{"id":52958,"date":"2023-08-11T12:00:29","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T10:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=742777"},"modified":"2023-08-11T12:35:42","modified_gmt":"2023-08-11T10:35:42","slug":"beautiful-bikepacking-luggage-handsome-fixies-surprisingly-cheap-custom-cargo-bikes-and-more-from-the-brazin-handmade-bike-show","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/beautiful-bikepacking-luggage-handsome-fixies-surprisingly-cheap-custom-cargo-bikes-and-more-from-the-brazin-handmade-bike-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Beautiful bikepacking luggage, handsome fixies, surprisingly cheap custom cargo bikes and more from the Brazin\u2019 handmade bike show"},"content":{"rendered":"

The best bespoke and artisan cycling tech from Scotland’s newest custom bike show <\/p>

By Jack Luke\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 11 August 2023 at 10:00 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Brazin\u2019 is a new cycling show dedicated to highlighting the best small-scale cycling manufacturers in the UK, with a particular focus on Scottish brands and builders.<\/p>\n

Based in Civic House near the centre of Glasgow, the first edition of the show was stowed out with committed bike nerds taking a break from the 2023 World Championships<\/a> action to check out the finest artisan tech on display.<\/p>\n

BikeRadar was among their number and we loved snooping around the intimate show and meeting the builders in attendance. Here are our highlights from what looks set to become a fixture in the custom bike show calendar.<\/p>\n

Armour Cycles\u2019 repaired Mercx MX Leader and chunky fixie<\/h2>\n
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This Armour Cycles fixie is made from oversized steel tubing.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

This \u201cbonny but excessively stiff\u201d modern fixie has been built by Armour Cycles for a \u201cbig lad who likes to shred\u201d.<\/p>\n

The oversized steel frameset uses an unusually large 31.6mm seatpost<\/a> (most steel road-going bikes have 27.2mm posts), boosting stiffness.<\/p>\n

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The bike is future-proofed to accommodate a carbon fork should the hard shreddin\u2019 owner so wish.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The bike has been built with an oversized head tube so the owner can switch to a carbon fork if they wish.<\/p>\n

A wide flat bar should provide plenty of oomph for punchy climbs around Edinburgh, while the ISM PN 3.1 saddle reflects the bike\u2019s aggressive position (and rider\u2019s personal taste).<\/p>\n

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Armour Cycles also carries out repair work.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Armour also repairs, restores and repaints frames.<\/p>\n

This Mercx MX Leader frameset has had its driveside chainstay replaced and a replica paintjob. It\u2019s genuinely impossible to tell it\u2019s not original.<\/p>\n

A gravel tandem and a singlespeed fat bike \u2013 Broc Bikes\u2019 wonderfully niche show debut<\/h2>\n
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A gravel bikepacking-bag equipped tandem \u2013 deliciously niche!<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Broc Bikes is the new venture of Stuart Allan \u2013 a former fabricator at Scottish custom bike manufacturer, Shand Bicycles.<\/p>\n

Allan is best known in the Scottish cycling scene for devising the Badger Divide \u2013 a popular 338km gravel bikepacking route from Inverness to Glasgow \u2013 so you can be sure his new bikes will be up to the rigours of adventurous Highland rambling.<\/p>\n

His first two bikes to officially wear the Broc marque couldn\u2019t be more different.<\/p>\n

The first is a gravel tandem frameset (a niche within a niche). This is designed to take 50mm-wide 700c gravel bike tyres<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Allan commissioned a custom frame bag to sit inside the rearmost triangle of his new tandem.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The frameset holds a custom frame bag made by mechanic and part-time bag maker, Stephen Vear<\/a>. This double-decker bag can be split in half to decrease the capacity for shorter jollies.<\/p>\n

Allan suggested the bike will make its racing debut on the 200km-long version of the Dirty Reiver next spring. The possibility of riding a super randonneur series on it was also suggested.<\/p>\n

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Allan also customised an old Singular Puffin fat bike for the show.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Broc\u2019s matching grey fat bike<\/a> was originally a Singular Puffin that has been chopped in half and extended to modernise its geometry.<\/p>\n

The bike is built with a singlespeed drivetrain and is intended for year-round hassle-free rumbling.<\/p>\n

Allan says Broc Bikes will likely be a supplementary project that will sit alongside his work as a fabricator at a specialist wheelchair manufacturer. However, he bashfully invites enquiries if you\u2019re interested in commissioning a bike.<\/p>\n

C3Cycles\u2019 surprisingly affordable cargo bike<\/h2>\n
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\u00a34,575 for a UK-made custom electric cargo bike? That\u2019s not to be sniffed at.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

C3Cycles is a small-scale cargo and custom bike manufacturer based on the outskirts of Edinburgh.<\/p>\n

Manufactured from 6082 aluminium and heat-treated in-house, each C3Cycles bike is made to customer specification.<\/p>\n

Despite the one-off construction, its bikes are surprisingly affordable.<\/p>\n

For example, this heavy-duty electric cargo bike<\/a> costs \u00a34,575 as pictured \u2013 not bad for a UK-made bike with a solid do-it-all build. Non-assist bikes can be had for \u00a33,400. Bikes are generally available with a six-week turnaround<\/p>\n

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C3Cycles uses a 24in front wheel on its cargo bikes.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

C3Cycles uses as many off-the-shelf parts as possible.<\/p>\n

For example, while most cargo bikes have a 20in front wheel, few wheel manufacturers produce complete 20in wheels with disc hubs.<\/p>\n

C3Cycles instead opts for a 24in front wheel, which can be found easily new or second-hand. This is also said to improve the rollover of the bike on rougher terrain.<\/p>\n

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This particular bike was designed to suit a little n\u2019 large couple, so C3Cycles built in ample adjustability in the cockpit.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

This is all done with a view to easing long-term ownership costs.<\/p>\n

With few proprietary or niche parts, an owner should be able to take their bike into any bike shop and expect a relatively affordable service. This goes as far as ensuring internally routed cables are fully sleeved.<\/p>\n

Straight Cut bikepacking luggage<\/h2>\n
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An all-white luggage setup would be useless in the mud, but it sure looks cool.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Based in a small workshop in Edinburgh, owner and chief seamster Ross O\u2019Reilly has been producing custom and stock bikepacking bags<\/a> full-time under the Straight Cut label for six years now.<\/p>\n

In that time, he\u2019s developed an array of designs and had his full range on show in a fetching all-white colourway at Brazin\u2019.<\/p>\n

While white is a woefully impractical colour for Scottish bog bothering, it sure does look cool and shows off the impeccable quality of Straight Cut\u2019s sewing work.<\/p>\n

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O\u2019Reilly\u2019s stock designs can be customised to suit customer requests.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

O\u2019Reilly\u2019s stock designs can also be used as the basis for custom designs. He specialises in custom frame bags for bikes of all shapes and sizes.<\/p>\n

While designed primarily with lightweight backpacking in mind, O\u2019Reilly is working on a design for an ultralight rucksack that could work well for bikepacking<\/a>. He\u2019s also developing a hip pack<\/a> that\u2019s nearly ready for production.<\/p>\n

He encourages prospective buyers to pester him for additional details.<\/p>\n

C. Brenn\u2019s beautiful traditional luggage<\/h2>\n
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We\u2019ll always take time to admire Cory Brenn\u2019s work. He\u2019s well worth a follow on Instagram.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

On the other end of the cycling luggage aesthetic scale are Cory Brenn\u2019s beautiful traditional panniers, bar bags<\/a> and saddle bags.<\/p>\n

Manufactured using traditional materials, Brenn\u2019s attention to detail is exquisite.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re into cycling from the golden days of touring, his custom bags and personal collection of classic bikes are as good as it gets.<\/p>\n

Frame Cycles\u2019 sustainable cork finishing kit<\/h2>\n
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Frame Cycles\u2019 cork saddle uses an all-titanium base and rails.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The upper of Frame Cycles\u2019 saddle is manufactured using moulded conglomerated cork. This is a sustainable byproduct of the wine cork industry.<\/p>\n

Like a traditional leather saddle, the cork saddle must be \u2018worn in\u2019, eventually moulding to the shape of a rider\u2019s butt.<\/p>\n

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Different uppers with moulded pockets or recycled rubber particles have been tested.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Frame Cycles is also experimenting with designs that incorporate pockets or larger chunks of cork to improve the shock-absorbancy of the saddle. Cork grips are also in testing.<\/p>\n

The cork is treated with a water-based waterproof coating. The same coating is used on cork flooring and improves durability.<\/p>\n

Expected to be available from September onwards, the saddle will retail for around \u00a3100 (international pricing TBC).<\/p>\n

Rothair Cycles\u2019 personal fixed-gear shredder<\/h2>\n
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We like fixies. We like green bikes. This one gets a thumbs-up.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

This handsome green fixed gear is the personal bike of Rothair Cycles owner (and fellow former Shand fabricator), Matthew Finlayson.<\/p>\n

The new bike replaces Finlayson\u2019s previous fixed-gear bike<\/a> with a few key swaps to make it easier to live with.<\/p>\n

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Forward-facing dropouts make wheel swaps much easier.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

To start, his old bike used traditional rear-facing track ends. These make puncture repairs or gearing swaps much more complicated on a mudguard-equipped bike because the wheel fouls the guards.<\/p>\n

Finlayson\u2019s new bike is built using a pair of new old stock forward-facing Campagnolo semi-sloping dropouts, so the wheel moves forward in these dropouts when being removed.<\/p>\n

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The bi-laminate head tube is beautiful.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

His new bike also uses a skinny steel fork. This should improve front-end compliance versus the old bike\u2019s chunky carbon fork and also give him the option to mount additional luggage for longer adventures.<\/p>\n

A pair of colour-matched alloy mudguards finish the build.<\/p>\n

In addition to producing custom bikes, Finlayson is now offering frame-building classes.<\/p>\n

Lightweight alloy to make a comeback with Stout Cycles?<\/h2>\n
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Hrok is the new venture of Russell Stout.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Rounding out the who\u2019s-who of former Shand contemporaries is Stout Cycles\/Hrok Cycles \u2013 the new venture of former Shand co-owner, Russell Stout.<\/p>\n

Stout was keen to stress his air-hardening 7000-series aluminium frames are far from ready for customers to purchase \u2013 his manufacturing experience is focused primarily on steel and he\u2019s still \u201cfinding the limits of alloy\u201d.<\/p>\n

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There\u2019s nothing quite like the clean front end of a classic rim brake frameset.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jack Luke \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Brazin\u2019 Handmade was instead an opportunity to share his new venture and gauge interest for future semi-custom models.<\/p>\n

We were particularly drawn to his almost old-school lightweight alloy road bike<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With generous tyre clearances, a classic double-triangle design, good ol\u2019 rim brakes<\/a> and unfussy internal cable routing, this bike picks up where the likes of the Cannondale CAAD12 left off.<\/p>\n

We will be watching this venture closely.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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