Quirk Cycles
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What goes into making the best custom bikes
“We’re not trying to make the most bikes, we’re trying to make the best bikes. ”
Quirk Works
Inspired by some of the most demanding endurance cycling events in the world, each of Quirk's bikes is built with a purpose and it’s that purpose which drives our design process.
They test their bikes in unforgiving events like the Silk Road Mountain Race and the Transcontinental Race, so that they can continue to develop and improve our designs based on real-world demands. Using these experiences they work closely with their customers and build the best bikes for the job. Whether that’s riding along forgotten gravel roads, climbing cols in the Italian Alps or racing ultra-endurance events across the world, they can always say Quirk Works.
It’s all about balance…
“Each frame is made by hand, one at a time. ”
What makes the difference between a good bike and an awesome bike? The balance. When they sit down to design a Quirk bike, balance is at the forefront of their minds. But why is this so important?
Remember when you started learning to ride a bike? The anticipation and nerves, the butterflies in your stomach, the quest not only to find balance but to achieve it without needing to think about it? That life-changing moment when the ‘thinking’ just became the ‘doing’ is the feeling Quirk Cycles aim to capture with every bike they make – the biggest factor in achieving that feeling is balance and to achieve balance one must start with fit.
People sometimes talk about bike fit like they’re getting measured up for a bespoke suit, but it is not so much about unique measurements. Instead we should think of it as finding the perfect distribution of rider weight. A bike that does not place the rider in the right position feels bad to ride. It fights with the rider rather than working with them. Handling is not just about frame angles and trail; a bike that handles well is one that is balanced with the rider’s weight in the right place.
Italian Columbus Steel
They strive to use the best materials available and for this reason, they use Columbus steel tubes. Having spent decades in the cycle industry, Columbus have developed some of the most advanced steel alloys available. Using their own unique drawing processes, all Columbus tubes are made seamlessly via cold-drawn methods. Not only does this guarantee the strongest possible tubes with no seams to weaken, but it also ensures a consistent molecular grain structure to the steel improving the tubes' weldability and strength.
Award Winning
At Quirk, they work hard and the reward is seeing their frames perform for dedicated riders all over the world, and when that work is awarded, it's all the sweeter. In the past they have been lucky enough to pick up awards at Bespoked, the UK Handbuilt Bicycle Show. These include “The Technical Excellence Award”, "Outstanding New Framebuilder", "Outstanding Design Award", and "The Brooks Choice."
