Special builds

In the beginning, a new framebuilder may choose to take up the craft for a number of reasons. Perhaps they are a bike lover, simply inspired by the work of existing framebuilders. Combine this inspiration with an existing passion for art and fabrication, and the outcome is work that breathes vibrancy into the bike community. Newcomers might also decide to pick up the torch in pursuit of frame designs that they feel are missing from the bike market. The framebuilder can easily design a frameset that is perfectly dialed in for a specific rider, with a specific requirement, without having to work within the constraints of mass-production. The world is their oyster and often the work that follows ends up being some of the most striking and iconic in the bike world. Kata Rasch is by no means a newcomer to artisan framebuilding, but the bike that we will focus on in this article was only her second ever frame. The skillful execution in design and fabrication emphasises Kata’s natural ability, and we can see why she decided to pursue the craft. Kata made the frame and stem by hand, in her home city of Berlin, using Columbus, Deda, Reynolds and 25cromo4 steel and fillet brazing techniques. Intended as a show bike to display at the 2025 edition of the Bespoked show in Manchester UK, we teamed up with Kata as she built her hardtail made for 650b wheels and 2.3 inch tyres. Up front, the bike is assembled with a Seido MGV fork and prototype Seido Deviation handlebar, as well as a Seido Pro EC headset. Rolling on a set of Seido Acceleron carbon wheels, the overall bike comes in at 9.3 kg, pretty decent for a steel frame! Of course we know that the bike is going to be a joy to ride – a comfortable steel frame meets supple Rene Herse Tyres and a lightweight carbon fork and wheelset. SEIDO: “So let's jump right in and talk about the bike. What was your thinking behind the design? Were there any considerations you made that were influenced by previous bikes you had ridden?” Kata: “I wanted to build a lightweight mountain bike for gravel roads. My whole family is really into bikes, and I have this old childhood memory of my mother riding one of those old-fashioned mountain bikes, so I kind of stuck to that style. The bend on the top tube was important to me, as a small person it sometimes feels safer to have more toptube clearance. ” SEIDO: “What influenced your choice of components for this build?”Kata: “I mostly chose the components based on weight, and what was compatible with my vision for the bike. I chose the MGV fork because it had a shorter axle to crown, but still had a lot of tyre clearance.” SEIDO: “When you first rode this bike, what did you notice about it? Was there anything that surprised you?” Kata: “I was actually surprised in the end how light the bike was, so I could go really fast. I was probably more surprised by fact that it was light and fast, because I usually ride a cargobike with my dog and that’s about 50 to 70 kilos (with second dog).” Every framebuilder has their own unique journey in which they follow to learn the craft. In Europe, it used to be that a young framebuilder could learn as an apprentice with an existing manufacturer, but as the industry developed and manufacturing moved overseas, it became more difficult to gain experience and guidance. European based bicycle frame manufacture gradually moved away from industrialised endeavors. Smaller scale and artisanal focused businesses remained, making the craft less accessible to all but those most eager to learn. Modern bespoke framebuilders are amongst the most dedicated bike people in the cycling world, so those who are willing to share their knowledge have a lot of passion to share – to be lucky enough to find one of these few and far between craftspeople can open up doors that are absolutely priceless in value. Kata already had invaluable experience in metalwork, but learned the ropes of the framebuilding craft from one Konstantin Drust, an esteemed framebuilder who we have had the pleasure of talking bikes with in a previous article. Kata and Konstantin have been good friends for several years, so the door to the framebuilding world was an open one; it was an opportunity that anyone would be crazy to pass up. But where did Kata’s love for metal begin?   SEIDO: “Where did you first discover your love for working with metal? And how far along in your journey did you decide that you wanted to make bikes?” Kata: “I am studying art and technology education because I have long wanted to become a teacher. Both subjects have a strong practical component. In technology education in particular, a lot of work is done in workshops. I mainly completed projects in the metal workshop and was later asked if I would like to work there as a tutor. Now I teach students the basics of working with machines such as lathes. The job gave, and still gives me, a lot of confidence to believe that I can work in the metal field. After building my first bicycle frame with Konstantin, I couldn’t stop thinking about the next one. I often joked that I might become a framebuilder. When Mawis Bikes decided to sell his Anvil jig in the fall of 2024, Konstantin told me about it, and I knew it was now or never.” SEIDO: “When working with Konstantin to distil your skills a metalworker into making bike frames, which parts of your existing ability did you find to be transferable, and which parts of the process did you find were a good challenge?” Kata: “I took Konstantin’s framebuilding course at the same time that I started working at the university. So there wasn’t really a “before.” When I began framebuilding, I was able to transfer the knowledge I had gained from my studies, particularly my experience with milling machines and lathes. Since then, I’ve been spending nearly every free hour in the workshop, trying to absorb as much as possible from Konstantin. The most challenging aspect for me is the self-discipline it requires. I don’t think there will ever be a point where I feel fully trained, because I have the feeling that framebuilding is a continuous process of learning and discovery. At times, it’s difficult for me to be satisfied with a result, but when you create something yourself, learning to accept and master that balance is essential, otherwise you risk falling into unproductive perfectionism. I also know how privileged I am in my current situation, I can work in Konstantin’s workshop, and just one floor above, Flo from Fern Fahrräder has his own workshop, where I can always turn for advice or help. On top of that, Tine from Gramm Tourpacking has been a great support, being able to exchange ideas with another woman in the scene makes a big difference.”     Being part of a community is invaluable when pursuing a craft. Having guidance and support from a cohort of likeminded people stokes a craftsperson's motivation for their own self-development. Kata’s passion for making bike frames and working with metal embodies this community spirit. Her goal to eventually present courses aimed at non-male people reflects her passion to build on a welcoming and inclusive community, in a world where metal fabrication is male dominated. This type of attitude breaks down barriers, and not only makes metalwork more accessible, but also emphasises the fact that bikes are for everyone, whether that is riding them or making them. SEIDO: “Please tell us about the positive aspects of the cycling or framebuilding community that you have spotted, that you would like to see more of.” Kata: “ Since I mostly ride my bike with my dog, Frieda, or go on day trips around Berlin with friends, I don’t really feel like I’m part of the cycling community. I feel that I’m mainly connected to the scene through framebuilding. In the framebuilding scene, I feel that there is a great willingness to support each other. Unfortunately, this is not the norm in our society in general, which is why I appreciate it all the more to experience it there.”   SEIDO: “What changes would you like to see in the future to make cycling and framebuilding more accessible?” Kata: “This question immediately reminded me of the Bespoked 2025 show in Dresden. It was a really great event, and I had many encouraging conversations there. Unfortunately, however, there were also moments when cis men were noticeably surprised when I told them that I had built the cargo bike myself. As these conversations became more frequent, I started to feel uncomfortable, because some people seemed to find it genuinely hard to believe. I think it’s okay to be a little surprised, but it’s important to be aware that reacting too strongly to someone saying they built something themselves can be unpleasant and over time quite tedious. Reactions like this alone show that there is still a lot that needs to change within the cycling community. There needs to be a basic understanding that FLINTA* people are part of the scene and are just as capable of doing and creating everything that cis men do, and honestly, that should be the bare minimum. That would, among other things, make access easier. I think the bike scene could really kick itself in the ass and move forward a bit, I mean, it’s 2025!” There are certainly artisanal crafts out there that have been around longer than the bicycle, but there are nonetheless some rather old-fashioned and dated mindsets imbedded within. But this most noble of machines has the power to transcend some of the counter-progressive notions that have spilled over from some areas of mainstream culture. Time and time again we see the bicycle to be a magnet to those who want to see progressive change in all areas of society. There is still work to be done, but it seems to be that the bicycle community is, and has always been, very socially progressive, after all, what could be better than getting from A to B under one’s own steam alone, without the reliance on institutionalised transport systems driven by fossil fuels and financial profits? Kata’s work shows us that not only is the bike a tool for sporty endeavors, but also that there is a huge practical element to bikes and cycling, and this is arguably its greatest asset. Kata channeled her focus to create a bike that embodies this area of use by building a beautiful, made-to-measure, cargo bike for her and her dog, Frieda.   SEIDO: “We spotted your super striking, amazing cargo bike build at the 2025 Bespoked show in Dresden. Can you tell us a little bit about that? What was your inspiration?” Kata: “When I crossed the Balkans with Konstantin last year on my previous cargo bike, I noticed a few things that didn't seem quite right for me. As a small person, I simply have more trouble buying a well-fitting bike off-the-shelf. That's why I wanted to build a cargo bike that was suitable for me and Frieda, which would take us on our next adventurous dog packing tours. It had to be particularly light and easy to travel with, because it's so complicated when you're traveling with a dog and luggage and then you also have a heavy bike.”   SEIDO: “One of the most important features of a bespoke bike frame is undoubtedly its paint job. What can you tell us about this part of the process, regarding choosing the right colour?” Kata: “To be honest, I had imagined the paint job to be a little different. It was very funny. Konstantin and I didn't know how to powder coat or paint our bikes, so when we met in the workshop one evening, we described to each other how we had both had the same idea that day: we wanted it to look like a sun-kissed peach. He had his powder coated, which didn't fit my schedule, so I had mine painted by my friend Jacek Orłowski. Jacek definitely did a great job. But I think painting is similar to getting a tattoo: you have a very specific idea in mind and try to describe it, but it never turns out exactly as you imagined. I think that's just part of the process and completely normal. Since the concept of a sun-kissed peach was no longer feasible, I decided to make small dog drawings, plot them, and stick them on. John Watson called it the burning giraffe on LSD, which somehow fits very well, haha!”   SEIDO: “Are there any other bike shows in the pipeline for you?” Kata: “I'm not sure what next year will bring. I want to finish my studies in the summer first, but I think I'll definitely be at Bespoked in Germany”   SEIDO: “Do you have any dream build projects in your mind’s eye that you would love to someday make reality?” Kata: “I would love to build a folding bike, I’m so into the old Di Blasi folding bikes. I missed my chance to buy one this year, so now I'll have to build it myself. But first, I have a customer bike to build this winter, which I'm really looking forward to because it's my first real job and it's for a good old friend.” We would like to kindly thank Kata for allowing us to capture a snapshot of her corner of the bike world. We think her work is some of the most distinctive that is currently being produced, and considering it is still early days in the story of Rasch Cycles, we are in no doubt that there will be some more seriously mind blowing creations to come! We'd also like to thank John Watson, for providing his beautiful photos of Kata's skilled work. The attention to detail they show us really speaks a thousand words.   SEIDO ComponentsDecember 2025By Peter Skelton  

If one were to take two different models of conventional road bike, place them side by side, dim the lights and squint the eyes, then be made to differentiate between the two, we would expect that the task would be attempted with some difficulty! The same could probably be said if we were to present two cross country mountain bikes together, or indeed any other genre of bicycle. However, if we decided a throw into the mix a bike built by the skilled hand of Konstantin Drust, we can be quite confident that recognition would be made in an instant, regardless of lighting levels or tightness of eyelid.    Konstantin Drust of Drust Cycles, Berlin, pushes bike design to new frontiers and creates eye-catching and superbly original bike frames, redefining what it is to be a bespoke framebuilder. He is great inspiration for many other framebuilders worldwide, and the answer to the needs of the cyclist who does not wish to be bound by the traditional mould of modern cycling. His bikes are distinctly ‘Drust’, yet come in such variation, each one of his frames is unique in its own right.   This time, we find the opportunity to catch up with Konstantin as he presents a new frame, equipped with a SEIDO MGV fork and Acceleron wheelset. Built for himself, he intends to use it to rediscover his passion for long distance and endurance riding. Careful attention has been paid to the geometry and part selection of the bike due to a wrist injury Konstantin sustained in the past – this is the first bike in a while that he has built for himself which is made for use with a drop handlebar. SEIDO: “Looking at the components, what was your thinking behind the choice of parts?” Konstantin: “When you contacted me offering components from your product range to build a bike with, I did not have to think too long about what I wanted to incorporate into this bike. The MGV fork offers big tyre clearance with possibilities for Mudguards, anything cages, and even low rider racks – great options for a front packer like me who usually throws all the luggage on the fork and handlebars. The Acceleron wheelset seems to come with a reasonable ratio of weight and strength. As a bike mechanic of many years, I was very happy to find the rear hub to be serviceable without tools. Also, to be able to follow my passion for cycling during the night, I had to switch the front hub to a SON dynamo. I think that a version of those wheels available readily with a dynamo would be worth consideration. The remaining components I used on this bike are basically from my ‘leftovers box’. I am still nervous about my return to long distance and endurance riding. The damaged nerves in both my wrists have made it impossible for me to use drop bars for the last 5 years." The bike we are looking at today, the ‘Romantic Racer’, is more modestly shaped than some of Konstantin’s previous works, but nonetheless sports a paintjob like no other. The exquisitely executed rose theme is the product of Konstantin allowing the mind blowing skills of Robert, at Velociao, to be let loose, using the frame as a blank canvas. The outcome was something quite special, and it really goes to show that the sky is the limit when a painter has airbrush skills like those of Robert. SEIDO: “The paintjob we see on this frame really is something special. What can you tell us about how it came about?” Konstantin: “I think creative people deliver their best work when they have the freedom to create something completely outside of the expectations of someone else. I appreciate Robert’s work and I had great experiences with him when turning my ideas into real paintjobs. I always try to leave room for his own interpretations and give my clients the advice to let loose a little, and to trust in his creativity. This time I asked Robert to just do whatever he would imagine this bike to be. I absolutely did not expect the rose theme you see here, and of course he must have had the idea to make this bike stand out from all my other work. He told me his inspiration for this bike was ‘horrible post cards’. I think Robert and I share a certain kind of humour!" SEIDO: “Like with many great art pieces, colours and paint choice are a key component. We see your frames with some interesting paint schemes, but also some with no paint at all, creating their own patina over time. What guidance do you provide to your clients when they are deciding upon these ‘paintless’ colour schemes?” Konstantin: "Many peope love the idea of a completely raw frame. A fillet brazed frame just looks beautiful coming straight out of the workshop. But if one does not want to put a big amount of maintenance into it, I would never recommend keeping a steel frame unpainted. A less maintenance-heavy way is to clear-coat a frame, or use a tinted lacquer/ clear-coat – transparent enough to still show the craftsmanship underneath. But it is always important to be aware that a clear-coat doesn’t provide permanent rust protection, and this should be considered during the planning process. The changes on the frame over time should be part of the concept of the finish, so the owner should be aware of this. In some cases we even allowed the frame to become rusty before halting the corrosion and protecting it. Now I am planning on experimenting with etching patterns into the tubes using phosphoric acid. The process will cause some passivation at the same time.”   SEIDO: “The frame you are showcasing here looks to have some nice subtle features, namely the method of achieving seat tube offset and boss placement. What can you tell us about these features and other considerations you made when building the frame?” Konstantin: “After I had to change to flatbars and become a MTB/ATB rider, I started loving steeper seat tube angles. The seat tube offset on the frame mainly serves to let the angle appear more classic looking. The effective seat tube angle is about 2 degrees steeper than the real angle of the seat tube. I could also build the rear end a bit shorter, but still allow 55mm tyre clearance. The boss placement just follows my wish to have one more easily accessible bottle when I am on the bike. On my MTB/ATB builds, I often place those double mounts under the down tube to clear the space for a frame bag, without making compromises on the amount of water that can be carried along." SEIDO: “Now the bike is ready to roll, what excursions do you have planned out?” Konstantin: “First, getting back on the roads. Getting back into this kind of riding and hopefully by next year, I will be able to do 800km+ long weekend rides again. For a long time I was happy to just ride and travel off-road, but I missed the calmness in my head I would fall into when doing long days on quiet roads. Due to weather and other reasons, all my attempts to cross Poland had to be postponed. Maybe I’ll set this as one of my goals for 2024“   Konstantin’s work gives the spectator and end user a great impression of modern artistry, blended with well engineered functionality. We look at his frames and question why in this world of incredible variation, do we choose to ride conventional looking bikes? Drust Cycles proves that we can just as easily enjoy our favourite types of cycling on much more unique looking frames, and with that, if the creative mind allows it, the way bicycle frame tubing is cut and joined can provide a limitless spectrum of possibilities.   SEIDO: “In this world where it’s becoming increasingly tough to be original, how did you manage to find your style? What was your inspiration?” Konstantin: “A question too difficult to answer. Everyone is taking inspiration from other builders’ work, objects other than bicycles. Motorbikes, buildings, construction machinery... you name it. I am happy that many people tell me that the style of my work is very distinctive. I think the difficulty is to turn the inspiration into something of your own instead of a copy of some else’s creation”   SEIDO: “I think it’s fair to say that your bike designs spark a lot of inspiration within the worldwide framebuilding community. How does it make you feel when other framebuilders reference your work?” Konstantin: “Being quoted or even copied is one of the biggest compliments of one’s craftsmanship. I am happy if people feel inspired and everyone is welcome to try my solutions for themselves.”   SEIDO: “We see quite a few examples of your work featuring some really striking looking truss forks. What draws you to the truss fork design?” Konstantin: “Probably the striking looks of it, or let’s say, the interesting looks of it. I want to build bikes that make their owners want to ride them. I want them to find their bicycle so attractive and beautiful, that this is reason enough to spend a day, a week or a month upon it. Of course, truss forks are also quite an interesting structure. Strong, stiff and light.” When we look at the works being produced by different brands, we can sometimes see quite clearly the type of riding their designs are aimed at. Drust Cycles has its roots in bikepacking and bike driven exploration. Drust’s designs have been inspired by experiences he’d had while out on the road, all over the world, and the utilitarian aesthetic often reflects this. We look at his bikes and can easily imagine them as part of the landscape, out on the Eurasian Steppe, mid-quest. SEIDO: “When you think about possible designs for a new frame, are there any parts of the world that pop into your head, where you experienced a snap shot of the culture that you wanted to capture?” Konstantin: “I think there is a certain feeling I connect with traveling by bike. I often have to think of a morning when I woke up in a desert with my bike. The sun just came up and the barren landscape unfolded around me. As well as this, I was listening to the perfect song to underline the moment. This is the feeling.” With the wheel of the framebuilding world constantly turning, fresh ideas are always being sprouted. A new name on the Berlin Framebuilding scene is Akinn Cycles. They recently released photos and specs of a new off-the-peg frameset, Subsun. It is kitted out with a SEIDO MGV fork and Acceleron wheelset, just like Konstantin’s Romance Racer. The brand was the brainchild of Konstantin and André Roboredo of Vetra Bikes.   SEIDO: “The artisan bicycle framebuilding community is becoming increasingly close-knit. We recently saw that you joined up with André at Vetra Bikes to create a new brand, under the name Akinn Cycles. What can you tell us briefly about this new venture?” Konstantin: "In early 2023, I moved my workshop to share a space with Andre. We now share the room, machinery, and some fixtures. In my eyes, there is not much competition amongst the Framebuilding community – for example, people who want to commission Andre’s style of work, want to for a reason. They feel a certain connection to the mindset of a builder. They should go there to have their bike made because they resonate with their style. For this reason, I reject all requests of recreating the work of someone else. At the same time, it’s a tough world and times are hard economically. Sharing the workshop gives us the possibilities to keep costs low and even support each other when needed. Akinn was born out of the idea to produce a stock model together. The geometry is customisable but not made to measure, so framebuilders who know how to do the job can produce a batch of frames in quite a short space of time. Many people don’t want the process of having to decide upon lots of details, but still want an artisan-quality bicycle, or want to embody the spirit of a locally crafted product. Also we plan to cooperate with bike shops and offer the frames to a wider public than just the framebuilding niche.” SEIDO: “The Subsun model looks to be a frame for all occasions, what was the thinking behind its design?” Konstantin: “You summarised it quite well. It’s a gravel bike with potential in many directions. From a sporty commuter to a long distance bike as with my bike we talked about earlier.”   We will hopefully catch up soon with Konstantin and André, for some more insight on Akinn cycles and their Subsun, so in the meantime, watch this space! But for now, we must thank Konstantin Drust for kindly sharing his insights into his beautiful Romance Racer, and wish him many happy miles, back on drop bars, and astride the finest paint job in Berlin! Thanks kindly for reading. SEIDO Components December 2023 By Peter Skelton   Header photo and photos with green background taken by Adam Gasson

  There is an almost endless spectrum of bicycle categories out there. From the robotic looking enduro mountain bike, to the ultra-minimalist and clean lines of the classic track bike, to the post-apocalyptic looking bikepacking rig, bristling with braze-ons. Artisan framebuilders often define these categories, and sometimes help to stoke the evolution of existing styles into more refined yet beautifully original sub-genres. This time, we chat to Flo Haeussler of Fern Bicycles and Allygn Components. He is renowned for creating perfectly dialed, modern randonneur-style bikes, with flawlessly executed colour schemes, feeding the fire of originality. Flo has made a name for himself purveying his craft since 2012, and has become one of Europe’s most iconic bespoke framebuilders. His journey began while out on a long-distance bike trip from Budapest to Istanbul, where he discovered the freedom accessible only via the bicycle. From there, Flo took his experience working as a designer in the automotive industry and blended it together with the art of bicycle frame fabrication. He later took over a framebuilding workshop which marked the birth of Fern Fahrraeder, and later, Allygn Components, in Berlin. Now, as we catch up with Flo, he has just finished prototyping a new frame with capacity for larger tyres – a true ‘go-anywhere’ type of machine. The bike in focus stands out as an evolution of the modern randonneur bike concept, allowing the bicycle tour to be pushed a step further, down routes that might previously have been inaccessible. The bike (dubbed Biest Of The East) has been built to roll on SEIDO Acceleron 650b rims with an enormous set of 2.4 inch (61mm) wide tyres, truly living up to the phrase inscribed on its non-drive side chainstay – ‘Fat Farts Fit Fine’. The name ‘Biest Of The East’ has been inspired by the area where Flo’s workshop is situated - in the former eastern part of Berlin, and also because of a favourite bike from back in his days of youth; the Iconic Cannondale “Beast of the East”. Combined with the chunky tyres, it also conjures up images of ploughing though frozen lands, and is nicely tied in with a SEIDO STREAK stem, ROOTS seat, and not to mention the Allgyn Diamond front rack, a design that is popular with bicycle randonneurs the world over. SEIDO: “Looking back at your numerous bike trips across Europe, how did this inspire your move to start making bicycle frames, did you feel there was something missing on the market?” Flo: “By the time I did my first bike trips through Europe, there were no fast but wide tyred, drop bar touring bikes available and the Gravelbike had not yet been reinvented. So I took my inspiration from the likes of Rene Herse, Singer, Routens, Louis Pitard, Narcisse, and other french constructeurs. They had already built wide tyred randonneur bikes (something you could call Gravelbikes in today’s world) over 100 years ago. Finally, I decided to start building my own bikes.” SEIDO: “Biest Of The East is branded up with the Allygn Components logo. What can you tell us about Allygn’s relationship with Fern?” Flo: “I started the Allygn brand to make (until then) all my self-made components and frames more accessible to a wider range of customers. Whenever I released a new bike I got so many inquiries for just the racks and other components. It was impossible for me to make them all by hand in my workshop, since Fern is basically just a one man company. My main business is framebuilding and that keeps me busy enough already...So it was only logical to find a really good rack maker and have them produced to the highest possible quality and from high end materials, just as if they had been made by myself. The next step will be to offer framesets off-the-peg, currently a Fern bicycle is only available as a completely built up bike. These framesets will all be handbuilt by myself in my workshop, but in stock sizes, with limited custom options, and TIG welded instead of fillet brazed.” SEIDO: “This current prototype frame looks to have some serious capability to go anywhere. Was this something born from your own requirements while out riding?” Flo: “My goal was to make that “do everything/ swiss army knife” type of a bike, which will perform equally well in many different settings. The frames are all made from superlight, thinwall Columbus tubing, the same that a super high end steel race bike are made from. I believe, that for really hard off-road riding, there is no such thing as a tyre too wide. The frame can easily fit knobby tires up to 60mm, but could also be equipped with 650B x 48mm tires and 60mm fenders for randonneur rides. You could even equip it with 700c x 42mm wheels, thus converting the bike into a modern gravel-racer. The frame also provides all the options for hub dynamo front and rear lights/ cable routing, and, features the full range of our new Allygn racks and Gramm bags rig!” SEIDO: “Do you see requests for all-terrain type bikes becoming more popular?” Flo: “Yes, I definitely do. People are starting more and more to realise that you don't need to have four different bikes for four different uses. You can pretty decently have just one really good bike with two or three different wheelsets. It will perfectly cover most of your bicycles adventures, and so, being a real “All terrain bike.” SEIDO: “Do you have any specific plans for The Biest Of The East?” Flo: “Yes for sure, I am planning to have a small batch production of these frames here in my workshop and I hope to see more and more people riding happily on high end steel frame bicycles!”   When looking at the Fern Bicycles portfolio, we certainly see a few features that have evolved with the bikes on display there. Choose from beautifully made custom stems, exquisitely functional porteur-style racks, seamless internal cable routing - all these are jewels are that define Fern’s image. SEIDO: “Since building your first few Fern frames, how have things evolved with your designs? What would you highlight as your signature features?” Flo: “I guess what makes Fern Bicycles a little bit different from other bikes is that I always see the bike for the complete machine that it is - even including the human being riding it. So every part on a bike, down to the last bolt, is equally as important to me and I select them all very carefully in order to achieve perfect aesthetics and flawless function. I like mixing the best technologies from today with the best parts from earlier decades, and if something doesn't exist the way I want it, I'll try to make it myself – not dissimilar to how the French constructuers did back then. My favorite parts are definitively my beloved square taper Dura Ace 1x crankset and V-Brake rim brakes!”   SEIDO: “Have you accumulated any of these features in particular to build this bike?” Flo: “My goal was to condense all my experience from 10 years of making custom bikes into a simple but high end frame set, which could be built up by the customers themselves or at selected bike shops. It features superb steel tubing, combined with super wide tyre clearance and perfect fender fit, whilst keeping a narrow Q-factor. It also makes use of dedicated light mountings and cable routing, special racks front and back with a full set of custom made Gramm Tourpacking bags. Almost all the same features as you would find if you were to order a complete bespoke Fern Bicycle, but much more accessible.”   SEIDO: “Thinking about ride characteristics, how do you find your choice of parts influences the ride? How does the size and material of wheel make the bike behave?” Flo: “In my opinion the wheel and tire selection makes the biggest difference to the ride and feel of the bike. The wheels should be robust, but as light weight as possible to give you that sensation of really fast acceleration and snappy handling. The perfect wheel size depends more on tire width/ outer circumference and should be always selected proportionally to match the rider’s body height, rather than blindly following the latest trend.”       Having a bike that can do the job of multiple different types of bike is many peoples’ dream. We imagine something with a nice low weight that can effortlessly cruise along the asphalt, but when it approaches rougher roads and trails, it will happily scramble along like a cross country mountain bike. But, when the mood takes it, this dream bike can be loaded up and haul whatever is required, be that all the gear for a couple of weeks of bikepacking, or the essential supplies for a week’s survival at home. Quite often, we struggle to find an off-the-peg bike that will meet all these requirements, so we look to bespoke framebuilders like Flo who have the magic at their fingertips to manifest the right kind of dream machine.   SEIDO: “Biest Of The East looks like ‘one-bike-to-rule-them-all’. Was the idea behind it to build something utilitarian that would tick as may boxes as possible?” Flo: “Yes, I wanted to create that “Eier-Legende-Woll-Milch-Sau” – literally: ‘egg-laying and milk-giving wool-swine’, as we say in German, meaning the ‘Jack of all trades’. So, one bike which covers 90% of your riding styles, without sacrificing performance in any way. The whole idea is to have just one really capable bicycle and maybe two or three wheel/ tire sets instead of owning three or more different bikes.” SEIDO: “Does Biest Of The East signify the next step Fern and Allygn’s stories? How do you see your designs and products progressing from here?” Flo: “For sure, we will keep on working on the overall idea of this frame, with racks and bags in use as one integral and thoroughly designed system, rather than having a randomly thrown together pile of different components (as is the case with many modern bikepacking rigs). And there are still so many other ideas in my head which I have to build, so keep an eye out!”       Like the roads on a map, the journeys taken by bike design go all directions, and lead to destinations as varied and original as any settlement we see on our maps. Features define each framebuilder and to the custom bicycle community, their work becomes as distinct and recognisable as the work of classical artists and the great musical composers. We love to see the journeys their works take, not just in a literal sense, but in the development and evolution of their qualities and aesthetics, as trends change and technologies grow. We warmly show our gratitude to Flo Haeussler for taking the time chat with us, and for giving us a sneak preview of the super cool and intriguing machine that is the Biest Of The East! We wish you all the best for the future with Fern Bicycles and Allygn Components. Thanks a million! Flo: “Thanks so much for giving me the possibility to share my thoughts! ;)”   SEIDO Components August 2023 By Peter Skelton

One of the greatest things about bikes and cycling is that there is something for absolutely everyone. Whether you ride for sport, or simply to get from A to B, or whether you use it as a means to see your world. No matter if you’re tall or short, or what your gender and background is - the bike is there to be ridden. Last time we caught up with Kevin at Firefly Bicycles and his client, Jonah, where we discussed a build made for tackling testing ultra endurance events on a range of different terrains. Jonah is an ex-rugby player who channeled his form as a back row player to tapping out the miles on the Transcontinental Race. This time, Kevin introduces us to Erica - another strong cyclist who has ticked of some serious distances in the past and recently became a proud new mother – congratulations! She is now also the proud owner of Firefly FF1242. Erica’s previous bike was a heavy touring bike. She loved it dearly and completed some serious miles upon it, but the time came to upgrade. FF1242 is a titanium framed all-road machine, equipped with a 650b SEIDO Acceleron carbon wheelset. FF1242 shouts versatility and performance, but with a pair of 47c tyres, it keeps comfort in high emphasis. Given Erica’s shorter height, she often struggled to find bikes that fitted her correctly. Like many other women her size, in the past she would have had to settle with bikes with too long a reach, so this time she opted for a custom build with a geometry completely tailored to her (even down the butting of the tubes). The colourway on the bike was completely bespoke too, and the fact that Erica is married to Firefly’s former Head Finisher meant that she had quite a head start!   We checked in with Erica and Kevin to take a look at FF1242, and to get a glimpse into the journey that formed its creation:   SEIDO: “What sort of distances had you completed on your previous bike, and what were the sensations you experienced that you wanted to correct by having FF1242 built?” Erica: "With my last bike, I purchased the frame so I could build it up as a touring bike to go down the West Coast from Seattle to San Diego. It was one of those bikes that was a factory build and technically did everything I needed, but it did nothing exceptionally well. Plus, half the parts were poached from various other bikes I had, and the other half of the parts were from the ‘Bikes Not Bombs’ donation pile. It was a loveable monster. An upgrade from that was not hard to achieve, but after years of being jealous of my wife’s Firefly I couldn’t take my eyes off the prize. I’m a Taurus, after all! In a few words, here are some of the things from my old bike that I bid adieu to: a long reach, mismatched brifters, what felt like 45 extra pounds of steel, and - my favorite - a weird vibration throughout the whole frame when I would reach 25 mph or higher."   SEIDO: “The fitting process when designing a custom frame is crucial. Do you find that your approach to sizing and geometry varies a lot from rider to rider, or do you have established formulas that work well?” Kevin: "We approach the fit from multiple perspectives for every rider. We have fit formulas that translate body dimensions into a few key contact points, but that is only one piece of the puzzle. We also consider the rider’s goals, riding history, injury history, experience on other bikes, mobility/flexibility/posture, pedaling style, and anything else that will impact their comfort on their Firefly. Exactly which of those factors matters most can vary from rider to rider, but in every case, we aim to center the rider’s experience on the bike to ensure the best possible fit for each specific person, rather than following any set formulas or rules of thumb too closely."   SEIDO: “Were there any suggestions you made to help Erica alleviate some of the problems she was experiencing with her previous heavy touring bike?” Kevin: "We tinkered with her saddle position a bit, but the main fit adjustment was to her saddle-bar reach, which we did through adjustments to the frame geometry, stem length, and handlebar/shifter set up. Bringing her reach in a bit ended up being a better match for both her fit needs and her riding goals.  We were also able to achieve a comfortable saddle-bar drop without the need for too many spacers under the stem or an upright stem, giving her more room for adjustment in the future. We want Firefly riders to enjoy their bikes for decades, and building in some room for adjustment is a crucial piece of that. Beyond the fit, the transition from steel to custom butted Ti, and from heavier aluminum and steel components to modern aluminum and carbon components, especially the Seido Acceleron wheels, helped us cut the bike’s weight dramatically, all while giving her better braking, a wider gear range, and more tire clearance. The goal was to make sure the bike would be fun to ride right away, even if she won’t do any big tours for some time, while still being capable as a tourer later on."   SEIDO: “When designing a bike for person who is smaller in size, what are some of the things that you have to take into consideration that might differ from designing a larger frame?” Kevin: "Fit is always important, but it’s especially common to meet smaller riders who have had to make sacrifices to their riding comfort in order to ride stock geometries, simply because of the limited stock size options for smaller riders, so finding ways to eliminate those sacrifices is always an important consideration. Dialing in the handling can also be more complicated, as some component specs, like many aftermarket fork offsets, are designed to work best with medium-large frames. Our custom process gives us a lot of flexibility with the frame design and component combinations to find the right balance of steering quickness, stability and toe clearance with the front tire. For example, on Erica’s bike we really optimized the handling for 650b tires, knowing that she will almost always use those. Tube selection is a major part of our custom process as well, and with smaller frames we need to be extra careful to ensure that we aren’t overbuilding them. Even with Ti, it’s possible to make a frame too stiff and lose some of the comfort and liveliness that a great Ti bike should have. We will consider the rider’s size, riding style, exact frame geometry, and frame options, like potential for panniers or frame bags, to make sure we’re using the right tube diameters and butt profiles for every frame."   SEIDO: “What were some features of your previous bike that you liked and wanted to carry over to FF1242?” Erica: "Small wheels! My old bike was the first time I ever tried 650bs, and I never looked back. Wheels of that size helped the bike fit my body, and the whole bike felt more manageable and maneuverable regardless of terrain. I also wanted to keep a large gear range - I used that bike both for trail riding and for long tours, and needed FF1242 to have the flexibility to let me crank out at top speed AND to drop down fast into granny gears."   SEIDO: “As a new mother, were there things you took into account when specifying FF1242 that you might previously have overlooked?” Erica: "Honestly, the specs of the bike didn’t matter as much as the permission to get myself an amazing-ass bike. I thought to myself - if I can grow a baby, I deserve a Firefly."   SEIDO: “Did you have any specific plans in mind for how/ where you’ll ride FF1242?” Erica: "Between being pregnant and having a newborn, it’s really been two whole years of me not being able to ride a bike the way I want to.  So as anticlimactic as it sounds, this bike is about getting to return to one of my favorite things to do after a long hiatus of not doing it. A homecoming, if we’re getting sappy about it. While of course I’ve got the D2R2 and gravel rides in Vermont on my radar for this summer, the thing that I’m looking forward to the most is getting a few mundane hours to just bliss out on a ride on a sunny weekend morning."     The different shapes and styles of bike out there are as diverse as the almost infinite range of people who ride them. Each one can have its own unique paint scheme, geometry, range of components and accessories – we dress our bikes in ways that reflect who we are as people. These uniquenesses are not only limited to aesthetics however, and how a bike rides is an important defining factor in its personality. We can ride heavy but comfortable touring bikes that are happy to plod away all day long, relaxingly carrying inertia along every undulation to the most perfect camping spot in an unknown land, or we can hop astride a feisty and lightweight ibex of a machine and pick a line up a rough trail where the reward is a spectacular view, amplified by endorphins in the veins, generated by a hard and calculated effort. There is almost no limit to how we ride.   SEIDO: “How long had upgrading to a bike like FF1242 been on your mind? Did you anticipate that moving to a bike of this type would open up new doors to the way you ride?” Erica: "For as long as I’ve ridden like this, I’ve watched other people get to the top of the hill faster than me and thought to myself… “Is it because they have a nicer bike than me?”. It’s me internally making a subtle excuse. I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time, but the consequence of finally getting here is that now I’ve gotta face the music - maybe they were just faster than me after all?  Who knows, maybe now I’ll just say that they’ll get to the top faster because I’m a mom who doesn’t have time to train anymore."   SEIDO: “A titanium frame combined with a carbon fork and carbon wheelset is sure to make for a featherweight yet comfortable ride. What were your first impressions of riding such a lightweight set-up?” Erica: "I felt it immediately. Also, my speedometer confirmed it. I was SO FAST! And with so little effort! I’ve never ridden on such a light bike, and I’d never ridden with a wheelset like this either - I can’t even quite describe what was different about it, but I came back from that ride and practically skipped into the house."   SEIDO: “Carbon wheels are becoming a first choice for many of today’s cyclists. Composites are getting stronger and lighter, moulds more versatile. Do you find that these days, your customers are more regularly specifying carbon wheels?” Kevin: "Absolutely. The transition to disc brakes on most bikes (so we no longer have to worry about carbon brake tracks) has made carbon rims the clear best choice for many riders. As you said, they are lighter and often much stronger than alloy rims, and there is an incredible array of options to match pretty much every rider’s goals."   SEIDO: “When deciding on a colour scheme for F1242, being married to the former head finisher of Firefly Bicycles must have had its perks! The bike sports a very nice, simple yet effective finish. What can you tell us about it?” Erica: "I admittedly confirm - I outsourced the design to my wife entirely. After spending an hour scrolling through the Firefly Flickr account and pointing out things that I liked, she went and sketched three mock-ups and I picked my favorite. The things that I like best about it are that it’s in the classic Firefly style (all the logos in their standard place, and some fun annotations on the top tube and head tube), and the low-voltage sunset fade colors are so dreamy. Although, poetically, maybe I should reframe the colors as sunrise colors - a new era of my bike riding has dawned!"   The ‘new bike feeling’ can be more than just the excited feeling of receiving a new product, such as a new pair of shoes or a new phone. It can be a reflection of where we are at in our lives and the type of cyclist we are can shine through it. We might previously have delved deep enough into travelling with a particular bike that we know how we can improve our cycling experiences, or push the boundaries of where we want to go or what we want to do. It’s an archaic sensation that is very human, feeding our curiosity to explore. When that new bike is bespoke and made-to-measure, the fusion of creativity and the primal urge to discover creates an amalgamation of feelings, resulting in unmatched excitement, where we can so clearly visualise where this bike will take us - just like we could when we were kids! Like many other bespoke bike brands in the community, Kevin and the Firefly Bicycles team make the dream come true. The flame is very much alight with the torch I their hands and it’s brands like Firefly that keep the bicycle machine ploughing on into the future. A huge thanks to Erica and Kevin for taking the time to share their thoughts with us on FF1242, and another massive congrats to Erica for becoming a super-cool Firefly riding momma –  the very best of wishes to you and your family!   SEIDO ComponentsMay 2023 By Peter Skelton  

             Hailing from Boston USA, launched in 2011 by Kevin Wolfson, Jamie Medeiros and Tyler Evans, Firefly Bicycles has quickly become an iconic name in the world of custom bicycle frame fabrication, building bespoke frames using in-house butted titanium tubing, tailored to the geometry of each bicycle. Matched with head-turning custom finishing choices, Firefly provide a complete package of ingredients to create the optimal bespoke bicycle experience. The team recently finished work on FF1233 – Rusty – built for Endurance Athlete, Jonah Jones, based in Bermuda. This is a purpose designed endurance machine ready for use on ultra distance events such as the Gravel TroBreizh in Brittany, France, but also to explore the renowned European Divide Trail. FF1233 refines the ‘all-road’ classification by combining a sub-compact drivetrain with a generous tyre clearance, accommodating 29 x 2.2 tyres sat comfortably in a SEIDO Components MGV carbon fork.   We reached out to Kevin and Jonah to discuss some details and ask some questions about what it meant to create such a purpose built machine: SEIDO: “Tell us about FF1233 - Rusty. What inspired the design brief for this unique bike?” Kevin: “We built Rusty for a great customer and a super strong rider based in Bermuda named Jonah. We’ve been lucky enough to build him a few bikes now, dating back to a road bike we made for him in 2015. A former rugby player, he now applies his physical and mental toughness to some very impressive rides, from loops around Bermuda totaling hundreds of km, to the Transcontinental race in Europe, and his upcoming foray into Gravel Tro Breizh. This specific bike was built to tackle ultra-endurance, mixed terrain rides like GTB. He wanted it to be comfortable for long days on the bike, compatible with aerobars to give him lots of options to adjust his position on those long days, comfortable and capable on rough unpaved terrain. The bike needed to be equipped with a full range of cargo mounting options, with integrated dynamo lighting and charging, to allow him to do self-supported rides in remote locations. While his riding goals and fit needs directed our decisions on the frame geometry and component selection, we were also able to take advantage of our custom finish process to create a totally unique fall-inspired finish design, all the way down to the color selection for the custom Gramm Touring bags.”       SEIDO: “What are the different stages of the build process at Firefly Bikes, and who is involved?” Kevin: “My role is to work with the customer through the whole fit and frame geometry design process, selecting components, planning frame options, and outlining a rough plan for the finish. As frames get closer to production, I will handle the component ordering and production scheduling so that the frame and all the components are ready at the same time (when everything goes according to plan!), and then take photos of the production process so the customer can see their bike being born, even if they aren’t local. Jamie will then take the build sheet for each bike, which includes all of the geometry and tubing information, and turn the raw materials into a bike frame. That process includes tube butting, which we do in-house and custom for each bike, mitering, bending, shaping, and tack welding, which is just enough to hold the bike together so we can remove it from the frame fixture. He will also drill the tubing for any water bottle, frame bag, and other accessory mounts to be added later. Tyler does all of the welding from that point. His first step is to check the alignment after tacking and then plan a welding sequence to bring the frame into perfect alignment. Titanium is very difficult to bend after welding, which is part of what makes it so strong, but also part of what makes building titanium frames so difficult. He will weld the main triangle first, then the small parts and brake bridges, and finally the dropouts, checking and re-checking the alignment at several steps along the way. During that process, he or Scott will ream and face the bottom bracket and head tube, bond in the seat tube insert, and slot the seat tube. At that point the frame is ready to ride, but unfinished. Kate is our head finisher and in charge of creating the beautiful custom finishes we are known for. Her first step is to remove any excess color around the joints and set an even base finish across the frame with a mix of power tools and using abrasives by hand. She will then get to work applying the finishes for the graphics, masking off those graphics, and applying the base finish around the masks. A finish like Rusty will include many separate steps and can take 3-4 days to complete. Scott will often do the final bead blasting and then unmask the graphics, the last steps of the finish process, before tackling the final assembly. On a bike like this one, that process goes well beyond simple shifting and brake adjustment to include drivetrain customization to make non-standard gear combinations work. We consider dynamo light and charger wire routing, integrated rack and bag mounting, and in this case, setting up the Di2 shifting so that Jonah can easily install and remove aerobars with integrated Di2 shifters. After Tyler photographs the bike in our studio, Scott will then carefully pack it so we can ship it out to the customer needing only a few assembly steps to ride.”     SEIDO: “We’re starting to see more drop bar bikes sporting wider tyres, yet there are fewer designs which have space for tyres upwards of 700 x 45c. FF1233 seems to be ahead of the curve in this respect – do you see this bike as a glimpse into the future of all-road bike design?” Kevin: “I think a big part of what makes gravel and all-road bikes fun to design is that the way riders use them is so varied. Clearance for 700x45mm or 650x53mm tires, the standard for our All-Road model, is plenty for many of our customers, but sometimes we work with riders like Jonah who need bigger tires, and because we’re fully custom, we’re happy to accommodate! The main challenge with bigger tire clearances is that you can start to run into issues with chainring clearance. That’s easy enough to work around with a custom build, whether through the right component selection, our 3D printed chainstay yoke, and/or longer chainstays. On Jonah’s bike, we even chose to use 148mm boost rear spacing and a 73mm BB shell to help with tire and chainring clearance. Those modifications are harder for a stock company to plan for, but I do think that as more people use their all-road bikes on rougher terrain, more manufacturers will have to find ways to offer frames with more tire clearance.”   SEIDO: “With input from Gramm Tourpacking, Allygn Components and SEIDO Components, FF1233 looks to be a celebration of where the modern era of bicycle travel has found itself. Was the bike designed around these specific components?” Kevin: ““A celebration” is a great way to describe FF1233! It really does highlight just how custom a custom bike can be. The starting point for each of the frame design and component selection decisions was always Jonah’s goals and preferences for the bike. For example, his desire to have tons of tire clearance, rack mounts on the front and back of the back, internal dynamo routing, and to have the option to potentially use a short-travel suspension fork in the future made the Seido MGV fork a perfect choice. Regarding the front rack and bags specifically, we knew we wanted to use an Allygn Diamond rack and matching Gramm Tourpacking front bag because we don’t think there is any better front rack/bag combination out there. That decision led naturally to working with Gramm on the custom frame and saddle bags. Once we finalized the frame geometry, we coordinated with Gramm to customize the bag mounting locations, sizes, and colors. The team at Gramm was a pleasure to work with throughout the process.”   SEIDO: “Did you suggest this choice of components to your customer, or did they have a set group of parts in mind?” Kevin: “The component selection was very much a collaboration between Jonah and us. He had some specific requests, and in other cases we recommended components and options that we thought would best match his preferences and goals for the bike. We’re very flexible with how we approach component selection in general. Some folks want or need more recommendations, while others know all or almost all of what they want. That flexibility is another advantage of the custom process.”   SEIDO: “What can you tell us about the custom finish and interesting graphics on the bike?” Kevin: “Jonah asked us to create a custom finish with an autumnal themed graphics, including some leaf and bird imagery, the word “Rusty”, and with colors selected to match the theme and complement the two-toned Ingrid crankarms. Tyler turned that inspiration into a custom finish design that used a mix of bead blasted Ti, brushed Ti, and bronze, gold, and rose-gold anodization. Once we created the finish design for the frame, we then coordinated the colors for the bags with Gramm and Jonah to make sure that everything worked together harmoniously. We were thrilled with how it came out.”   When it comes down to creating machines for churning out the miles at a competitive level, Firefly deliver the tools for the job. Jonah Jones has his sights set on some tough but rewarding events, and Rusty is tuned specifically for his needs.   We were lucky enough to get some insight from Jonah: SEIDO: “What initially sparked the idea to commission a bike like this?” Jonah: “It’s the bike for the next stage in my life. I had already drifted into ultra events and found my people - that rag tag motley assortment of folks who put themselves through the discomfort of ultra cycling in order to experience life on a different plane. In the last three years I have undergone the disappointment of preparing for several ultra events, only to have them cancelled, due initially to covid regulations and then as a result of family illness. During that time I slipped quietly into my mid fifties and had a real think about how many ultra events I realistically had left in me. Where did I want those adventures to focus? The answer was in quiet, majestic natural beauty. The endurance bicycle that Firefly had  previously built me, “Mud Puppy” is a wonderful machine, but I concluded that while it was very capable, and had taken me onto many a mixed surface, it came up a little short for what I have in mind next. It has clearance for 45mm tires, but I wanted wider. It’s also a little more aggressive in the geometry than the new build and the gearing is too limiting for this ageing dude to take on steep gradients and super long off road tours.”   SEIDO: “Built with the events you have in focus, Rusty is purebred machine. Compared to other bikes that you have ridden long distances, how did you want this bike to stand out and differ from the rest?” Jonah: “I envisage this bike as being able to take me far and comfortably on the trail less travelled, but also have the geometry and gearing to get my head down and tap out long distances on the faster sections of a journey. We spend a fair bit of time in Southern Brittany. The area is criss-crossed with rugged farm tracks, locally called “ribinou” which Jo, my partner, and I love to select over the metalled roads whenever possible. One of our favourite outings there is to ride from our house, along the river on these tracks to a small village at the estuary for a plate of oysters and a glass of Muscadet.”   SEIDO: “Since receiving your bike and completing your first rides, which features have made the biggest impression on you?” Jonah: “We have been lucky enough to have had several bikes built for us by Firefly, so my expectations were already sky high. I expected balance, comfort and smoothness. What is striking about this build though, is the barely noticeable transition when you head off road. That’s where it really seems to come into its own. It just kind of floats over the trail leaving you confident and relaxed. Also the Swiss Army knife aspect of the set up is so impressive. There are just so many options for events with a different focus. For example, on this upcoming ultra I have entered, (Gravel Tro Breizh) which will be a kind of shakedown cruise for Rusty, I’m not confident that there will be much readily available accommodation on the fly in that rural part of Brittany. To that end I’ll likely mount one of your Seido cages on one side of the fork to carry a tent.”   SEIDO: “Rusty looks to be very well suited to all types of terrain; the 29 x 2.2 inch tyres really highlight this. Do you find this tire clearance opens up new doors to the way we ride drop-bar bikes?” Jonah: “I have been riding the bike on the few trails we have here in Bermuda, and its capabilities have been eye opening. The bike feels so tight and in control on steep loose surface descents.  A few years ago I had a rough day on the Transcontinental Race where I got pretty seriously lost off route (a real skill of mine) and I found myself in the backcountry of a mountainous logging area in Bosnia for 100km or so. It was deep into the race and I was pretty mentally and physically frayed at that stage - I had to do a lot of hike a bike, even with the very capable 44mm smooth gravel tires. I would like to go back and redo that route on Rusty. I’m certain I wouldn’t need to dismount for anything other than taking in the incredible views.” SEIDO: “We love to see bikes like Rusty pushing the envelope on bike genres – have you found that people are curious about Rusty’s design?” Jonah: “I have had a lot of online feedback and questions. People wanting to know how such a wide spread of gearing is possible for example. I think it’s struck a chord with the kind of bike many other riders of mixed surface envisage. Approaching the off-road capabilities of an MTB, but with the legs to go great distances in comfort and at a relatively high speed.   Firefly bicycles are always visually striking and regularly garner attention. I work as an artist, a painter, but I consider art to be present in all aspects of life. Firefly bicycles are artistic creations. As a self employed creative, it’s important to me to spend my currency, wherever possible, supporting other small, ethical, like minded businesses. Rusty is a visual statement of that desire; from the Gramm Tourpacking bags, beautifully made by Kristin and her all-female team of artists in Berlin. I’m also currently using a swift Industries saddle bag (Zeitgeist) as I prefer the quick access from that kind of bag over a seat pack in some scenarios. The Rene Herse tires, the baby of the laterally thinking maverick, Yan Heine. The Seido fork and cargo cage from you guys. Ingrid components who were happy to sell me their visually beautiful cranks in different colours. All of these companies tick the box that makes me feel good about the incredible world of bicycling and I couldn’t be happier.” A great bike is a finely tuned collection of carefully considered and selected components, with the potential to create something with the same uniqueness and striking appeal as a well executed piece of art. It’s no mistake to say that with custom framebuilders like Firefly Bicycles and visionary clientele like Jonah Jones, the world of bicycles and cycling is at the most vibrant is has ever been, and it will continue to grow along this natural and exciting path. We kindly thank Kevin Wolfson and Jonah Jones for their enlightening insight into what makes a fantastic bicycle, and wish Jonah the best of luck with the Gravel Tro Breizh astride Rusty.   Happy riding!   SEIDO Components January, 2023 By Peter Skelton