How times have have changed. The last custom frame by Thompson Custom Cycles featured on The Spoken was back in November 2010, one of our first, when Corey Thompson didn’t have a website because he didn’t need one. I’ll wager he still doesn’t need one, but now he has, and he’s still making glorious machines for clients, including several members of the Seattle Randonneurs.
This new red rando was built for Andy, a seasoned club member who lauds the positive attributes of Corey’s craftsmanship. These bikes are built for quick long distance riding — sometimes up to a thousand kilometres over three days — so are designed to carry only the bare necessities in a handlebar bag like food, maps and a wallet. Maybe a few caffeine pills and a change of kit.
You can ride any bike on a randonee, although a lugged steel constructeur style bike does contribute to that spirit of adventure and call of the road, so Andy built his up with a collection of NOS parts like Mafac Raid brakes and Campagnolo downtube shifters. Modern components include a Schmidt dynamo hub and lighting system and beaten Honjo fenders.
Special thanks to Paul Reynolds for the photography. See more on his website.
