Raleigh Team Professional
As the 2013 Tour de France braces itself for Stage 8, the first battle with an HC peak—scaling the Col de Pailhères—it’s sobering to remember…
Bike brands from the United Kingdom
Donhou Bicycles Don Player Special
During the late 70s and early 80s, abhorrent as it seems these days, cigarette sponsorship of Formula One teams, and their vibrant colorways, added to…
Recommended Reading
Saffron Frameworks
The British custom frame building industry is very close to the heart of Saffron Frameworks‘ Matthew Sowter, and not only because he is British and…
Donhou Bicycles Flying Miler
What middle-aged male raised in the British Commonwealth wasn’t entranced by stories of the Blue Bird land speed racers, attempting to break the ‘Flying Mile’?…
Field Cycles 29er
The last Field Cycle we saw on The Spoken was the Sheffield team’s Fixed Road. Since then, there’s been a few more sightings of their…
ERA Cycles Sheene Tribute
Many artists achieve greatness after they die, but Barry Sheene was revered for his legend status well before he was taken, sadly, by cancer, in…
An invitation to test the Brooks Cambium
For those of you who are devoted fans of Brooks saddles, and even if you’re not, here’s an exciting opportunity. Brooks England is about to…
Donhou Bicycles Luke’s Commuter
Lamborghini fans will recognize the dark metallic gray of this commuter Tom Donhou built for Luke, it’s called Grigio Telesto — a standard paint option…
Enigma Edge ‘Everest’
Britons maintain a great pride in their domestic industry, despite a significant chunk of it migrating off shore — a plight experienced by many first…
Rotrax Vel d’Hiv
By all sources, Rotrax Cycles of Southampton was founded in 1945, pipping Mercian Cycles at the post for the title of the oldest framebuilder in…
Donhou Bicycles CMYK Track
If you’ve had any experience with the printing process you’ll recognize the significance of the letters C, M, Y and K. They stand for Cyan,…
Bob Jackson Light Tourer
The last we heard of Devon Tsuno he was enjoying a Hufnagel road bike with custom artwork inspired by his hero, Karl Benjamin. The Hufnagel…
Holdsworth Lady Mistral
The British ‘handmade bicycle family tree’ is almost as gnarled and twisted as the Italian, with builders moving from one brand name and family business…
DSC x Bell 45 Triumph
Traditionally, Japanese have a deep respect for that which is well-crafted, requiring patience or meditation to master. They also highly consider that which has aged…
Donhou Bicycles Alanna’s Townie
While the United Kingdom has an age-old and rich tradition of custom frame builders, it also has a number of very talented and passionate young…
