Steel may be real but, for Petor Georgallou, that cliché begs the question: is wood good? Ever the curious reviewer, Petor has long wanted to test the ride quality of a wooden frame and the opportunity to ride a Twmpa Cycles GR1 gravel bike finally presented itself a few months back. But before Petor dips into his ride impressions, he shares an exchange with another wooden builder, Mark Kelly, about the characteristics that make wood an especially compelling frame-building material. After checking out Petor’s review of the GR1, drop into the comments and let us know…would you? Wood you!?
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Reportage
Losing Our Heads at the Onguza Loskop Local Cycling Festival in Namibia
Held in Omaruru, Namibia this past July, the Onguza Loskop Local is a weekend festival with “great food, drinks & friends, with a wee bit of cycling thrown in for good measure.” After deciding the event looked really lekker Cape Town locals Stan Engelbrecht and Donnet Dumas made the trip out and each rode the event in divergent fashions—Donnet on a borrowed too-small Giant, and Stan on his ill-advised fixed-gear with skinny tires—and share a joint account of their adventure…
Reportage
No One Is Going To Do It Except You: A Schön Studio Shop Visit
If you weren’t already familiar with Schön Studio, you may have just seen some of their stellar work in our recent MADE bike show coverage. Tucked into a corner of a quiet neighborhood in Squamish BC, Danielle Schön has been building bikes, teaching classes, and doing a variety of other metalwork and art out of her hand-built, backyard workshop. Read on below for Pat Valade‘s shop visit and in-depth profile…
Reportage
I Don’t Want Anything That’s Fast: The Bikes of Spencer Connell
Spencer and I have been riding bikes together for 15 years. Since then, Spencer developed a career building and repairing guitars in Nashville, Tennessee. Back when we were younger, we spent a lot of time hanging around our local bike shop, Halcyon, and working on our bikes on their community stands. His bikes are deeply practical, very unique, and kind of clapped out. I’m not here to tell anyone what to do, but I wish more people built and rode bikes like Spencer. Recently I went to Nashville, and I took some time to document his bikes and ask him a few questions about his builds. Below, let’s check out what he had to say…
Reportage
2023 Enve Grodeo and Builder Round-Up Part 2: Sycip, Rock Lobster, Wish One, Moots, Scarab, Quirk, Boredure, Breadwinner, ENVE
Today we are back with part two of Spencer Harding‘s ENVE Grodeo and Builder Round-up coverage. If you missed the builds featured in yesterday’s post, we’d recommend going back and giving them a gander—3D-printed parts (most ti but some steel, too!) seems to be the unofficial theme for the year but there’s plenty to see across the creative spectrum! Today, we finish up with the remaining frame builders in the showcase—with a few more overseas features—then we head out on the weekend’s main event, a 92-mile gravel ride on some of the best dirt in the northern Wasatch Mountains. Let’s dive in!
Reportage
Everyone’s Nice at Brother in the Wild Dorset
Petor Georgallou steals his sister away as a (reluctant) partner in crime to check out the Brother in the Wild Dorset, hosted by Brother Cycles. He’s pleased to find a “field full of weirdos” and a plethora of equally unique and odd bikes and, it turns out, everyone’s nice. Stick around near the end for a lengthy discussion on the merits and cost of silver brazing, and a sampling of the bikes that made an appearance.
Reportage
Don’t Tell Me You Like It: An Extended Review of The Argonaut GR3 Gravel Bike
Argonaut’s GR3 gravel bike combines the trademarked GravelFirst geometry with a custom rider-specific carbon layup to create what the Bend, Oregon-based frame and component builder claim to be a “rip-capable gravel bike unlike any other.” So, what does Petor Georgallou‘s time as a high schooler working at a video rental shop have to do with the Argonaut GR3? And, if he tells you he likes the bike, will you even believe him? Read on to find out…
Reportage
Materialism is Dead; Long Live Materialism: A Workshop Visit with Saffron Frameworks
In this shop visit with Saffron Frameworks in London, UK, Sam Rice traces a line from Matthew Sowter’s previous life as a chef to his current trade as one of the most awarded frame builders in the world. Matthew’s skill in transforming basic ingredients into magnificent dishes transfers over into his ability to turn a box of tubes into a frame deserving of the word “perfection.” Materialism may be a concept of the past, but it is very much alive in Matthew Sowter’s craft.
Reportage
Striking a Different Kind of Gold in Beechworth: Tor Bikes Shop Visit
With the headlights pointing north, I departed at sparrow’s fart, my destination: Beechworth. It’s a little over a three-hour jaunt from Melbourne along the Hume Highway. The drive is punctuated by rolling hills, bouncing kangaroos, and petrol (gas) stations. Historically known for the gold rush of the late 1800s, I was heading there in search of the slightly less precious metal of steel – crafted by the hand of Shane Flint of Tor Bikes.
Reportage
Five Bikes by Básica Studio in México City
Following up on their previous shop visit, Daniel and Karla take us back to Básica Studio in Mexico City. This time they delve deeper into a larger spectrum of Básica’s bikes, along with some updates on builder Eli Acosta.
Reportage
Our Town Makes ONGUZA: Bicycles Made in Namibia
What do you picture when you hear “African bikes”? There’s a good chance you’re not thinking of a luxury, world-class bike. And you’re not alone. We need to change the way people think about goods made in Namibia – and from Africa as a whole. Name a luxury brand from the African continent…? Yeah, we have our work cut out for us. Onguza is making handbuilt steel frames in Omaruru and helping to put Namibia on the map of international frame builders. Continue reading below as Dan Craven gives us a look into starting the brand and his motivations.
Radar
Radar Roundup: MUSA Pants, New Albion Frames, Gravel Racing Tank Tops, PACHAMAMA, and CDC-GT UNBOUND 2022
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Reportage
A Look at Two Builds from Mexico’s Atom Cycles: The Puelche and Kodkod
In our previous story, we showed you Atom Cycles’ workshop in Ojo de Agua, in the State of México, but here we’ll take a look at two of their finished bicycles. What better example to look at in-depth than the personal bikes of Dulce and Wladimir, the couple behind the name.
Radar
Radar Roundup: Brooks C17 Special Lab, SAS Lightweight, Half Moon Rack, Nordest Bardino Ti 3, and Better Late
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
Radar Roundup: Braaap Packs, MASH Hardtail, Gold Dropper Lever, and 2022 Newsboys!
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
Radar Roundup: Framebagracadabra, Ragley Frames, Ratio 2×12 Upgrade Kit, Apidura Cargo Adapters, GT Gets Rad, Green Mountain, Revel Fam, and Makers in Portland
Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…
Radar
Sour Bicycles Moves its Mountain Bike Frame Production to Germany and Drops the Big Fun Hardtail
Sour Bicycles, the company that made the Pasta Party John reviewed last month, has just dropped a big bomb of an announcement. The brand will be producing all of its mountain bike frames in Germany, beginning in January 2022. That means if you pre-order any frame right now, it’ll be made in Germany, including its newest model the Big Fun, an enduro/trail/all-mountain hardtail. Check out the geo numbers and details on the Big Fun below and read Sour Bicycles’ full press release at their blog…
Radar
The Kory York K2 Tracklocross Frame is a Throwback
Rimini, Italy-based Kory York manufacturers its frames in Italy offers a unique frame the readers of The Radavist might enjoy. These K2 Tracklocross frames are inspired by the old Cannondale track frames and have all the right details. With five sizes and eight color options this frame would build up a treat. As with all its frames, the K2 is available as a custom geometry as well.
Specs:
100% Handmade
High Quality 7000-series T6 Aluminum Alloy
Handcrafted Smooth Welding
Straight Geometry
Size* : XS | S | M | L | XL (custom geo available on request)
Bottom Bracket Threading : BSA BB 68mm (English)
Seatpost Diameter* : Ø 27,2 mm by Dedacciai® (Ø 31,6 mm available on request)
Head tube* :External 1-1/8″ (Headset on request + 39€) Note: 1″ Classic by Columbus® available on request)
Weight: 1660g (S)
See more at Kory York.