Just before the pandemic kicked off I finalised details with Gav and Amy from August Bikes to build a rigid 29 plus build.
I was after a “not full on modern geometry” frame and fork that took what I love about the 29 plus format and make it moar betterer. I was also after nods to the 90s bikes I loved, rode a lot and still own now. Bullet tips was a big request! [check the blog link below]
I properly loved the process of going through the commissioning of a fully bespoke frame and forks and obsessing over the details as much as Gav and Amy did.
The frame and fork comfortably take a full 3” tyre with 142mm rear spacing and without a plated bridge at the chain stay. I asked to be able to run a 36T front ring which the frame comfortably takes – more on this later.
Full internal sleeved routing for the dropper and the brake (well to the BB).
There are some shots up on their blog of the frame before I built it here:
The frame is SS specific without gear cable guides but the plan is for when my knees give up I could go wireless and living in the flat lands clearance for a decent sized front chainring is a necessity! The frame uses a PF30 BB with an EBB in there for cleanliness and the minor weight of the EBB is central and low.
There are no decals on the frame but rather lovely laser cut SS brazed on lettering. This includes a lovely Columbus tubing badge.
Managed to get out on the bike a week ago and it was great – You would expect me to say that though! Despite being a little out of shape the frame took my clunky mashing of 34×15 gearing wonderfully and the feel of the ride was reminiscent, in a good way, to my old Cotic Soul in that it felt supple despite the huge pressures in the tyres that I forgot to alter after seating the tubeless 🙂
Looking forward to lovely dry trails now to go out and explore oh and finalising details for a matching custom stem!
Anyhoo lets get on to what you have all come to look at …. pics:
Very nice! What tyres are those? I run my carbon fat bike in 29+ format these days.
The tyres are Teravail Coronado 29 x 2.8.
They are the most expensive 29er tyres I have ever purchased but a) I wanted skin walls and b) I had heard good things about them being supple which despite the high pressure mentioned above they do appear to be.
Lovely looking bike. I love 29+, I’ve got a new set of those Teravail’s to go on mine, they look great on that so hoping they’ll ride as well as they look.
Well I was going to write something on here but I just lost my entire lunchtime in the August bikes blog 🙂
As a hobby builder I’m noticing all those little details that double the work and take aaaages. Beautiful job. Nice how those Syntace dropouts look much less chunky once built into the full bike. I’ve always done my head badges in the same way – silver soldered stainless and then clean off the powder coat.
Very nice! Out of interest, what size do the teravail 2.8″ tyres actually measure at? And what size rims are they on? Got my eye on the 3.0 27.5 versions for my bike.
Very nice! Out of interest, what size do the teravail 2.8″ tyres actually measure at? And what size rims are they on? Got my eye on the 3.0 27.5 versions for my bike.
I’ve got a couple of pairs of Teravail tyres and I would say they measure up as true to spec if not slightly larger than expected. The rims here are Velocity Duallys so 45mm(?) external …..
addy6402
Full Member
Great looking frameset and build too. Resisting the urge to check out their website!
I was keeping an eye on this through his Instagram and hoping to see the built pictures. It looks stunning, as his all his work, particularly the town bike he built for his wife. The little details, for me, are where the difference is between a custom and off the peg, assuming you’re not aiming for way out there geometry.
Very nice. whats your reasoning for the left hand controls going in the left side of the frame? Aesthetics or a mechanical/physical benefit?
I had planned to use a wider bar than is currently fitted meaning that there would be a neat, short sweep of cable and hose away from the frame rather than wrap around the HT with an acuteish angle back down into the DT.
When I finalise a stem I will plan to use the wider bar giving the sweep that isn’t apparent now – I think that makes sense.