WHY BESPOKE?

No matter how different, all our bikes have one thing in common: they are hand-made with love and artisan skill, and imbued with soul.

There are many reasons why someone might commission a bespoke hand-made bike: it’s made-to-measure and will fit like a glove; it can be inspired by your wildest dreams or your fondest memories; it will be your perfect companion over challenging terrain; or it could be a celebration of your company’s brand or your greatest personal milestones.

Whatever the impetus, a bespoke bike is the sure-fire way to get the bike that fits every part of your body and your brief, right down to the last fleck of paint on its fillet-brazed forks. And the process itself, from briefing to riding away, is all part of the journey.

Usually we do this in person, over a few cups of decent coffee and nice bit of cake, but we’ve also Skyped or Zoomed clients in different parts of the world. It doesn't matter how we get together, but it’s vital that we do because this is where we learn all about the bike you want, what’s inspired you to have it built, how it will fit into your life, and how and where you will ride it.

We’ll look at some old books or images of bikes that have the characteristics you’re after, and you might even bring in a pair of old handlebars or your Grandad’s saddle, which you’d like to have incorporated into the build.

The bike fitting’s next. We’ll take a complete set of measurements from you to make sure the bike geometry is a perfect fit for your size, ability, age, larger-than-average left big toe…and so on. One of the best parts about a custom-made bicycle is having it tailored to precisely fit your body shape, resulting in a bike that will be comfortable to ride with no aches and pains on longer days in the saddle.

The Design Process

Next we’ll start getting some ideas down on paper. We'll get together to have a look over the designs, and work closely with you to fine tune them until you’re satisfied with the end goal. Now is the time to make any changes you want to make to the geometry to tweak the riding characteristics, or add some more braze-ons, or frame features such as through axles, belt-drive compatibility, oversize head tube... the list goes on and on, and the bike can be customised to suit any requests you might have.

We can also settle on which kind of steel to use for your bike. We have a very close relationship with Reynolds and use a selection of their tubesets depending on the ride characteristics you are looking for. Read more about selecting the best kind of tubing for your bike here.

Then it’s into the workshop, where we’ll use our traditional craftsmanship to start building your bike. To make sure it’s absolutely bang-on, we’ll ask you to come in and try it on for size before we go any further.

Thinking About an E-Bike?

Things have come a long way with electric-assist bicycles in the last decade or so. The batteries are getting lighter and offering more and more range, the motors are getting more powerful and efficient, and the computers are becoming more advanced and intuitive. We have built many e-bikes for a range of customers using a wide range of different systems. If your commute is just too long and hard work, or perhaps due to an advancing age or maybe a physical disability, there’s absolutely no reason you shouldn’t be able to continue to enjoy the freedom and pleasure that cycling offers, but with a little assistance to keep you rolling.

There are several systems available that all offer slightly different benefits, so give us a call any time to discuss your requirements. With a bespoke custom made bike from Sven Cycles we can design the bicycle to offer the ride characteristics you are looking for, coupled with the appropriate fittings and strength to carry the extra weight and handle the extra power from the electric assist system you choose. We can even convert your existing bicycle to an e-bike (assuming the frame is of sufficient quality to take the extra weight and power) if that is something you’d like to explore.

The Finishing Touches

This is the part where we’ll apply your custom paint job, or tattoo your moosehide saddle. With all paint finishing done in-house, your choices of colours and styles are limited only by your imagination. We can match just about anything, whether you provide us with a RAL code or maybe a treasured possession with that certain something to it, we’ll be able to replicate exactly what it is you’d like to capture in the look of your bike.

Depending on the bike’s function and your budget, we’ll fit the best lightweight components or clean-up some fantastic vintage ones that are right on brief. Your dream bike starts to really come together.

And there it will be, your vision made real. A genuinely proud moment for all of us. Your unique bike, made by hand and with soul.

Have a look at our Instagram page to see what we’ve been working on lately.