We’re here in Portland, covering the 2023 MADE Bike Show, looking for bikes that we thought you, the readers of The Radavist would appreciate. Josh and John have been scouring the halls of the show for bikes to document, and we’ve got Part 02 of our coverage for you to enjoy…
Thanks to 1-Up USA for sponsoring our continued 2023 MADE Bike Show coverage!
Albatross Bikes Apogee Prototype Steel Full Suspension 29er
We’ve seen a number of prototype steel full suspension mountain bikes at various bike shows over the past few years and since John and Josh both own Starling Murmurs, we were immediately drawn to the work of Albatross Bikes. Their Apogee Module is a self-contained linkage design that relies upon modularity to achieve all the rear wheel travel.
Albatross’ Apogee module takes all of the complex, hard to make parts of a frame and brings them all into a single precision-machined assembly, reducing the height of your center of gravity, centralize the mass of the frame, and give you plenty of space for water bottles or a honkin’ framebag.
Free Float Kinematic is what Albatross calls its linkage module and it’s inspired by Yamaha motorcycle suspension design, meaning it’s license-free and ready to rock.
While we wipe the drool off our dusty chins, we’ll eagerly await production of the Apogee…
Baphomet Bicycles Singlespeed 29er Raffle Bike
After recent restrictions implemented by UCI and USA Cycling banned trans women from competing, it is more important than ever to show active support for LGBTQ+ folks in this lovely sport of ours. As such, we are holding another raffle to benefit RIDE Group! Paul Components, Doom Bars, White Industries, Astral, PNW Components, Loam Equipment, Ergon, Wolftooth, and Sram have all come together to adorn this sick hardtail with goodies. This single speed bike, handmade by Baphomet Bicycles, is ready to give transphobic rhetoric and bigoted regulations the middle finger.
So how can you enter to win? Go to www.ridegroup.org and donate $5. Every five bucks gets you one entry with no maximum, so don’t be stingy! Once you have donated to RIDE Group be sure to email the receipt or proof of donation to sendit@baphometbicycles.com. The winner will be announced on the 31st of August. International entries are accepted but know that the winner will have to pay shipping.
BTCHN Bikes Titanium Randonneur
Did Tyler just drop a mofuckin’ titanium bike? He did. He done didit again. BTCHN Bikes brought some heavyweight lightweight magic to MADE with his randonneuring-inspired ti gravel bike. He wanted to make a bike that would “plane” like a traditional randonneuring bike and noted that many ti bikes are overbuilt, using large-diameter tubing that ultimately cancels out the ability of titanium to be flexy. Using FEA analysis, he pushed the limits of downsizing tubing profiles, gusseting where needed, and incorporated 3D-printed components to make this bike perhaps the most advanced steed to roll out of the Chico, California-based builder’s shop.
Where do we even begin with this stunning example of cottage industry fabrication? For starters, Tyler designed numerous 3D printed titanium frame components. From the UDH, flat mount dropouts, and those sweet handlebars even have 3D printed bends that are welded between the flat tops and drops. Shifting? Made possible by hidden AXS Blips underneath the TRP lever’s gum hoods.
Did we mention that he taught himself to weld titanium? And then taught himself to anodize titanium? and… and… andddddddd he took those vintage square-taper PAUL cranks and machined a custom 104BCD 3D-printed spider. The light mount is a 4 gram cherry on top!
His partner, Maira made a matching frame bag and re-upholstered the saddle. Boom.
Well done, well done.
Caletti Cycles Scrambler Flat Bar Gravel Bike
The Scrambler is a new gravel bike from Santa Cruz-based Caletti Cycles that is built specifically for a flat handlebar. To achieve a proper fit, the top tube is lengthened and headtube angle is adjusted for handling in addition to better weight distribution when riding off-road. A choice color paired Ingrid drivetrain and Rodeo Labs gravel fork round out the build.
In typical Caletti fashion, they nailed the finish and color combinations. This “dazzle camo” design is finished in a Death Valley colorway, accentuated in depth and complexity without being “busy.”
Frances Cycles Platypus Mid Gravity Cargo Bike
When it comes to pastels, curvy tubes, and beautiful trailers, few can hold a torch to Frances Cycles, and at this year’s MADE show this Platypus “Mid Gravity” cargo bike caught John’s eye as he browsed the rows of builders. “Mid Gravity” refers to the 20″ wheeled front loader design. The weight you’re carrying isn’t super low, nor high, placing it right in the middle ground.
The frame is made from Tange 035 with a True Temper and Columbus mixture. At the same time, the ladder-framed top tube features a low-slung design to maximize standover height. The outstanding blue and peach bike is chocked full of playful forms, and pristine fillets, and thanks to the Farfarer trailer, this bike aims to be a car replacement.
HotSalad Bicycles Ti All Road
Titanium framebuilder Hot Salad brought a stunning titanium All Road bike built for Cycling Weekly’s US editor, Anne-Marije Rook. The bike features impeccable titanium construction techniques, incorporating Lichen Manufacturing’s UDH, nifty “speed holes” in the seatstay bridge, internal routing, and elegantly dimpled chainstays to give the bike ample tire clearance. A dynamo hub and Sinewave light will light the way on those long hauls.
The finish was achieved by an in-house anodized fade overlaid with Blue Morpho translucent powder by Prismatic Powder.
We’d like to wish Rook a speedy recovery. She was hit by a car recently and is nursing some wounds. Luckily, when she’s back in riding shape, this bike will be waiting for her!
Neuhaus Metalworks Epyon Ti Gravel Bike
The titanium EPYON Allroad is NMW’s official step into gravel and drop bar bikes. The California-based frambuilder duo only builds bikes that they want to ride: clean lines, slim tubes, practical cable routing, and a slightly sloping top tube. These features give the EPYON a classic silhouette with a modern soul.
The bike is packed full of tech: an additive Y-yoke, chainstay yoke, dropouts, and cable ports are as functional as they are beautiful, featuring internal flayed ports, making routing a cinch. The EPYON starts at $5000 for a frameset and is available in road (700×32) and allroad (700×38). Neuhaus will also be releasing a steel version, so stay tuned!
Schön Studio Party Cargo
The Party Cargo from Squamish, BC-based Danielle Schön of Schön Studio is built for interval efforts (hence the power meter), #dogpacking, and everything in between. This beast of a bike has both form and function in mind. Designed to fit a 6’2” and 5’2” tall husband and wife duo respectively, the double decker top tube is optimized for bottle capacity with maximum dropper length while keeping a clean, low standover.
Double direct mount frame bags offer streamlined storage, and a large deck maximizes dog carrying capacity. 29”/20” 2.2 knobbies with clearance for fenders make this bike both trail-capable and city-delivery-friendly.
Sour Bikes Bad Granny
At last year’s Bespoked handmade bike show in London, we documented a special one-off Bad Granny kept raw and patina’d by its owner, and Sour fabricator Florian (aka Brainfart Industries) complete with custom steel dropper lever and handlebar made by Florian with Bad Granny-specific unicrown fork. Typically only available by custom order, Sour is now presenting this Bad Granny that is nearly ready for a limited production run.
Production Bad Granny framesets will feature nearly everything seen here, including the frame, handlebar, chromo dropper lever, and congruent crankset from fellow German fabricators Cybercranks. These bikes can be built up for a variety of disciplines, including single speed with eccentric bottom bracket, geared, belt drive, or however you see fit. Keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming official of Bad Granny availability.
Tonic Fabrication Gravel Bike
Portland’s Tonic Fabrication has been long on our list to document, and Tony’s latest bike models have departed from the “soft tail” designs he’s known for and have moved onto a simple, yet elegant wishbone seat stay. This bike was inspired by the Canadian Geese that “shit where they want” throughout the grassy lawns along the Willamette River. The paint’s patterning is an abstraction of a goose’s feathers.
If you look closely, something special lurks under the bottom bracket shell. Tonic’s drop stays allow for the use of a moderately-sized gravel tire and the use of a double crankset. The T-47 bottom bracket allows for extra welding surface area of this asymmetrical chain stay design. The raised bottle bosses allow the rear brake line to pass underneath, while offering a third bottle cage for those extra long rides.
We’ll be back tomorrow with another stacked gallery of bikes from MADE, so stay tuned!
Let us know your favorite in the comments!
Thanks to 1-Up USA for supporting our continued coverage of the 2023 MADE Bike Show. Check out 1-UP’s made in the USA bike racks.