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measuring up

my good friend richard sachs is all but imperious in his approach to framebuilding. if i could find either the money or the excuse, i'd be having myself measured centimetre by centimetre for one of those warm red and cream bicycles that wouldn't make me even half a kilometre faster, but by golly would i lord it over the rest of the velo club peloton. the disadvantage to this desire, aside from convincing mrs washingmachinepost and the bank manager that such would be the very finest of ideas, is that richard doesn't exactly live next door. in fact, though he lives in warwick, massachusetts, he doesn't really live next door to anyone there.

no doubt the wonders of the interweb would appease at least a portion of such measured demands, but if bespoke is what you/i want, there's little to beat a man with a measuring tape. in the past, tasks such as this would be less of a concern; the reality is that i'd never have heard of richard sachs, or his lovely bicycles, making this something of a moot discussion. the same would apply to the majority of framebuilders that didn't live within hailing distance of the back garden, but i'm sure it was confucious who pointed out that you don't miss what you don't know.

however, this is, as paul weller once mentioned, the modern world, in which knowledge is king. and as confirmed velocipedinists we have needs, several of which concern the occasionally pressing need for bespoke bicycle frames, often from builders living in foreign countries. which brings us back to the currently insurmountable problem of the man with the measuring tape in his top pocket.

there is maybe a solution to this on the horizon, occupying space in mid april. the first is the three days of bespoked at lee valley velodrome in stratford (11-13 april) where you'll admittedly have to share inches with the assembled hordes, the second will be living in b1866, 36 earlham street, london.

renowned for his sculpted titanium frames, the distinctly un-italian sounding darren crisp follows in the measuring tape of dario pegoretti who held court at the brooks store in january of this year. on 10th april, the day before bespoked opens its doors to the public, mr crisp will be available to perform fittings for lucky customers who will now not have to pop over to tuscany for the same service. and while you're there, you might as well design your own brooks saddle to sit atop your prospective bespoke darren crisp titanium bicycle.

you know you want to.

the problem might be one of demand, so put the ipad down this instant and telephone +44 (0)20 7836 9968 and ask b1866 shop manager stephen brill to add your name to the list. then visit bespoked next day displaying an insouciant and imperious grin to all and sundry.

crisp titanium | b1866 | brooks saddles

thursday 27 march 2014

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