This spring we saw the first of Brooks’ 150th anniversary collaborations with the UK’s own Brompton, German consumer direct Canyon, Skeppshult of Sweden, and the touring aficionados of Tout Terrain. Each of the bikes is produced in limited numbers and sold around the world. The single theme to link them all together (other than the drive to make a dashing looking bike, hence the name) has been the incorporation of copper throughout. Based on Brooks’ iconic copper riveted saddle, the project attempts to tie together a timeless look that can work from a small wheel folder to a full-sized commuter. Now they have taken the next step bringing the concept to more styles of bikes with offerings from Condor, Schindelhauer, tokyobike, Achielle, plus other bikes on the way from Pegoretti, Pelago, Moustache, and Salsa…
Condor Leggero
The fastest build yet for the project is a carbon road bike from Condor, another UK shop with its own history dating back to 1948. The bike takes on the copper look in a finish that actually uses a liquid copper paint for a modern take on copper plating. The bike is their Leggero frame, made in Italy, and then finished in London, where it also gets a copper head badge and number plate. The bike then gets outfitted with Brooks’ new carbon-railed Cambium C13 saddle, a Campagnolo Record 11-speed gruppo, and Brooks Cambium bar tape.
Schindelhauer Ludwig
The latest edition to add to the Dashing Bikes collection is this belt drive flat bar commuter from Schindelhauer. The black Ludwig adds copper detailing throughout as the only touch of color on this internally geared urban bike that was debuted at Eurobike.
tokyobike 20
The tokyobike is another in the alt city bike sphere. Here pairing 20″ wheels with a 1x flat bar drivetrain, the Dashing Bike makes for a quick way to get around a densely packed city in style.
Achielle Julie
Another classic, hand building city bikes in Belgium since 1946, Achielle has crafted a special edition of their Julie. The bike gets real wood rims, apainted to match Brooks basket, and a Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub.
Copper details show up in the Achielle head badge, riveted number plate, and the bike’s bell. Plus, Julie gets a special B67 saddle with a one-off copper spring set and matching copper-finish leather grips.
Next up on the docket from Brooks, they’ve announced the next round of bikes. Italian steel bike builder and one-off painter Dario Pegoretti with put a Dashing Bike together, as will the minimalists from Finland at Pelago. Brooks will also partner with French bike maker Moustache to give the copper treatment to their first e-bike. And lastly Salsa will join in the fun for a special edition gravel grinder to get the Brooks anniversary treatment. As each collaborative bike is finished, Brooks will show it in a monthly rotating display in their flagship Covent Garden store for through the end of 2016.
