In these days of carbon-fiber technology, the shaving of grams, and the boom in aerodynamic advantages measured in mere seconds per kilometer, it comes as a refreshing recalibration to see a bicycle producer revel in the classical lines and materials that our sport was birthed into.
This not new, the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) has annually convened for nearly a decade due, in part, to the resurgent interest in classic materials and techniques. But the proportion of high-end bikes on the road that are not comprised primarily of carbon is very low. So let’s breathe in this rarefied air.
This builder of classics is Australian, ex-professional rider, Ashley Malcolm. The product of a lifetime in the industry, Malcolm Custom Bicycles is a bespoke crafter in South East London. Using strictly steel and lugs, Malcolm is crafting heirloom quality builds you will want to check out after the break…
Check out those cable stops under the BB; that’s attention to detail.
Bespoke birds.
Malcolm makes lugs look good, very good.
The raw steel. This one with internal routing. Anachronistic? Hey, that’s the beauty of bespoke builds.
Malcolm states that in the build-interview he is looking for prospective clients who will “get us and what we aspire to achieve.” Apparently there are plenty who do “get” Malcolm – the queue is now up to twelve months for one of these beauties.
