bikes and things

A superb quote I found today reinforcing my thoughts that learning and the pursuit of knowledge is one of the most enjoyable things we can do.

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough for Love (1973)

I’ve just pre-ordered what looks to be an amazing book on the UK hand built cycle industry which I found via It’s nice that*. Entitled Made in England it looks like a fascinating read as well as being full of some great photography.

Images © It’s nice that

I became interested in this kind of frame building when I had a trip to Witcomb cycles to interview them with Vaughan for living South Magazine. I was shooting some pics for the article at the time (my photography has improved since).

I’ve no idea why I used to add these stupid black borders to images in 2008.

Witcomb were interesting in that they had been building hand made steel frames for three generations in Deptford. They discussed the decline of frame building in the UK as well as the fact that historically most independent shops would have built their own frames – including the megacorp that is Evans! Alas Witcomb are no more after some terrible miss management from a new ‘business partner’ which was well documented on lfgss.com a few years back.

So what is left now is a series of independent frame builders such as Robin Mather, Dave Yates as well as newer entrants to the market such Feather Cycles. It’s good to see that the there’s a seemingly growing market for these brands and this book records the work of this highly personal and hands on craft. Dave Yeates also runs a well subscribed frame building course which I’m very tempted to sign up to. Considering there’s a two year wait it’s probably worth signing up now.

Images © It’s nice that

If you pre-order the book on their site you get a signed copy and a poster of your choice with it when it’s released, presumably in a few weeks. I went for the Reynolds one.

Having searched around for this post I also found a great section on the Rapha site with a series of videos and blog posts. It’s a shame they list the US first rather than the UK but never mind. Here’s Robin Mather talking about his work in Bristol.

* Most of the things on here seem to come via It’s nice that or With Associates these days so you’ll have to excuse the fanboyism please.

So much to like about this little book, the man himself as well as his superb illustrations.

Some say he’s the ‘Master of pens’.
Some call him the ‘Justin Bieber of drawing’.
Some say he fucks about for a living.

Last year he started a project whereby he’d send an illustrated rude postcard to anyone who gave some money on his website. Apparently it was a little too successful and he had to close it after six days. Anyway, fortunately they made it into a rather nice book which has just been released, which you should definitley buy!

There’s also a great video of him explaining the project.

All images © Mr Bingo