Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

Royal H Cycles White Cross

Royal H Cycles White Cross Bike

This ice queen is the latest composition from Bryan Hollingsworth at Royal H Cycles in Massachusetts. There’s one positive aspect to the blizzards dropping piles of snow on the streets of Somerville, it’s obviously been forcing Bryan to keep the torch ablaze.

Bryan has been attempting to photograph his white ‘crosser for a while, but has been hampered by the weather. He was almost apologetic, “it’s a white bike in a snowstorm”, but it has given the bike a definite aura. The svelte Columbus SL frame nearly disappears into the background, were it not for well-placed splashes of color. That seat tube, with its wrap of iridescent green and blue, only contributes to the ethereal nature. The lines of the fork and the bold Phil Wood high flange hubs form a subtle contrast, as does the silhouette of the Avid disc brakes against such a classic frame.

The brief for this build is a testament to Bryan’s ability as a custom builder. The starting point of this build was actually the FMB tires, which the client reckoned would be a blast to ride. FMB are a French manufacturer of handmade tubulars, which Tom Boonen specified on his Paris-Roubaix victories. Bryan’s client comes from an MTB background, and was fond enough of his old Bontrager enough to request a similar wishbone monostay on his Royal H.

If you haven’t seen the Vimeo short produced by Royal H Cycles stablemate Paper Fortress Films, you should. It showcases the craftspeople and creative businesses of the Fringe Union, the 4400 square foot converted warehouse space which houses both Royal H and Icarus Frames, and gives a great insight into why Bryan’s builds have such a rich textural integrity. Big thanks to Eric Baumann for the photography, there’s more to see on the Royal H Cycles flickr stream.

Royal H Cycles White Cross Bike
Royal H Cycles White Cross Bike
Royal H Cycles White Cross Bike
Royal H Cycles White Cross Bike
Royal H Cycles White Cross Bike
Royal H Cycles White Cross Bike
Royal H Cycles White Cross Bike
Royal H Cycles White Cross Bike
Royal H Cycles White Cross Bike
Royal H Cycles White Cross Bike
Royal H Cycles White Cross Bike
Royal H Cycles White Cross Bike
Royal H Cycles White Cross Bike