Show report - Bespoked 2024
Last month we took part in Bespoked handmade bike show for a second time, after our debut in 2022. Hosted this year at Victoria Baths, Manchester, as ever the event was packed with brilliant ideas and incredible craftsmanship.
Victoria Baths is a beautiful venue - a partially renovated former Victorian swimming baths full of crumbling, ornate tiles and peeling, patterned wallpaper... our stand was in one of the former swimming pools, about half-way between what would once have been the shallow and deep ends.
Bespoked 2024 at Victoria Baths | Image credit: Alexej Fedorov
For us, Bespoked represents a great opportunity to engage with a knowledgable audience, getting feedback on the FR-1, alongside input as to where people would like us to go next. As ever, in addition to the retail FR-1 units, we brought prototypes and other experiments along with us and enjoyed discussing these with other exhibitors and the general public.
Frame Cycles Bespoked exhibits | Image credit: Alexej Fedorov
Our stand next-door neighbours were Untitled Custom Paint, a company we had no prior knowledge of, and about whom there was precious little information online. We weren't sure what to expect, but they turned out to be a newly established custom bike painting business with some beautiful exhibits and an incredible eye for design. I'm sure their order books are pretty full, but one day, who knows, perhaps they'll decorate a saddle for us.
Untitled Custom Paint | Image credit: Alexej Fedorov
Opposite us were Twmpa Cycles, on whose stand we were delighted to see one of our own FR-1 Bike Saddles. This wasn't the only thing we were delighted to see from Twmpa. Their exhibit featured the AR1.1, an all-road wooden bike coated with translucent blue lacquer (a world first as far as we are aware). From close-up the wood grain remains visible through the navy blue stain, resulting in a unique and subtle effect. There's something in the slight random-ness and variation of natural materials that appeals to us, so Twmpa's exhibits were naturally a highlight. Twmpa are always quick to point out that wood is not purely an aesthetic choice however. It's in fact the fantastic ride quality, caused by the material's inherent dampening effect, that makes wood such a fantastic material for gravel bikes in particular.
Twmpa Cycles | Image credit: Alexej Fedorov
Round the corner from us were Collins Cycles Works, from whom we couldn't resist buying a custom frame bag. My 2017 Bicycle Academy-built road bike is beginning to rust, and so one of my missions for this summer has been to strip it and repaint. Whilst doing this, I intend to convert it to a gravel bike, complete with bike-packing rig - there will be more on this in another blog post soon!
Collins Cycle Works | Image credit: Alexej Fedorov
Other neighbouring stands included Hex Components, who make incredibly detailed 3D-printed top caps, brake levers and other small metal components in limited runs. We especially loved a wave design, inspired by Japanese prints like those of Hokusai. We'd love some of these for our next bike fit-out, although they appeared to be selling quickly, so fingers crossed when the time comes there will be some left over.
Left: Hex Components | Right: Craft Bikes | Image credit: Alexej Fedorov
Another nearby stand belonged to Craft Bikes, a husband and wife team, whose beautiful titanium frames were another highlight for us. We think that our FR-1 bike saddle would pair nicely with the raw metal and simple lines of their gravel, mountain and road bike offerings.
Such was the hectic nature of the event, we didn't have time to venture much further than the immediate vicinity of our own stand, so apologies to all those incredible exhibitors that we haven't mentioned here... we'll do a more comprehensive write up next time!
