We know how some of you feel about titanium bikes. Add in belt drive compatibility and a choice of freak, sorry, niche options and there’s a whole Singletrack Forum thread here waiting to happen. For those of you that are so inclined, Why Cycles now has a UK distributor, Cyclorise – who already distribute Why’s sibling brand, Revel.
Started in early 2016 by Adam Miller and a team of industry veterans that later went on to launch Revel, Why Cycles offers titanium hardtails and adventure bikes. Most models in the line-up are Gates Belt Drive compatible and are crafted by hand in China.
I’m thrilled to see our brand of meticulously made, modern titanium bikes officially make it into the UK market. Cyclorise has been an incredible partner for Revel bikes so far, and I cannot wait to see what they do with our more niche-oriented sister brand, Why Cycles.
Why Cycles owner, Adam Miller
I personally have a huge passion for boutique titanium hardtails. Why Cycles offer an alternative product range which represents sublime quality and attention to detail. Offering Why Cycles to the UK market is a great start for Cyclorise in 2021 which undoubtedly is going to be another year of significant growth for our business.
Cyclorise Director, Thomas Dibley
There are six bikes in the line up to choose from:
El Jefe
Bike-packing friendly, up to 2.6″ tyres but with geometry and pace for epic-distance racing
Wayward
120mm fork, up to 29×3.0″ tyres and enough accessory mounts to tour the Baja divide. The Wayward is the ultimate off-road bike packing adventure bike, built around a 40mm stem and a long dropper post. Belt-drive compatible.
S7
140mm fork, hardcore hardtail geometry, but with full length mudguard and pannier rack mounts. Belt-drive compatible.
R+
A true gravel-bike. Add big knobbly 700c tyres, or a Lauf fork. Load it up withg enough kit to ride the globe or just thrash it to work your local fire roads.
Big Iron
A 27.5×4″ fat bike. Belt drive compatible.
T.F.
The jump bike you never thought you needed. Belt-drive compatible dirt merchant in titanium, unusually built for 27.5″ wheels.
The bikes are available as frame only or as complete builds through discussion with Cyclorise, with frames starting in the region of £1,200.
How are they niche? They admit themselves they’re made in China. I’m happy to avoid the middleman and buy direct thanks and save myself a big wedge – the factories I’ve dealt with are happy to offer a lifetime warranty, not that I’ve ever needed one.
Best of luck to them, but I think they are betting on folks imagining they are buying something Moots esque, handcrafted in the Colorado hills and polished with real beard.
My full custom ChiTi hardcore HT, Adventure bike, and fat bike frames combined cost less than one of those frames.
I had a Wayward for a brief period a couple of years ago. Lovely looking with the hydroformed tubes, well thought out details, one of nicest riding bikes I have had. Much more refined than usual Waltly type Chi-Ti. Unfortunately though the geo figures looked fine but didnt work for me in real life. Stack figures dont really reflect the silly short headtube (Large=108, XL=118) and by time had bars at my old man height was way too short. Shame as lovely bike.
I just don’t get what the appeal would be for any of these frames, there are several UK designed /China made companies out there that sell a similar range for a several hundred pounds less. You can even buy full custom geo to frames from similar brands for less.
They seem to be charging an additional premium for a logo/brand that not many people are aware of. Having bought, this year, a similar frame for £900 less that was full custom geo I’m just not sure where the value is within the product.
I came to Singletrack having decided there must be more to life than meetings. I like all bikes, but especially unusual ones.
More than bikes, I like what bikes do. I think that they link people and places; that cycling creates a connection between us and our environment; bikes create communities; deliver freedom; bring joy; and improve fitness. They're environmentally friendly and create friendly environments.
I try to write about all these things in the hope that others might discover the joy of bikes too.
