You can disagree with my choices or complain that I’ve missed something important, but I had a fairly briefly dash around Bespoked yesterday and these …

By stwhannah

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Bespoked 2021 – A Few Highlights

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That Coal Bikes full Sus is a lovely looking thing

#fingerscrossed TJD is on the front page 👌🏻

Quite like the Teme bike – MrsMC is extra petite and LittleMiss isn’t much taller, so someone looking at bikes for shorter riders is great news

Gutted I couldn’t make it – first one I’ve missed, but the change of venue made it a bit of a trek. Looks great though….

I was slightly underwhelmed yesterday, lots of nice stuff but very little that was outstanding.

Back in London town next year so ball ache for anyone slightly northern again.

Rå Bikes were clearly a stand out, though don’t seem to have been noticed by many.

There was a guy in the back corner who I think had built some kind of fixed gear hub with gears and a freewheel which only worked when you pulled a brake lever. Utterly bonkers and brilliant but presumably a market of 1.

I talked to him about it. Certainly clever, but definitely a solution without a problem. But I was too polite to tell him.

Quite enjoyed it, not a single proper cargo bike in sight, but plenty of Porteur racks!

I loved rhe look of that Coal bike, was there when Andi was talking to them, we picked that bike up and its superlight for what it can do, just too much capability for me.
The Howler full susser was my bike of the day.

I reckon a Ra .410 is in my future. Was aware of them before the show, now I’ve seen it, that’s made my mind up.

How was it for crowds? I really wanted to go whilst it was up north, but didn’t fancy in current climate if it was as busy as Bristol.

Back to London is a bit of a pain but suppose we could do a mini city break. Maybe more monied potential punters there I guess?

Was it still Phil running things? What is the story with the change of ownership? 8 years since I had a little stand in the new builders room….. (just to talk and have fun – never any intention to make it a business).

Loads more space – not sure if when compared to Bristol it is because a bigger hall….less punters …. Or less exhibits

@mick_r this is Phil’s last year. As I explain in the Dear Susan bit above, Petor and Josh are taking over. I like the sound of their plans…will bring you a proper news piece on it in due course when they’re happy to go public!

I like the idea of the twmpa made of ash. Beautiful bit of wood work. I would like to see a review on how these wooden bikes perform.

That Twmpa was lovely, massive contrast with the stand diagonally opposite that had a wooden bike which basically looked like it had been made with glued and sanded pallet wood.

Same stand had an adjustable geometry with a big clamped headtube on a curved guide. I asked the owner what he planned to make once he’d worked out the geometry on his test mule, but no that was the actual bike. Oops. 🤭

https://variangle.com/

What confused me was he had a bike with an on the fly adjustable head angle, and a fixed seatpost…
From chatting to him, I think his hope was someone would buy the design.

Did anyone chat to the Reilly guys about the orange steel gravel bike?

I wonder if they’re going to make it and how much it will be? 🤔

I like the idea of the twmpa made of ash. Beautiful bit of wood work. I would like to see a review on how these wooden bikes perform.

I ride with Andy quite a bit and have also ridden his first 2 wooden bikes. He has ridden his first one thousands of miles both on and off road with ne’er a problem. He has Everested on it at least once as I joined him on a couple of runs up the pass.

I think GCN did a review of the bike last year. Yep…

That Twmpa bike is amazing, first time I have ever thought that wood might be a credible alternative. I was presently surprised that the frame price was only £3500 for an early production item I think that is pretty comparable.

I absolutely love the look of the frame I might never ride it because I would be too busy staring at those joints.

That Coal Bikes full Sus is a lovely looking thing

Been following progress of it on Instagram, very lovely looking bike, the yellow and black scheme they have is immense