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Bespoked 2014 lineup revealed

UK’s only handmade show will be at London’s Lee Valley Velopark next April

We recently revealed that Bespoked, the UK’s only handmade show, is moving from its old home in Bristol to the new Lee Valley Velopark in London next year, and now the organisers have revealed the lineup for the show, which takes place on 11-14th April 2014.

With the move to the venue of the London 2012 Olympics where Team GB’s track stars bagged a huge haul of medals, the organisers will be able to showcase even more of the most desirable, exotic and inspiring handmade bicycles from builders around the world. The organisers tell us they have over 90 framebuilders lined up, and it’s not all frames and bikes, there will be makers of fine cycling products and accessories at the show too. 

So if you pop along you can expect to see names such as Brian Rourke, Condor, Roberts, Mercian, Longstaff, Swallow and Woodrup, along with some of the younger framebuilders to emerge in recent years, like Feather, Donhou, James, Field, Saffron, Mather and Oak.

As well as celebrating the best in UK framebuilding, there will be an international feel with a clutch of names from Portland Oregon, itself a hotbed of cycling, with Ahearne Cycles, Igleheart, Winter and Strawberry Bicycles being on display. Representing Italy, the undoubted spiritual home of cycling, will be the likes of Tommasini, Legend, Daccordi, Faggin, De Rosa, and Pegoretti. Plus there’ll be exhibitors from as far afield as Hungary, Taiwan and South Africa.

On Friday Bespoked launched a new weekly feature introducing you to some of the exhibitors and showcasing their work, framebuilder of the week, it’s worth a look, this week it’s Andy Newlands from Strawberry Bicycles and Rollo Lunn from Grim Cycles.  

While the show has undoubtedly had a steel flavour in recent years, the organisers tell us that there’ll be more carbon framebuilders on show, including the likes of Legend, Cyfac, Craddock, De Rosa, Tsubasa, Festka and Condor, to name a few. SOmething for everyone then.

You can read our highlights from Bespoked 2013 here and a chat with Tom Donhou about his 100mph bike, pictured above. Want more? How about our chat with Dániel Merényi on what it’s like to have Dario Pegoretti as a boss? Lastly, here’s the roundup of 2013’s award winners.

Here’s the full 2014 exhibitor list:

14 Bike Co
18 Bikes
Advanced Velo Design - Windcheetah
Ahearne Cycles
AOI.CYCLE
Alchemy Bicycle Company (Mosquito)
Atomic22
August Wheelworks
Baldwin
Baum (Prestige Cycles)
Bear Bikes
Blacksmith Bikes
Brian Rourke
Brick Lane Bikes
Brooks
BTR Fabrications
Carradice of Nelson Ltd.
Chapeau
Cherubim (Kinoko Cycles)
Cloud 9 Cycles
COFA engineering
ColourBolt
Columbus
Condor Cycles
Craddock
Curtis Bikes
Da Rosa
Daccordi S.R.L
DMO Frameworks
Donhou Bicycles
Downland Cycles Ltd
Dynamoworks
Enigma Titanium Ltd
Faggin
Feather Cycles
Festka
Field Cycles
Flat Frame Systems
Forrrest
Fosse Framesets
Freshtripe & Hobo Bicycles
Grimcycles
Hackney GT
Hammoon
Hope
Howies
Independent Fabrication (Kinoko Cycles)
Igleheart Custom Frames & Forks
Inspired Cycle Engineering
Just Riding Along
Kinoko Cycles
Kirchner Custom Castings
Legend
Libertine Bicycles
Limit Engineering
Lock 7
Longstaff
Loopwheels (Jelly Products Ltd)
Malcolm Custom Bicycles
Mawis-Bikes
MercerBikes
Mercian Cycles Ltd
Merényi Bicycles
Miche
Middleburn Cycle Components Ltd
Milk bikes limited
Mosaic (Prestige Cycles)
Mosquito Bikes
Moss Bikes
Moulton
Munin Bikeworks
Mustard (Prestige Cycles)
Nagasawa (Kinoko Cycles)
Oak Cycles
Oram Kaye
Paulus Quiros
Pedeled
Pegoretti (Mosquito)
Petersbike
Poetry In Motion Cycles
Prestige Cycles
Pretorius Bikes
Quoc Pham
Racer Rosa
Ravens Cycles
Restrap
Reynolds Technology
Roberts
Robin Mather Cycles
Rohloff AG
Royce UK
Rusby Cycles
Ryde Rims
Saffron Frameworks
Sapim
Schwalbe Tyres UK Ltd.
Shand
Shutt Velo Rapide
Slate Cycles
Souplesse
Strada Wheels
Strawberry Bicycles
Sven Cycles
Swallow Bespoke
Swarf Cycles
Sword Cycles
Swrve
Synergy Action
Talbot Frameworks
Tatts and Beards Workshop
Teague Bicycles
Ted James Design
The Bicycle Academy
Tim March
Titchmarsh Cycles
Toad Custom Cycles
Tommasini
Tonic Fabrication (Kinoko Cycles)
Tsubasa
Union of Pedallers
Vienna Framebuilders
Vulpine
Whiter Cycles
Wildcat Gear
Wilkinson Cycles
Winter Bicycles
Wittson Custom Ti Cycles
Wold Cycles
Woodelo
Woodrup Cycles
Zullo (Mosquito)

www.bespoked.cc/

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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17 comments

Avatar
antonio | 10 years ago
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The 100 mph bike is interesting and eye catching but surely the double chain drive on the Guy Martin record breaking bike makes the single ring redundant for high speed record chasing.

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Bespoked | 11 years ago
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At Bespoked our main aim is to promote framebuilding and get more people riding bikes made by artisan framebuilders! Bespoked is now the main European framebuilders show.
As Dave has said, the Passenger shed didn't have enough space this year and has been made smaller for next year. The feedback from the 2013 show said that 80% of exhibitors wanted larger stands and visitors wanted more space. We would have had to turn both framebuilders and visitors away if we had stayed put. We are sad to leave Bristol, having lived there and it being still our closest major city, but there is no suitable venue for the show there.
Having looked up and down the country we felt like Goldilocks with venues either too big or small. But upon visiting the Olympic velodrome found what we think is the perfect fit for the 2014 show. As well as the velodrome track there are the BMX and Mountain bike tracks used in the Olympics outside the door, a road circuit and much more space for bike parking.
We want as many people as possible to know about handmade bikes and to see that owning one is a viable option. The atmosphere is what has always made Bespoked a special place to visit. With many of the same makers and people that appreciate the skill and craftsmanship on show, the essence of Bespoked remains the same and the 2014 show promises to be as special as ever.

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Pedalitis | 11 years ago
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I'm just glad that there's now some competition in the quality garment market. Rapha led the way but the more that follow the more affordable decent gear will be.

Going back to the Bespoked move, where this thread started, I can't think of a more sterile and unattractive location than Stratford. The Bristol one was great - 1 minute from a mainline station served directly from the North, East and South West. And it's where Sustrans started - an organisation that's done more to promote cycling in the UK than any other. I for one won't be trekking across London.

Anyone fancy starting a competitor show in Bristol? Come on Road.cc, you're local!

Avatar
mrmo replied to Pedalitis | 11 years ago
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Pedalitis wrote:

Going back to the Bespoked move, where this thread started, I can't think of a more sterile and unattractive location than Stratford. The Bristol one was great - 1 minute from a mainline station served directly from the North, East and South West. And it's where Sustrans started - an organisation that's done more to promote cycling in the UK than any other. I for one won't be trekking across London.

Anyone fancy starting a competitor show in Bristol? Come on Road.cc, you're local!

Staying in Bristol wasn't really an option so i am led to believe thy people who have talked to Phil. The venue was being changed so unsuitable. Although bristol is better for me, as a lot of the brands, and customers are in London you can see why it has ended up there.

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dave atkinson replied to Pedalitis | 11 years ago
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Pedalitis wrote:

I can't think of a more sterile and unattractive location than Stratford. The Bristol one was great - 1 minute from a mainline station served directly from the North, East and South West. And it's where Sustrans started - an organisation that's done more to promote cycling in the UK than any other. I for one won't be trekking across London.

Anyone fancy starting a competitor show in Bristol? Come on Road.cc, you're local!

Bristol wasn't a goer - the empire rooms, which weren't really big enough anyway, have been redeveloped and the available space simply isn't sufficient for the show. I know that Phil looked hard for other options.

we won't be starting a competitor show - phil does a great job with Bespoked and we're very happy to see it growing, although obviously we're sad to see it leave the south west.

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Miggers | 11 years ago
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We can't wait..

Bespoked is our highlight of the year, where ever it takes us, can't wait.. Plus we will be launching a new range of UK Handmade Garments too!!

Pete

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Fixie Girl | 11 years ago
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It does surprise to see Chapeau here..

Don't they import garments from the EU? What is UK and Handmade about them?

From what I have heard from buddies in the trade here in Portland is they just rip off the likes or Rapha, Cafe du Cycliste and others...

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jollygoodvelo replied to Fixie Girl | 11 years ago
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Fixie Girl wrote:

It does surprise to see Chapeau here..

Don't they import garments from the EU? What is UK and Handmade about them?

From what I have heard from buddies in the trade here in Portland is they just rip off the likes or Rapha, Cafe du Cycliste and others...

Interesting. I like their stuff - and LOVE their messenger bags - but that's a bit off, if true.

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Metjas replied to Fixie Girl | 11 years ago
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Fixie Girl wrote:

they just rip off the likes or Rapha, Cafe du Cycliste and others...

honestly no idea what you mean by this - care to enlighten me?

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Fixie Girl replied to Metjas | 11 years ago
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Metjas wrote:
Fixie Girl wrote:

they just rip off the likes or Rapha, Cafe du Cycliste and others...

honestly no idea what you mean by this - care to enlighten me?

Really? Well a quick google came up with this? Seems I am not the only person who thinks so too.. Check out the feedback on their Facebook Page too!

http://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/chapeau-thermal-jersey-and-thermal-bib-tig...

So you can add ShuttVR to this list with this blatant rip off..! Or do you believe that Chapeau came upon the design independently and hadn't see the Shutt design all year?

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Dapper Giles replied to Fixie Girl | 11 years ago
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Fixie Girl wrote:

It does surprise to see Chapeau here..

Don't they import garments from the EU? What is UK and Handmade about them?

From what I have heard from buddies in the trade here in Portland is they just rip off the likes or Rapha, Cafe du Cycliste and others...

What's your problem with Chapeau? They seem like a pretty decent brand with a slightly different spin of classic styled cycle clothing compared to Rapha and Cafe du Cyclist.

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Fixie Girl replied to Dapper Giles | 11 years ago
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Dapper Giles wrote:
Fixie Girl wrote:

It does surprise to see Chapeau here..

Don't they import garments from the EU? What is UK and Handmade about them?

From what I have heard from buddies in the trade here in Portland is they just rip off the likes or Rapha, Cafe du Cycliste and others...

What's your problem with Chapeau? They seem like a pretty decent brand with a slightly different spin of classic styled cycle clothing compared to Rapha and Cafe du Cyclist.

I dont have a problem but if I worked for Rapha or Cafe du Cycliste I would.

Look at the link on RCUK and tell me that they haven't heavily borrowed Shutt's design down to the color?

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Michael Healey | 11 years ago
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I just don't know where we would be without those helpful forum users who just have to point out spelling mistakes!  41

Living in east anglia, Stratford's great for me. I'll be there!  4

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jollygoodvelo | 11 years ago
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I'm really looking forward to this, especially after today. Might take the wife and try to convince her I really need another bike.  4

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David Arthur @d... | 11 years ago
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Who needs a sub editor when I've got you guys

Can't wait for the show myself

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dmc | 11 years ago
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Agreed !

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Yennings | 11 years ago
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Sorry to be a pedant but couple of typos in there - *it's* and *Da Rosa* among them. Might want to do another proof read. Just saying.

Still not really feeling it this year - some good names there but having travelled down to Bristol for the past two years, not sure I will bother with London despite being a lot closer. I can understand the reasons for the move but Bristol to me is effectively the Portland of the UK, steeped in bicycle culture, just can't imagine Stratford having the same atmosphere.

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