Bespoked Bristol - The UK Handmade Bicycle Show 2012

mainly because we need a good amount of staff for the Paris Roubaix on sunday.

Ah, of course!

I have uploaded 130-something photos:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/105945761513655545531/albums/5723761437587079169

A lot of the photos were not of whole bikes or to document the whole show, they were mostly of details that I wanted to capture.

An example: The strange and heavy rotating drops on the Award frame, which allows for belt drive without gating the rear triangle thanks to a raised chain stay.

Or the Continental (as in Tyres) belt drive prototype on the Milk Bikes stand.

Lots of photos of Robin Mather and Demon Frameworks of course, I think the two of them are, in their own way, setting the standard for UK framebuilders at the moment.

Had a good ride along the Severn to get to the show yesterday morning. I thought there were a pretty amazing range of builders there this year. I'm glad Robin M did some winning, I liked all his bikes (and I forgot to vote).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11528910@N06/sets/72157629666466735/

Some pictures.

Lots of Pegorettis - a real surprise to see Dario himself wandering around the show!

Lovely day out.

They're all absolutely beautiful, funny how every one is built using a brooks saddle!

I am loving this, remind me awfully of the Bridgestone X-01

I wasn't so impressed with the stuff that Robin Mather had there.

Weren't you? granted I haven't been there but his method look very tried and tested.

Ed, I'm surprised the organizers didn't pay you to make a guest appearance.

In comparison to what, Ed?

I just think that other frame builders had better offers.

I'm not an expert like you though, Ed.

Highlight of the show for me was Ted's bike.

I always like having a chance to chat with Ted, he's a really amazing guy. His ability to machine and design his own bits is pretty un-parralelled considering he is a one man operation.

That piece of kit is an inspiration. His workmanship is fantastic and his attention to detail is second to none.

He made an identical set of forks for me. I can only say good things about his work.

In comparison to what, Ed?

Robin Mather strike me as someone who usually build understated bicycle, seeing the photos of his bike look very much a classic Robin Mather to me.

There were plenty of other frame builders who were offering better (obviously in my opinion) for less.

I think my boss had it just about right. He commented on the way back that once you've seen a few hand-built steel bikes with integrated racks and what not it takes a fair bit of effort to make anything stand out, even if the quality of those Mather frames was superb they were swimming in an oversaturated bike show of that kind of stuff.

It was a bit "rack heaven"....

Ed would've had a field day!

He loves a rack.

Who doesn't love a good rack? He should have seen Ted's mum's one, wooowee.

^This.

Who doesn't love a good rack? He should have seen Ted's mum's one, wooowee.

That was made with pure love, loved it.

I think my boss had it just about right. He commented on the way back that once you've seen a few hand-built steel bikes with integrated racks and what not it takes a fair bit of effort to make anything stand out, even if the quality of those Mather frames was superb they were swimming in an oversaturated bike show of that kind of stuff.

I'm not sure I agree.

I chose Robin ages ago because to my eye one thing stood out: the increasing confidence of a craftsman who has repeated the same thing so many times over that it is approaching flawless.

To me, Robin isn't demonstrating anything new, he's demonstrating an almost Richard Sachs repetition and refinement of the craft.

He continues to deliver mostly Randonneur bikes, mostly with racks. But each one whilst not differing in description on the prior, does differ ever so fractionally in the refinement of the art of framebuilding.

I prefer Tom's (Demon) flair, expressiveness and willingness to try to do something that challenges him. Tom is that kind of framebuilder, he will consider new ways of doing something and push the envelope and each work of his you see is exciting in it's own way. Each of Tom's frames offers something new and unique to draw you in or turn you off if it's not your thing... but you can't deny it's new and interesting whether you love or loathe it.

But in terms of a master of the craft, I looked... and I couldn't find a flaw with Robin's bikes.

His bikes are near perfect in execution. A finger run over the brazing on the stem would hit no bump, the front rack following the curve of the lamp was precise and smooth, the fenders were solid and had equal clearance all round, the rear rack strong even though it wasn't attached to the seat stays, and the component spec was balanced (unlike my Mather which still has the carbon rims and carbon crank). The bike looked good, not interesting like Tom's... just sublime in a way that could only be a Robin Mather.

What Robin delivers is the understated product of a master craftsman. It's not the thing that excites because it's new, out-there or original, it excites because it's the very best that you'll find of the craft, and a continuation of a tradition of great frame builders.

He's our Richard Sachs. And Richard Sachs isn't going to try and make a frame that is new and original, he's going to deliver yet another great road or cyclocross frame. So it is with Robin.

Baah, my lad has chickenpox, so I've been stuck at home doing shifts of brow-mopping.