Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

Jim Bundy Spirit Road

Jim Bundy Spirit Road

2013 was a busy year for Wing Lau, a Sydney-based graphic designer: winning the Qantas Spirit of Youth Award for Visual Design & Communications, lauded by numerous creative institutions, all rounded off by a solo show at a local gallery featuring work inspired by cycling trips around Taiwan and Hong Kong.

But ask him what he’s most passionate about and he might turn around and say something about classic Australian custom frame builders like Ken Evans, Kerry Hopkins and especially Peter and Jim Bundy. This is his third Bundy frame, after losing his first two in tragic accidents (though, luckily, not so much for Wing himself).

Ken, Kerry and Jim form a triumvirate of old school Australian builders, having manufactured frames for numerous champions, of both the world and the local track. The Bundy family — Jim and his son Peter — founded their family run business in 1983, although Jim started building in 1940 and still does so at the age of 85.

After the second aforementioned tragedy, Wing finally sat down with the Bundys to discuss a frame designed specifically for himself, not just a secondhand frame bought on a forum. Peter lent his knowledge and wisdom to suggest an oversized Columbus Spirit frame with stainless Llewellyn lugs for both the frame and stem.

Peter also recommended and built the wheelset, which consists of Chris King R45 hubs laced to two Mavic rims of differing dishes. Wing invested in Campagnolo‘s superb Super Record drivetrain and levers connected to calipers by ee cycleworks. ENVE‘s 2.0 fork leads the way. After a weekend toiling up the hills of the Southern Highlands, Wing confirms that the bike performs perfectly.

Jim Bundy Spirit Road
Jim Bundy Spirit Road
Jim Bundy Spirit Road
Jim Bundy Spirit Road
Jim Bundy Spirit Road
Jim Bundy Spirit Road
Jim Bundy Spirit Road
Jim Bundy Spirit Road
Jim Bundy Spirit Road
Jim Bundy Spirit Road
Jim Bundy Spirit Road