A SHORT HISTORY

My dad has been a keen road cyclist all his life. A bike built around a lugged road frame, that he built for himself in 1981, lived in the garage at our home in Blackburn, Lancashire. The frame was a source of wonder my entire childhood, and I would often try to fathom how someone could fabricate such a thing with one’s own hands.

As I grew older, I also physically grew to be able to ride the bike, and after having refurbished it myself, it even served as my commuter. As the years and different bikes ticked by, my dad’s old steel road frame aided my understanding of the power of steel, and regardless of its “gas pipe” tubing, the 20mm tyres and tight six-speed freewheel block, the “Helton,” as it is known, still remains to be one of the comfiest and most enjoyable bikes I’ve ridden.

These days, I live in Salford, Greater Manchester. I have spent every spare penny I’ve earned from working two jobs to build myself a small frame building workshop. Every leftover minute I can muster is used to develop my designs and hone my skills as a frame builder. My aim is to create work that performs well, is practical, and has a unique but tasteful style. In a world where there are so many bikes that look the same, to try to do something different with the medium I have is very important.