New British brand Fairlight Cycles launches with two steel bikes in debut range
New brand promises bikes to fit riders, thanks to 'proportional geometry' concept
A new British bike brand has launched, with Fairlight Cycles pledging to build bikes to fit the rider and unveiling two steel machines.
Based around Fairlight’s ‘proportional geometry’ concept, the debut line-up features two steel models: the Strael, which is a four-season disc-brake road bike, and the Faran, which is built with touring in mind.
All frame sizes are offered in (R)egular and (T)all versions, to account for difference in body proportions and not just height, and both models in the range have been made from Reynolds tubing.
Fairlight Cycles is a new British brand with two steel bikes in the debut range (pic: Fairlight Cycles)
The brand is a collaboration between former Genesis designer Dom Thomas and Swift Cycles’ founder Jon Reid, pairing Dom’s knowledge of steel and working relationship with Reynolds with Jon’s experience in bike fit.
And both are keen to push their mantra of “better-fitting bikes for a wider range of people”, as Dom puts it, with Jon adding: “Helping create Fairlight Cycles has been the natural next step for me, it’s a brand based on a commitment to design and making the bike fit the rider, rather than the other way around.
“Fundamentally it represents how Dom and myself feel bicycles should be, designed around the rider with faultless performance and classical aesthetics. Fit, function, form.”
The Strael is the flagship bike in their debut range and is made from Reynolds 853 tubing, paired with a full carbon fork designed and manufactured in-house.
That Fairlight Anraed Disc Carbon Tapered Steerer fork weighs in at 365g, with the steel frame claimed at sub-2kg.
Built for year-round riding, the Strael is available in four builds or as a frameset only and features eye-catching arrow decals, with the ability to fit up to 32c tyres, full-length mudguards (which drop the tyre clearance to 30c) and/or a rear rack to make it a true four-season machine.
The bike makes use of the Shimano flat mount disc brake standard and features a 68mm threaded bottom bracket for stiffness and ‘year-round, creak-free riding’.
The Strael range starts with the Strael 105 for £1,849, while the Strael Ultegra carries a £2,399 price tag.
The flagship Strael road bike is crafted from Reynolds 853 tubing (pic: Fairlight Cycles)
Further up the range comes the Strael Ultegra Di2 (£2,799) and the range is topped by the Strael Dura-Ace (£2,999). If you want your own build, the frameset will cost you £899.
Dom calls the Strael “without doubt the best road bike I have designed”, dubbing it “fast, efficient and wonderfully comfortable”.
The other bike in Fairlight’s debut range is the Faran, which is the touring option.
Reynolds 631 tubing is paired with a custom-built 4130 chromoly steel fork with 42mm of tyre clearance (35c with mudguards).
The other bike in the range is the Faran, a steel touring/adventure bike with a geometry which also lends itself to winter training (pic: Fairlight Cycles)
While the tubes are made from a lower grade of Reynolds steel, they are shaped similarly to the Strael, meaning the bike can be used for winter training or commuting too, rather than exclusively as a tourer.
Three builds are available, plus the frameset alone for £599, with the Faran Tiagra starting the range at £1,399.
Step up to the Faran 105 Hydro and it will cost you £1,599, while the Faran Ultegra Hydro is another £300 on top of that, topping the range at £1,899.
To find out more about Fairlight Cycles, their proportional geometry fit concept and the Strael and Faran bikes, visit the website at www.fairlightcycles.com
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