Dániel Merényi to show first TIG welded frames at Bespoked 2014

Hungarian framebuilder Dániel Merényi, who trained under the watchful eye of Dario Pegoretti for four and a half years, is unveiling two brand new TIG welded steel frames at the Bespoked Handbuilt show this Friday, the Gagliarda and the Toccata Superleggera.

Previously Dániel has created beautiful frames using the more traditional tube and lug method, but when we spoke to him at last year’s Bespoked show, he let on that he was investing in the equipment to produce his own TIG welded frames. TIG welding frames offers greater flexibility in frame design and also produces lighter frames. Here’s a link to that interview, it’s worth a read because Dániel reveals his passion and flair for creating bespoke frames, and what it was like working with Dario.

The Toccata Superleggera (above) will be unveiled for the first time at the Bespoked Handbuilt show this Friday. As such we don't have any photos of the finished frame, just these photos of it being constructed. It’s made with Columbus Spirit tubes with a claimed weight of just 1,600g, and Merényi reckons a 6.8kg complete build is possible. 

Merényi says the frame is targeted at “those who stay in the saddle all-day-long, fluttering like a butterfly from one hairpin bend to another.” The frame features a tapered 1 1/2in-1 1.8in headtube with a 56mm lower diameter and 46mm upper, joined to a 38mm diameter down tube and 31.7mm top tube. The seat tube is 28.6mm and takes a 27.2mm seat post.

The geometry will be bespoke to each customer of course, but Merényi says the frame will follow classic Italian traditions except for a 5.5 degree sloping top tube. His own stainless steel dropouts are use and the seatstays have been shaped to allow for a shorter brake bridge. He is using Life tubing for the chainstays because he favoured their longer tapered profile which though not as light as Spirit, he reckons look more pleasing to the eye.

The frame will be offered with a Columbus Grammy fork for £1,900, the price including a custom paint finish.

For the Gagliarda, pictured above, a Columbus Zona tubeset is used. Naturally you can have a full custom build and Merényi will happily produce a track, touring, cyclo-cross, commuter, road or singlespeed version of the frame. The frame costs from £1,400 and includes either a carbon fibre or steel fork and a custom paint finish.

Merényi Bicycles are distributed in the UK through Mosquito Bikes, and you’ll be able to see the bikes on their stand at the show. More at http://merenyi.eu/