Since settling into our Spitalfields store we’ve set about making new friends and finding local brands who share our values. What we found was a small community of frame builders, each offering their own bespoke experience, all sharing our love for cycling. We went and met a few of them in their workshops and asked a couple of questions.
Inspired by some of the most demanding endurance cycling events in the world, each Quirk bike is built and designed with a purpose. Whether it’s the TCR or the Silk Road Mountain Race, Quirk work closely with each customer to ensure it suits their needs to perfection.
What were you doing before you started frame building and what led you to it?
My background was quite varied but initially I trained in Fine Art and moved to London to pursue my practice. Eventually this led me to setting on the path of Research Architecture at Goldsmiths. In the end though I didn’t continue with my studies and found I needed to work with my hands. Bicycle design had always been a passion that was growing so I threw myself into that and this is where we find me now.
What is the strangest request you’ve received from a customer regarding their new frame?
There’s been many over the years but probably the weirdest was a request to make a recumbent out of bamboo with a dog carrier. I politely pointed out that maybe this wasn’t my area of expertise.
What do you think will be the next major innovation for road bikes and is there anything you’d like to see become the norm in the future for cycling?
In terms of manufacture I think 3D printing will eventually replace machined parts as the cost of production comes down. This is why I’m developing my own 3D parts which can be seen on the bike I’m showing at Café du Cycliste.
What was your favourite ride of 2018 and which rides are you most looking forward to/dreaming of this year?
Without a doubt Silk Road Mountain Race was the highlight of 2018 for me even though the race did not go to plan. This is the nature of bike packing events but I still got todo a lot of riding in Kyrgyzstan regardless. For 2019 it’s going to be GBDURO, a 2000km gravel race from Lands’ End to John o’ Groats, that one will be fun.
If you could build frames for a cycling team past or present, road or otherwise, who would it be?
That’s a good question. I think now it’d be awesome to make a frame for Lachlan Morton, I like his approach to the sport and the fact that he’s racing Ultra events and gravel, I’m sure he’d appreciate a custom gravel whip!