Monday 13 June 2011

More from Bespoked

I bumped in to a great project a few months back called The Bicycle Academy.  I read the blog and couldn't quite believe what I had stumbled upon.  Brian Curtis teaches you to braze bike frames, and in the process you donate the frame you build to those that need it.  The best Curtis frames are made from T45 tubing - which is used for making really high performance things in the Aerospace industry, and...lets save all that for another day - or maybe just have a look yourself?

No need to file

So, on Sunday, I met Andrew, who started the project.  I shook his hand and demanded that I be near the top of the list and pledged to give a donation.  This is the thing that I am most definitely going to do, and this here Blog is going to be the thing that makes sure I do it.

One builder I spoke to on the day said that he went to a course run by Dave Yates, and has been building hobby frames for mates for a few years.  He's now taking orders from real customers.

Kajak Custom showed this around-the-world-trip mountain bike.  Designed for Rohlhoff and gigantic mud tyres.

Titanium Burls - with gussets and bulging down tube.

Pipe bender at Downland Cycles
More again, later in the week.

Sunday 12 June 2011

Sunday at Bespoked

Today I went to the Bespoked Bike show at the Paintworks, in Bristol.


Lee Cooper had some lovely Sturmey Archer 3sp Fixed-mobiles, with handmade wooden mud guards.



I chatted to Mr Paper Bicycle about his ingenious design.  Forgoing traditional chain stays in favour of a massively robust chain protector, and at the same time making a strong step through, for the Post Office.

Fresh Tripe had their bike parts on Butchers trays.

The Donhou stand was simply gorgeous.  I was quite surprised by the paint finish on one brand that I was looking forward to seeing, but Donhou surpassed themselves.  The scriptive logo on this frame is embossed under a few layers of clear coat.

I snapped this Paulus Quiros towards the end of my visit.  Wonderfully understated - especially compared to the Titanium mountain bikes on the stand next door.

Lots lots more to show and tell, later.

Thursday 9 June 2011

Bespoked Bristol

I'm going to the Bespoked Bristol show this sunday, after lunch.

The UKs first handmade bike show - following in the almighty footsteps of NAHBS.
A bike geeks dream is here in Bristol.  I cannot wait.

There'll be stuff like this...
http://www.donhoubicycles.com/category/news/

...and I'll be hoping to talk my way in to someone's workshop to have a look about and take pictures and hopefully to convince them to let me have a go.

Tuesday 7 June 2011

Gas

I've taken another step closer to realising my mid-week mini adventure.


Last week I started to assemble some kit and I found that my gas had slowly leached away.  So I now have new gas and I've worked out how to pack the burner, the gas, the matches, a spoon and some pasta in a little saucepan.  I'll take some pesto in a freezer bag and then pour the cooked pasta in the bag and mix it up, to save on washing up.  I might also chuck in some chunks of chorizo. 

What shall I have for breakfast?