company. “I built my first bikes for other people as a teenager, forging my first-ever frame when I was 14. Some years later, when teaching, I took a bike to the London Bike Show. It was a disc-brake steel effort with a 1in steerer. No-one had seen one like it so…

“I think there were just seven parts on the bike that weren’t custom-made… It took 200hrs to build” “I’ve been framebuilding for eight years this summer. I was self-taught as I come from a welding and fabrication background. In the past I’ve built everything from parts for forklifts to arctic trailers to structural work. Tig welding, mig welding… I’ve covered all bases. “But I’ve always cycled – since I was three years old, apparently – and it’s ingrained in me. That’s why I had to give it a go as a full-time career. “And, thankfully, it’s going well. I’m busy – even busier because I’m moving into a new workshop soon. It’s still in York but about five miles north of the city centre.” Ricky Feather of Feather Cycles attracted…

Cities in summer are heaven. Riding in the sun, grabbing drinks with friends, relaxing in the park: there’s nothing better. The only problem? Everyone else has had the same idea and all your favourite spots are filled with sun-seekers and tourists. So you need to think outside the box and cast your net a little wider, head to the country, hit the road and get exploring. Thankfully, there’s a company out there who’ve done the hard work for you and crafted some epic ready-made cycling adventures. Compass Holidays’ experts have combed Britain and Europe to find the very best routes and then made them easy for you to enjoy too. All you need to supply is the pedal power. There are loads of routes to choose from, whether you want…

1: 1952 Motoconfort Randonneur I’m a UK expat living in Switzerland and I bought the bike through eBay France. French randonneurs were well ahead of the time when it came to brake, gearing, comfort and derailleur technology. The bike rides really well, particularly once you’ve got used to the front ‘suicide’ derailleur changer. I ride it to work sometimes – 50km round trip. It’s top value and it’s more of a crowd puller than my friend’s €14k Pinarello Dogma! Guy Redshaw 2: Enigma singlespeed I commute 37km each way on this bespoke titanium beauty and have been doing so for the past 14 years. Basically, I’ve been regularly riding from Leatherhead to Clerkenwell and back for a long time. Phil Cresswell 3: Trek Singletrack 920 I’ve had it for around…

FOFFA   www.foffawear.co.uk HARRINGTON JACKET {£180.00} The London-based outfit are better known for their range of singlespeeds but have recently dipped into the clothing market. Their Harrington jacket is Foffa’s flagship item and is… okay. We like the price – half that of brands like Rapha and Vulpine. Unfortunately, it’s not the finest-fitting garment, hanging a little uncomfortably. That could be down to the ventilated back, which clears sweat efficiently but to the detriment of comfort and looks. In fact, we’d say this jacket’s very much function over fashion with a 10k hydrostatic rating showcasing its water-resistant qualities. Long sleeves come in handy when down on the drops, and we appreciate the confident zipper. {7}A jacket that defies the elements but lacks in the fitting department T-SHIRT {£35.00} You’d think…

“The idea came from a customer who liked the intricately engraved patterns found on shotguns” “In my college years I started working as a bicycle advocate to help bring more people and bicycles together. I have led both road and off-road tours for children and adults, and continue to work as an advocate and teacher to promote safe cycling. “Why ‘Winter’? Winter’s typically considered the ‘off season’ for competitive cyclists, but as many of us know it’s a great time for long training rides and hearty, often quiet, community and utility riding. Winter is bicycling’s best kept secret. “I manufacturer custom bicycles and luxurious necessities including forks, racks and other fittings. My focus is on fresh, clean, year-round bicycles. The bicycles are made from a custom blend of steel tubing…

“I looked to the animal kingdom for inspiration regarding patterns and colours… and decided on a fish!” “I built my first frame in 1988 when I was racing mountain bikes but couldn’t afford a good one. My dad’s a jeweller and said make your own bloody bike. So I did and raced on it. “Every now and then I’d make another bike and then, about seven years ago and as I was growing older, I decided to go full-time. I started in my garden shed and then bumped into Mog, who I worked for as a bike mechanic when I was 16. He’s a fantastic bike designer and said I’ve always wanted to make really nice town bikes or touring bikes. So we joined up and it’s now evolved to…