Handbuilt Bikes Archives - BIKEPACKING.com

12 Stunning Bicycles from Bespoked 2023

Josh Meissner — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 11:05:31 +0000

The Bespoked 2023 handmade bike show was held for the first time on the European mainland in Dresden, Germany, and nobody knew quite what to expect. Over the packed weekend, writer Josh Meissner and photographer Stefan Haehnel weaved through the crowds to scope out their favorite bikes of the bunch. Read on for the backstories and superb photos of a dozen stunning rigs for bikepacking and beyond here…

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Introducing Medusa Cycles and the Medusa Deka Prototype

Lucas Winzenburg — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 12:53:36 +0000

Building on the lessons and experience he accumulated while pedaling from the UK to India in 2018, Pete Skelton returned home and began scheming and saving to launch his own frame building venture. Earlier this year, Medusa Cycles was born, and we caught up with Pete to learn more and check out his his debut model, the Deka. Dive in here...

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Bikes and Builders of the MADE Bike Show: Part Three

Miles Arbour — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 11:02:15 +0000

Following a whirlwind few days, we're excited to share the final bike and builder roundup from our coverage of the inaugural MADE Bike Show in Portland. This third installment features photos of 10 more bikes and the stories behind them. Explore the full gallery here...

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Bikes and Builders of the MADE Bike Show: Part Two

Miles Arbour — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 14:53:41 +0000

Our MADE Bike Show coverage continues with a second roundup showcasing 10 more stunning bicycles and the builders who created them. Learn more about the bikes, meet the people behind them, and find a selection of photos highlighting their handmade details here…

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Bikes and Builders of the MADE Bike Show: Part One

Miles Arbour — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 11:07:27 +0000

With the inaugural MADE Bike Show wrapped up, we’re kicking off our recap with part one of three roundups showcasing the gorgeous bicycles on display and the builders who created them. Find details on 10 bikes, their unique stories, and a vibrant selection of photos showcasing their handmade details here...

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MADE Bike Show: Six Bikes from Day One

Miles Arbour — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 15:00:37 +0000

The MADE bike show in Portland is in full swing, and we've been busy capturing some truly stunning bikes and getting to know the makers behind them. To kick things off, find photos and details on five framebuilders we spoke to yesterday morning. From steel hardtails to titanium dream machines and kids bikes, see it all here...

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Maestro Rat Snake: The Story of Two Mikes and One Nice Bike

Miles Arbour — Mon, 29 May 2023 11:25:54 +0000

Co-designed by Joel Levin and Maestro Frameworks, the Maestro Rat Snake is a new all-terrain bicycle that's made to be loaded up for bikepacking and intended to fit neatly in between a mountain bike and a gravel bike. Learn more about the Rat Snake's backstory and unique design, and find a gallery of photos here...

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2022 Bespoked Editors’ Picks: Our Favorite Bikes

Team Work — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 13:04:15 +0000

After perusing an incredible selection of bikes from the 2022 Bespoked handbuilt bicycle show in London, our editorial team got together and selected our favorites. Find an incredible photo gallery featuring each of these amazing machines with insight from their builders here...

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Clandestine Shepherd’s Midtail

Cass Gilbert — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 11:33:35 +0000

A custom cargo midtail made for a shepherd called Sean and his sheepdog Werner? Surely these are characters from a children's book! Trust Pi Manson of Clandestine to bring such a whimsical dogpacking setup to life in his inimitable style. See it here...

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Introducing the Bike Friday All-Packa: Behind the Scenes with Willie Hatfield

Joe Cruz — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 11:37:32 +0000

Bike Friday recently unveiled their new bike designed for gravel riding and bikepacking on everything from dirt roads to chunky doubletrack to flowy singletrack. Like most Bike Fridays, the All-Packa has 20” wheels and folds into a standard suitcase for travel. It also features clearance for 2.4” tires, a newly developed alt-bar, and loads of mounts and space for bags. Read more about it and find an interview with the designer here...

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Nine Bikes From the 2022 ENVE Builder Round-Up

Logan Watts — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 12:43:21 +0000

ENVE’s fourth annual Builder Round-Up took place this past weekend, and there were 20 custom bikes on display, including some head-turning hardtails and gravel bikes. We hand-picked nine beauties from the event, and you can find a gallery of photos and some details on each stunning build here...

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Three More Interesting Bikes From Sea Otter

Evan Christenson — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 12:25:05 +0000

Among all the fascinating bikes that Evan Christenson found while wandering around the 2022 Sea Otter Classic, these three stood out. Find a full gallery, build kit, and details on Paul Zeigle's Champagne Supernova Surly Ogre, Joe Cruz's custom Mosaic GT-2, and the Sierra Oddity here...

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Clandestine Green Lane Rouleur

Cass Gilbert — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 12:18:14 +0000

Built for a potter in Bristol, UK, the Clandestine Green Lane Rouleur is a bike that aims to connect the byways, bridleways, and green lanes of the Bristolian countryside, in both style and comfort. Pi Manson shares the thought process that went into the bike, details of its countryside-friendly mudguards, and insights into the Cleland Cycles school of bicycle geometry that influenced its design…

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Introducing the Amigo Bug Out

Logan Watts — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 16:15:48 +0000

Created by Nashville-based frame builder Zach Small, the new Amigo Bug Out is an “adventure bike for burnouts and weirdos,” and we think it looks pretty cool. The Bug Out features a Tange Prestige steel frame with rotating dropouts, an IS integrated headtube, and a custom yoke. Learn all about it here, alongside an interview with Zach...

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Mouton’s E.T. 24″ Separable Bikepacking & Paragliding Rig

Cass Gilbert — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 12:43:04 +0000

Just when you thought our coverage of the wonderful Concours de Machines 2021 was over (and Bespoked, for that matter), we bring you one last and especially fascinating bike. Mouton Cycles' E.T., so named because of its unlikely aspirations for flight, is a separable hardtail that sports "unfashionable" 24-inch wheels, a Pinion drivetrain, Santana Z Couplers, and a truss-like rear rack complete with kevlar lines...

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10 More Bikes from Bespoked UK 2021

Guest — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 12:37:13 +0000

For our next post from the 2021 edition of the UK's Bespoked Handmade Bicycle Show, we rounded up an eclectic assortment of 10 bikes that caught our attention for one reason or another. Find a gallery of photos and details on each bike here, with a little something for everyone...

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Bespoked UK 2021: Clandestine Combe and Mid-Tail

Guest — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 13:17:47 +0000

Continuing our coverage of the 2021 Bespoked UK Handmade Bicycle Show, we check out two unique bikes from Bristol-based framebuilder Pi Manson of Clandestine. Check out his lovely new mid-tail cargo bike with a truss fork and vibrant Combe trail bike here...

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Bespoked UK 2021: Quirk Cycles Superchub

Guest — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 12:14:51 +0000

In his first report from the 10th edition of the Bespoked UK Handmade Bicycle Show, Matty Waudby shares a detailed look at the Superchub hardtail from London-based framebuilder Quirk Cycles, which features one-of-a-kind cable routing, self-anodized bits, and more. Take a look here...

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Concours de Machines 2021: Cycles Cadence

Cass Gilbert — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 12:38:16 +0000

To round out our coverage of this year's Concours de Machines, we bring you this remarkable offering from Cycles Cadence, which earned itself the competition's first-place prize. Dig in to appreciate this bike's many details, including an integrated USB charger hidden in the fork, curvy handmade racks, and how cleverly it transforms for travel, almost into a wheelie suitcase...

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Concours de Machines 2021: Jolie Rouge

Cass Gilbert — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 12:06:23 +0000

Jolie Rouge's gravity-inspired rig, which placed third in France's Concours de Machines 2021, was designed for fun with friends on bikepacking trips and to keep up with maker Julien Fritsch's trail goats in the French Alps. Read on to find out about the whimsical, creative, and off-the-wall ideas behind this gorgeous build, enjoy a fantastic set of photos, and see how well the Monster Goat keeps up its little goat sisters...

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Concours de Machines 2021: Khelys, La Fraise, Edel, Brevet, and Soum

Cass Gilbert — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 12:20:51 +0000

In our fourth post about France’s 2021 Concours de Machines, we hone in on five more builders, learn the story behind their bike and its design challenges, and share detailed photos of each of these unique rigs. From crafty folds and upside-down forks to tasty morcels like integrated charging and homemade tents, find out all about them here…

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Concours de Machines 2021: Aloueta, Gamory, Manivelle, Auguste, and Arko

Cass Gilbert — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 13:01:17 +0000

In our third post about France's Concours de Machines, we hone in on five builders, learn the story behind their bike and its design challenges, and share detailed photos of each of these unique rigs. What's more, one of them is even for sale! See more here...

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Concours de Machines 2021: PechTregon Cycles’ Luguru

Cass Gilbert — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 12:44:39 +0000

In part 1 of our coverage of the 2021 Concours de Machines in France, we check out PechTregon Cycles' wild and feature-packed Luguru adventure bike, complete with its folding frame and handlebars, built-in stove fuel, integrated spare derailleur and friction shifter, and "octopus" Headshok-upcycled fork...

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15 Bikes from the 2021 Enve Builder Roundup

Logan Watts — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 12:52:02 +0000

ENVE’s third annual Builder Round-Up took place this past weekend with over 30 custom bikes on display, including loads of amazing hardtails, gravel bikes, and bikepacking rigs. We picked 15 from the roster for this roundup gallery...

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Introducing the New Republica Colorado

Miles Arbour — Mon, 17 May 2021 13:59:12 +0000

Brazil-based República Bicicletas just added another gravel bike to their lineup, featuring clearance for 27.5 x 2.1" tires, custom geometry, and loads of mounting points. Check out the new República Colorado here...

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The Corvid MAP (More Adventure Please)

Logan Watts — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 12:55:42 +0000

Just in case you misread the title, this isn't a map depicting the spreading pandemic that's currently upending the world. Instead, on a much needed lighter note, this is all about Corvid Cycles' new MAP (More Adventure Please), a titanium drop-bar bikepacking bike made for Betsy Welch, complete with custom bags by JPaks and a titanium trowel! Find all the details and loads of photos here...

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Corvid Cycles’ Sojourner

Logan Watts — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 13:04:00 +0000

A look at the Corvid Cycles Sojourner, a custom titanium dirt-touring rig, complete with a Gates/Pinion drivetrain, a unique titanium rear rack, US-made Astral/Onyx wheels, and an original titanium touring handlebar made for the Colorado high country. Here's a gallery of the bike and a Q and A with builder Chad Corbin...

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Five More Bikes from Bespoked UK 2019

Cass Gilbert — Tue, 28 May 2019 14:16:36 +0000

We'd wager that every bicycle at a handmade bike show deserves attention and praise, be it a practical and transformative commuter, a long distance audax machine, or a lithe road racer. But we're all about bikes created with travelling and multi-day adventures in mind, so here are five more wildly different options that caught our bikepacking-obsessed eyes at the recent Bespoked UK...

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Bespoked UK 2019: Stayer Cycles’ Dirt Drop MTB

Cass Gilbert — Fri, 24 May 2019 12:16:13 +0000

Basking in some well-deserved limelight at the 2019 Bespoked UK show, this sumptuous dirt drop mountain bike from London-based Stayer was quite the looker. Complete with custom porteur rack and a laser cut yoke for three-inch tires, its US-inspired aesthetic is complemented by a smattering of North American boutique parts. We find out more about the bike and the business behind it...

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Stinner Refugio / Sklar All-Road: Builders for Builders

Logan Watts — Sun, 19 May 2019 12:03:30 +0000

On the surface, the 2.3" tire capable Stinner Refugio and the wildly painted Sklar Custom All-road don't have much in common. But these two steel gravel/all-road bikes were both created with one race in mind, and for the greater good of Northern California Trails...

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Bespoked UK 2019: Sven Pathfinder and Pathfinder Plus

Cass Gilbert — Mon, 13 May 2019 08:59:56 +0000

As part of our Bespoked UK coverage, here's a look the latest incarnation of Sven Cycles' Pathfinder. Built to a semi-custom spec from stainless steel, it's designed with a spritely ride in mind and features generous 650B tyre clearances, making it a great option for both on- and off-road bikepacking in the UK and beyond. And for those in search of chunkier terrain, there's its big-tyred sibling, the Pathfinder Plus...

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Bespoked UK: Ted James and his Ti MTB Tourer

Cass Gilbert — Fri, 10 May 2019 13:19:51 +0000

As part of our ongoing Bespoked UK coverage, we're taking a look at Ted James Design's plus-tyred titanium bikepacking steed, just back from an off road tour through the Scottish Highlands, complete with quad fork, mud splatter, Crocs, and a handmade leather front bag...

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Bespoked UK 2019: Pi Manson and his Clandestine Carrier

Cass Gilbert — Thu, 09 May 2019 12:13:47 +0000

For the first of our reports from the Bespoked UK Handmade Bicycle Show, we zone in on a few makers and their bikes. To begin, we’ve dedicated a post to the all-in-one Clandestine Carrier from Bristol-based frame builder Pi Manson...

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Skyler’s DaamBuilt Custom Bikepacking Rig

Skyler Des Roches — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 13:00:27 +0000

In our latest Rider and Rig, Skyler shows off his DaamBuilt No. 5 custom hardtail and digs deep into the nitty gritty of its angles, measurements, cable routing placement, and other intricate details that make it his near-perfect backcountry trail bikepacking rig...

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Black Cat Holy Mountain: NAHBS Best of Show

Logan Watts — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 13:40:53 +0000

We were obviously happy to see a bikepacking rig win the top award at NAHBS 2016... and we've been drooling over this steel 27.5+ hardtail ever since. So here's a detailed look at the build kit, and a QA with Black Cat's founder, metalmaster, and builder, Todd Ingermanson.

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