We design and build bicycles in the South West of England, just outside Bristol.
Every bike is individual, each steel frame fashioned by hand, each weld unique and good function guaranteed
we are challenging the established notions of what’s possible by bike.
Nice people building good bikes.
shorter than a standard hybrid bike, and narrow enough to be stored in a hallway, the Big billy will fit on trains, is compact enough to not feel big when using UK’s shared use paths, the frame weights just 7.5kilos and yet can has the capacity to carry 60kilos of cargo, two different age children and luggage, or one child and lots of shopping. It’s little but but with a big capacity
you can fit into a standard commuter train bike slot,…easily fits in a shed, its the same length as a Raleigh 20, a bobbin shopper, similar to the length of a brompton…
We can fit it with folding pedals and handlebar stem so that it shrinks to just 30 cm wide for a hallway or side passage.
Its not super light, but its strong and not heavy…the frame weighs (just) (we try to avoid the hype words here but it is super tempting) 7kgs. Its nippy and its nimble, no frame flex even when loaded right up and can accommodate a wide range of rider heights..we hand make so if you’re knee high to a grass hopper we can whittle some frame tubes to suit.
the frame is designed and fabricated in Bristol from steel cut in the midlands. it is designed to be as light as possible but utilising the strength and comfort that only steel can give you. The chassis has many fixing points for locks or water bottle and the front and rear carry plates are designed to fit MIK accessories from Basil, the deck plates take side clamping rear child seats, we like the Urban Iki seats, Crates zip ties on or use the MIK basil mounts, and Basil and Ortleib panniers fit straight on/ he mid mount child seat will work from three year and upwards til about 6.
Why do we built if from Steel? Well… we wanted to build a cargobike in the UK, we couldn’t find anyone to make it for us, so we decided to build it ourselves….If you build in the Far East you get an Aluminium frame, we like steel for a cargobike frame..it also meant that we could build it in the UK, there are metal fabricators in the UK….and that’s true, but to find one to make a low cost bicycle well that proved tricky…so we designed a bicycle frame whos tubes could be laser cut cut in numbers and cleverly (we think so anyway) make a kit of parts that we could weld together relatively quickly…(it still takes too long), so what you get is a no BS, steel frame, designed, produced, welded and painted completely in Bristol..Each frame is built on our jig made in littleton upon severn, each has weld has its own character, each tube finished by hand, each fixture placed by eye, each with a bit of soul and possibly/definitely sweat and tears in it…(rest assured these are removed by the painting process (Nailsea). Its not a super bike, but it is a great bike…handbuilt in Bristol.
We know that kids get heavier and hills get steeper…we know that budgets are tight and space on the road tighter. You can buy your big billy as a pedal powered bicycle, ride it like the work horse it is, but if you end up feeling like a pack mule, you can fit a mid mounted motor straight on, we equip the big billy from the start with components, the frame fittings, wiring channels and strong hub gearing to make the retro fit a breeze. So if and when the time comes for a bit of electrical assistance…we can supply or fit all you need to give your journeys a boost. Or you can buy it as electric from the start. We use a Tongsheng TSdz2 torque sensing mid motor, with about 50Nm its similar output to a Bosch active motor, its a good motor, but without clever extra torque of the big german and Japanese motors but we think its future proof with motor spares and suitable batteries all available from multiple vendors (and us) at reasonable prices. We also fit the Bafang BBS motors if you prefer the cadence sensing motor style.
We don’t say that our bikes is the best at everything, as a non electric bike it is a great urban bike, with a choice of gearing , option of dynamo lighting, for a single person about town or a small family with one kid its ideal..(imo) just like a dutch mama bike it can take two kids of differing ages, although that’s a bit of a juggle.. The motor we use is torquey..but unlike some folk who say their motors will climb mountains whilst you contemplate your navel..it will give you a great dose of helpful whizz about town and on the hills….and it will help you up the hills that you couldn’t get up without it..but its not a Bosch Cargoline/CX performance rocket ship, more of an active line motor but £1000 cheaper..
“Today has been amazing. I have felt like I am on a panther bounding through the streets, So exhilarating! The gears are amazing too, I rode it without the motor once I’d dropped the kids at various places and it is so light and agile."
Mother of two, Bristol
“We are all loving the bike”
for a gentleman with a 7 year old daughter , London. child seat to be added.
“A great urban runaround”
Builders own ride, sold within a week of building, it was great fun though..
“we love the bike, took 30 mins off my usual monday morning journey (car) just as revolutionary as i hoped, the kids are very happy”.
Mother of two, Bristol
“effortless and great fun to ride,
my son’s a massive fan of his spot up front!”
Bristol Gentleman with one child, shimano steps version.
“it went well and he (the dog) was quite relaxed in the box! it felt really stable”
semi retired gentleman, bike fold flat for hallway storage, for urban trips and dog walks.
Just fun, very pink, easy to use and nippy too.
shop bike, tong shen motor, lots of pink..
Awarding winning big billy..built as a tribute to the unsung heroes of the school run by bike, accompanying ode below.
this early frame is still used regularly.with a few changes
an ode to the unsung school run heroes.
the words that accompanied the above bike at the UKHBS 2019
