New Zealand is a majestic country and is a hotbed of creative minds and personalities: motorcycle pioneer John Britten is a perfect example of the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that exists there.
So it was with only mild surprise that I discovered that the Christchurch design studio called Deflux not only produce fine work for print and web, but also apply their skills to bicycle design.
Chris wanted a replacement for his KHS aero frame, so he and Simon Courtney of Deflux set about creating a custom design that incorporated aspects of GT’s Triple Triangle, a Yamaguchi-esque seat tube and streamlined gussets reminiscent of a Cinelli Laser. Chris worked on the stainless steel dropouts and gave a hand with mitering, while Simon assembled the True Temper Aero OS tube set.
While their latest frame is on it’s way to the paint shop for a lick of paint, I wanted to feature this bike in the state as I’ve got a real love for raw steel — there’s something primeval about frames at this stage. It looks fresh out of the fire, and the sweat and effort that has gone into the construction is still evident. Additionally, there is a huge contrast between the Iron Age look of raw steel and the ultra-modern carbon fiber front end. One thing’s for sure, however, when Chris and the Deflux crew get this new bike built up, it’ll create a storm.
Follow their progress on Chris’s tumblr and the Auckland fixed gear blog, Steady Rollin’. Thanks Simon and Chris for the photography, you can see more detail shots on the Dust Kustom Flickr.
