The name of Vendetta Cycles may not be the first that springs to mind when thinking of the Portland handmade bicycle scene, but Conor Buescher and Garrett Clark have been creating finely crafted and elegant road warriors since 2004, including numerous women’s specific frames. This is the latest and it will destroy any misconceptions you have about what you think a ‘ladies bike’ should be.
Each Vendetta Cycle is built around a theme: a color or a personal request from the customer. A Portland local, Cindy wanted hers to remind her of the ocean while she rides. A set of Columbus Zona tubes were assembled and sent to the painters, who applied a sapphire candy coat over a metallic gold base and transparent blue. A Darrell ‘Llewellyn’ McCulloch stem kit was matched to the frame.
The ornate lugs made popular by the artisan builders of Britain during the 50s are a Vendetta Cycles specialty — those adorning The Abyss are stainless steel and have been polished to a mirror finish. NOS 10 speed Campagnolo components were combined with White Industries cranks and a hand built wheelset for perfect performance, topped off with custom leather bar wrap by Ray at Handlebra.
You can contact Conor and Garrett through the Vendetta Cycles website, where you can see more details of The Abyss and the rest of their bikes. If you’re heading to the 2013 NAHBS, you can see their craftsmanship in person at Booth #810.
