Less than three weeks remain until the opening of Bespoked Bristol, the UK’s handmade bike show, on Friday March 23.
Some 2,500 people visited the inaugural show last year and organiser Phil Taylor is hoping for an even greater turn out at this year’s event, which will be held at Brunel’s Old Station.
Exhibitors will include new and established frame builders; craftsmen from the UK and overseas, including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the USA.
Italy’s Pegoretti, Cinelli, and Zullo, America’s Crisp, Independent Fabrication, Winter Bicycles, Moots and Waterford, and the UK’s own Rourke, Roberts, Mercian, Mather, Condor and Argos, will all be represented. New young builders including Donhou, Feather, Demon and Ted James.
The opening night will feature roller racing from 5pm to 7.45pm, followed by an awards ceremony for ‘best in show’, and categories including best road and best track bicycle.
On Saturday March 24, Ricky Feather of Feather Cycles will hold a Q&A with visitors interested in becoming a frame builder from 10.15am to 11am. From 4pm, Keith Noronha of Reynolds will debate the concept a ‘best’ material for building frames.
The show’s closing day, Sunday March 25, is supported by Rouleur magazine. Steven Shand of Shand Cycles will discuss frame building in the UK from 10am, and will be followed at 10.45am by Eric Estlund of Winter Bicycles who will discuss frame building in America.
At 3.30pm, a discussion will be held on componentry, before the winner of the public vote award is announced at 4.30pm.
The show opens between 5pm and 8pm on Friday March 23, from 9.30am to 6pm on Saturday March 24, and from 9.30am to 5pm on Sunday March 25.
Standard entry costs £7.50, or £12.50 for a three-day weekend pass. To buy tickets online in advance subject to a £1.50 booking fee visit www.bespokedbristol.co.uk . Tickets will also be available on the door.
Look Mum No Hands will host a ‘pop up’ café.
