If you go to one bike show in 2016, I’d recommend this one. I went to the one held back in 2013. In 2014 it decamped from Bristol to the Olympic Velodrome in London. Not sure what happened in 2015 but it is certainly back in Bristol in 2016! Here is the blurb:
“Bespoked – The UK Handmade Bicycle Show, Europe’s biggest showcase of handmade bicycles and their makers, will be taking place in Bristol, UK over the weekend of the 15th – 17th April 2016.
100 of the world’s finest artisan bicycle framebuilders and bicycle goods designers will gather under one roof, in the historic building of Brunel’s Old Station in Bristol, for the sixth Bespoked – bringing with them unique handmade bicycles and fine cycling components, apparel and accessories, many unveiled for the first time. Bespoked is a celebration of handmade bicycles and the artisans who make them. It is the place for the public, industry and press to meet the independent makers and designers of the bicycle world. Framebuilders and cycle visionaries will come from as far afield as Australia to show their latest creations, and will be on hand to discuss your dream bicycle – be that the lightest titanium road bike built for speed and comfort, a robust adventure bike for weekend expeditions into the wild, or a cargo bike from which to run a business.
“So what is a handmade bike and why do I have to have one?” you may ask. A handmade bicycle is a bicycle hand-crafted by an artisan frame builder. The value of commissioning a bespoke bicycle, being part of creating something that perfectly fits and suits you, is incomparable to buying something off the peg. People buy a handmade bike because, at the end of the day, ‘it just feels better’. Unlike other bike shows, at Bespoked most of the bikes on show will have been commissioned and are the result of partnerships between customer and maker, displaying the different frame building styles and materials available.
With the quality of work growing year on year, Bespoked 2016 promises to be the best yet. The exceptional talents of new builders like Hartley Cycles and Rowan Frameworks juxtapose established names like Swallow Bespoke, Shand Cycles, Robin Mather Cycles and Ted James Design, all of which lead innovation in standards in the bicycle world.”
The full list of exhibitors is on the Bespoked website and highlights of Bespoked 2016 include:
“- Sven Cycles bringing and talking about the sustainable Forager Bike built for Hugh Fearnley-Wittingstall’s River Cottage – it even has a BBQ on it!
– Shand Cycles regaling tales from their Transcontinental Race experience
– The welcome return of Demon Frameworks – bicycles with intricate handmade lugs and exquisite attention to detail
– The award winning Saffron Frameworks unveiling his new creations at the show
– Keim’s beautiful, sculptural wooden bikes from France
– All the way from Australia: Baum Cycles’ titanium bicycles and Bastion Cycles’ unique combination of titanium and carbon fibre
– Framebuilding schools The Bicycle Academy, Downland Cycles and Bicycles By Design will be there inspiring the next generation of framebuilders
– The godfathers of bicycle tubing, Columbus and Reynolds, will be on hand to talk metal
– Tom Donhou’s Rapha + Liberty collaboration bikes will be on show and you can hear him talk about the project”
Categories: Cycling
