The Radavist

Sweet mother of the open road. Chris Bishop is on a roll with Michael’s road bike. The details on this thing are amazing. I can’t wait to see what he brings to NAHBS. Check out more at the Bishop Flickr!

Even though I’m not the biggest fan of modern Ergopower, I can’t get over how rad this photo is. Chris Bishop’s Flickr is on fire right now, but be forewarned, it might make you wanna spring for a custom Bishop…

I’ve been watching this bike being cut, carved and finished over on the Bishop Bikes Flickr but seeing it in all its matte black glory is making me jealous. Daniel wanted a modern steel bike with classic lines, much like my Bishop and boy did Chris deliver. Check out more shots of this ENVE-laced beast at the Bishop Bikes Flickr.

Photo by Chris Bishop

Chris Bishop has so many NOS Columbus tubesets and the MS, or multi-shaped, tubes are some of the most unique. Here’s a profile section of the tubes. From left to right, non drive chainstay, drive side chainstay, top tube, down tube and Air seat stays. Keep at it Chris. This is a great photo.

I am honored to have a bike made by this man. When you buy a Bishop, you not only get a frame, you get a world’s experience (literally) in bicycle racing, collecting and just good old fashioned work ethic. Chris began on a bike like many of us did, on a BMX, pedaling around the neighborhood. Then he began racing, until the bike messenger life caught him in the late 90’s. After traveling to race the CMWCs, he returned to the States where he enrolled in frame building classes under Steve Garn of Brew’s watchful eye.

Now Bishop Bikes is a world-renown name in frame building. With a new web site on the way, Chris uploaded some photos of his life in bikes over on his Flickr. I highly recommend you take a look!

Chris has been so busy building that he hasn’t had time to photograph any of his new bikes. That said, this one is far from new but it’s still classic Bishop. Kyle at Tracko shot a great set of photos after this Gilco tubing SSCX bike left Golden Saddle Cyclery for a facelift. See more photos here.

Finally! The Victoire and Bishop Bikes Supersprint Hubs are available:

“After one complete year of development and testing, the Victoire Supersprint hubs created with the famous framemaker Chris Bishop from Bishop bikes are available now. We spent the last few days shipping the hubs that were pre-ordered and we have a few left for this first batch. They are available in 32 and 36 holes versions in black, silver and dark grey finishes. Other drilling options and colors are available on request.

The Supersprint hubs share most of the caracteristics with our HFT hubs, with added features like drilled flanges and a new specific logo. Each hub is also numeroted. The front hub is available for 150€ and the rear one for 180€ (prices are indicated for Europe and for hubs without options). The product section will be updated soon with all the Supersprint specs.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding the Supersprint hubs, using our contact form.”

Check out more information here.

10 years ago, you might have thought these two photos came from a Weigle or Kvale frame. But we all know this is Chris Bishop‘s handywork. Lugs thinned so much that only Bryan Myers can lay down a wet coat on it, brass fillets, fast back stays and man, those head tube lugs. Bruns road bike came out superb. Check out more photos here.

If you think a builder like Chris Bishop just orders lugs from Henry James, or whoever and brazes them as is, you’re wrong. Check out this shot of four seat clusters, all at various stages of fillet brazing and finishing. Man, I love my Bishop. Check out more photos at the Bishop Flickr.

I have been watching this bike from tube selection to filing and all I can say is wow. Chris Bishop‘s work is impeccible and Bryan Myers at Fresh Frame‘s paint is spot-on. Every detail on this is perfect. See more here.

These are the types of posts I love seeing from Chris Bishop. I like to think of Chris’ work as detailed, with a purpose. While I’ve got nothing against builders who file down pedal cages and machine their own tail lamps, I really appreciate little nuances that make a bike function better, while adding a little aesthetic pulse of energy.

Chris cites Aaron Hayes from the late Courage Cycles as a precedent for this (something I wish the new jack builders would do – cite your sources), as an effort to stiffen up cantis and mini v’s. He even noticed an increase in stiffness while brazing this bridge booster in place.

See the mini v’s installed below.

Now this is a very subtle detail but man, does it look good. Bryan Myers from Fresh Frame has painted two of my bikes and his work is some of the best out there. For Chris Bishop‘s latest project, Bryan put the finishing touches on these Campagnolo Pista hubs, painting the inside flanges of the polished hubs.

Not too shabby. See how the rest of this project is shaping up over at the Bishop Flickr.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Chris break out the files on a set of lugs like this. He really is a master at what he does. Keep track of all things Bishop at his Flickr. Here I was, thinking my fillet road bike was immaculate!

I’ve enjoyed watching this rather simple project being built over on the Bishop Flickr and while this isn’t the final build (it was built with spare parts for these photos), you can see that Bishop touch. Shots like this show Chris’ attention to detail and I’m sure Paul is anxious to get this baby rolling.

See more at the Bishop Flickr.

LA is rad. Every time I come back here, I fall in love a little more with Los Angeles county. I say county because riding in most of the city is garbage. Pure shit. But riding outside of the city is marvelous. This morning we took a nice little spin and I’m amazed at what awaits you just outside the hustle and bustle. We did 30 miles and 2,600′ all while smiling and talking shit. Check my Instagram at the bottom footer on the site for more pics.

Oh and Wednesday’s your chance to swoop up a Ramblin’ Roll if you haven’t yet. Kyle’s upping some more, so sit on his site!

Also, also, the Necronomicog packs have shipped and the USPS’ tracking system SUCKS. Just be patient, they’re all trickling in this week. If you’re lucky enough to swoop a Ramblin’ Roll, the Necronomicog patches fit great on them…

Man. I don’t think it gets any better than that. Clean brazing, impeccable filing and shorelines, topped off with a killer Bishop binder bolt. John’s getting one sick track bike. Check out even more at the Bishop Flickr.

Chris Bishop‘s work on John’s classic track bike is really wild. Just check out that brake bridge! See more at the Bishop Flickr.

“I like the nice sharp points.” Well said Chris. John’s getting this track bike is in for a treat. See more at the Bishop Flickr.