There’s nothing wrong with nostalgia or reminiscing about erstwhile style — it’s handy being able to look back and see where we got things right — but it’s more interesting to take those influences and integrate them into a modern application. Photographer and designer David Smith has taken the revered 10 speed road bike and completely reinterpreted it into a modern format.
The 10 speed transmission is making a comeback, not just among those who appreciate retro lugged steel beauties: downhill mountain bikers now use only 10 gears with SRAM’s 2012 XO group. David applied the same arrangement, giving the bike a solid, power-driven look. Titanium tones, gum sidewalls, brake hoods and black suede combine to produce a stylish ride that’s hard to pin down.
The profile of H Plus Son TB14 rims hearken back to the era that gave rise to the original 10 speed, but still manage to look completely fresh, as do the Cannondale Hollowgram cranks. There’s traces of Chris Bishop and Black Cat Bicycles in the overall build, who David cites as influences but, to David’s credit, it’s a completely original streetfighter. Check out more of his photography on his website.
