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Peak District based 18 Bikes had two prototypes on display at Bespoked Manchester. Matt talked us through them. These two bikes are the first prototyp ...
By stwhannah
Get the full story here:
https://singletrackworld.com/2024/07/18-bikes/
They do have a lovely head badge.
I'm intrigued to see where this goes.
I'm a steel fan, but still struggling to get my head around such a slim looking rear end...
I’ve always liked what 18 Bikes are doing, and it helps they are a lovely bunch of blokes too. I go out of my way to use them as a bike shop when I need stuff doing.
Yes, lovely guys I got to know back when I was doing Nicolai.
That's properly lovely work - especially to see someone making a one off e-bike proto like that (though the biggest issue I can see is the battery - theres a good reason manufacturers moved from 'bottle cage' type batteries to integrating them into the downtube. On the old Orbea Wild running the Bosch battery on top of the downtube made a big difference to the way the bike feels to ride, even more so if you did it without the downtube battery in place.
Saw these IRL. They were very prototype-looking. Which is great for Bespoked. I liked the skeletal steel look, But that idler cog and the shock connected to the top tube aren't my thing. Could easily see trying one out though...
At Bespoked what I was pleased/disturbed by was how neat the Atherton bikes looked IRL. The pictures I've seen over the past couple of years have been "Orange++". But seeing them on the stand - wow! I could imagine buying one. Obviously, not deserving one...but they looked so neat! The lack of bottle bosses on the carbon ones aside.
I feel a little daft at the moment but when I read the title I thought it was 18 different prototype suspension bikes. Was a little disappointed when I could only find one, but in a lot of detail ?