Building a bicycle frame, to fit the owner like a handmade suit, is a dying craft. Post-war,
British builders were part of a golden age of handmade frame manufacture - some of
these builders’ frames are still highly sought after and cherished by cyclists today. As a
keen lifelong cyclist, my intention with this project was to show some of the processes
and skill needed to create a bespoke bicycle frame not seen on a modern mass
production line.
Early bicycles were made by blacksmiths in village forges, and there are still similarities
between the past and present day workshop, from the heat of brazing to the tools. This
sequence of photographs records the manufacturing process; as tubes are cut and
joined, the frame’s form gradually becomes recognisable.
The photographs were taken over several visits as unique frames were created.
