Bespoked is a public showcase of custom bicycles based in Bristol. It features framebuilders from around the world, and seeks to promote the art of building bicycles by hand.
Contents
History
The creators and directors, Phil and Tessa Taylor, originate from a frame building and event organising background, having previously organised the Brighton Art Fair.
Bespoked held the country’s first bespoke bicycle show at the Bristol Paintworks in June 2011. 40 exhibitors including names such as Condor Cycles, Brian Rourke Cycles and Enigma Titanium were represented, as well as newcomers like Feather cycles from Leeds and Donhou from Norwich.
Awards
The award winners were as follows:
2011
2012
In 2012 the show moved to a bigger venue at Brunel's Old Station, located in the historic railway terminus building of the Great Western Railway next to Bristol's Temple Meads railway station. 78 exhibitors displayed all types of bike in a range of materials from carbon to wood. UK framebuilders were joined by overseas counterparts and a ‘New Builder’ area was launched. This show also saw the launch of Rapha’s UK Continental, featuring six UK framebuilders. Four of these bikes were on display at the show. The 2012 award winners were:
2013
Bespoked Bristol 2013 took place in the same venue the weekend of 12 – 14 April. Over 6000 people attended to see the bicycles and talk to makers from around the world. Shinichi Konno of Cherubim from Japan, Marco Bertoletti of Legend from Italy, Eric Estlund of Winter Bicycles and Paul Price of Paul Components from the USA joined the UK framebuilders. The 2013 award winners were:
The event's success represents the resurgence of interest in handmade bikes in the UK.
2014
Bespoked 2014 moved to a new venue at the Lee Valley Velopark - home of the track cycling, BMX and Paralympic track cycling during the London 2012 Olympic games. Over 120 exhibitors attended representing a broad cross-section of the handmade bicycle industry including international builders from the USA, Czech Republic, Australia, the Netherlands and France.
The 2014 award winners were:
Best In Show - Saffron Frameworks
Best Road Bicycle - Baum (Prestige Cycles)
Best Off Road Bicycle - Titchmarsh Cycles
Best Touring/Randonneur - Sven Cycles
Best Track Bicycle - Winter Bicycles
Best New Frame Builder - Swarf Cycles
Best Utility Bicycle - Donhou Bicycles
Steve Worland Innovation Award - Talbot Frameworks
Spirit of Cycling - Moss Bikes
Best Alternative Material (non-steel) - Woodelo
Public Vote – Woodelo
2015
Next year's show will return to Bristol in April 2015, and is currently in the planning stages.