American brand and titanium specialist Moots has quite the cult following, and is just about to get a lot easer to buy over here, with the announcement of a new UK distributor.
Until now, Moots has been a little tricky to get hold of in the UK, with just a few specialist stores bringing the bikes into the country. That looks set to change, as UK distributor Saddleback has announced that it is adding Moots to its portfolio of brands – which includes other boutique American names such as ENVE, Intense, SILCA and Chris King.
They’ll be focusing on the gravel market, where Moots has in recent years developed a range of frames suited to different styles of gravel riding. Whether you want to race at top speed (groad racing?), bike pack into the distance whatever the trail may hold, or just mix up your trails in a casual ‘where does this go’ way, there’s a drop bar bike in the range that will suit your needs. There are mountain bikes available too – hard tails soft tails – though we understand that these will be less of a focus for the UK market.
“We’re enormously exciting to welcome Moots to the Saddleback family,” says brand director Richard Mardle. “Not only does the Moots team create the most exquisite titanium frames, but their real love of cycling shines through everything they do. The attention to detail, finish and ride quality are simply without equal. Combining beautiful Moots frames with Chris King, ENVE, Wolf Tooth and Silca products now makes Saddleback the home of dream builds fit for the most discerning riders.”
The brand has plenty of heritage – starting way back in the 1980s – but has embraced new technology, using 3D printed elements in their frames to achieve the functionality and geometry that they want. They work exclusively in titanium, which is likely reason enough to want one, and do some really beautiful stock and bespoke detailing finishes on their frames – the rainbow anodising being a particular highlight.
Over the past few years, while over in the USA we’ve been lucky enough to grab a little time to ride and fondle these bikes, as well as hang out with some of the super chilled Moots staff. Check out our past features here, while we look to get a test bike lined up on UK soil.