Kinoko Cycles
It’s been a while since I’d been down to Soho to see what’s in store at the Kinoko bike shop so I was especially intrigued to see what they had on display. Their Instagram account had hinted on some rather spectacular Japanese works that had the potential to be at the – one of them being a custom built Cherubim with fillet brazing to die for, a real stunning piece to open the show with!
Along side the Cherubim there was Independant Fabrications and a stunning Nagasawa Pista build. I was a little disappointed to see none of their Tokyo Fixed piece on show but my only assumption was that there currently being revamped or even phased out. None the less the stand didn’t disappoint by no means!
14 Bike Co
The 14R on show took me by surprise, almost presented as a bit of a feature piece the 14R was built with 953 Reynolds tubing (usually 853), Rotor 3D cranks, Royce hubs and Pro Carbon stem/bars. In the past the 14R just didn’t interest me, the drop outs in my opinion look bulky and clumsy… This build has totally made me reconsider my original opinion though – This bike immediately looks fast and fun!
Grim Cycles
I managed to catch up with Rollo & Toby for the first time since I first heard about Grim Cycles, or rather Grim Bags as they were first known. Having followed Grim Cycles on instagram these guys have come a long way in the last year or two! Having just moved to a bigger premises in York Rollo said business was going really well and the majority of orders seem to be for fillet brazed rather then any lug work which he wasn’t complaining about!
The above, Rollo’s own build, fillet brazed with a combination of Columbus Zona tubing a beautiful wishbone just to finish it off. I’d seen the cyclo cross bike with Reynolds 631 tubing at the Yorkshire Bicycle Show last year but only online, seeing it in the flesh just added to the lust!
A combination of stunning craftsmanship combined with accurate and well executed paint jobs, I can see Grim Cycles going from strength to Strength and I personally will keeping a close eye on upcoming projects!