Lots Of New Pics

We've added lots of new pics to the website of all our bikes but mainly our Randonneur audax bike. I'll be adding some pics of the bare frame and explaining its various braze-on later on today.

Lugged Frames and 1"1/8 Steerers hmm...

Today I was asked if we can build our frames for a 1"1/8 steerer. There are lugs available i think but when I thought about this myself a while ago now I came to the conclusion that it would add weight and be ugly. In fact I can't think of any reason why we should need to do it, not yet anyway.

As long as its still possible to get 1" headsets and stems we will stick to 1". It looks more in proportion to steel tubing, its lighter and it just makes sense.

To be quite honest, if there was still an abundant supply of quill stems we wouldn't even build a-head forks, unless requested. But such is the bicycle industry that it thinks a-head is the way forward.

In fact I think Richard Sachs sums it up pretty well here

Reynolds 531 Tubing

We can now offer Reynolds 531 tubing again as Reynolds have agreed to sell single tubesets again. We will be using 531 on our standard touring frame from now on, unless the customer specifies otherwise.

New Flickr Group

I have just started a new Flickr group for Ellis-Briggs owners to upload any photos they may have. You'll find it here .

Randonneur

We have been doing very well with our Randonneur bikes for a while now but it seems a shame not to take the idea further and produce something a little more special. Over the years we have always built whatever the customer wanted (within reason) but one particular customers order has got me thinking that we should do a model above our current Randonneur.
I've also taken a lot of inspiration from American builder JP Weigle, who has built some beautiful bikes, like this Randonneur in the picture.
Anyway to cut a long story short, since I need a new bike, what could be better, than an Ellis-Briggs Randonneur Speciale?

New Road Frame

Back from the enamellers is s classic looking Ellis-Briggs International. Close clearence, 19 1/2" frame, Reynolds 631 with cast lugs. Lugs picked out in contrast with matching panels.
Head Lugs had to be altered to build a frame this small. Normally the smallest frame we build is 20 1/2" and the biggest frame we build a 25". Its dificult nowadays to build a tradional frame bigger than a 25" because of the lack of tubing, neither reynolds or columbus do a long enough seat tube anymore!
Just need to get it built up now...

New Ellis Briggs Fixed / Track Frame

Our fixed wheel frame is now here. We have settled on more road style geometry as opposed to track. It will take brakes if required. Your choice. Frame only including headset £399.99 (one standard colour) .
We have been getting asked for a fixed wheel frame, for some time now. So it was about time we got around to building one up.
Fixed bikes from the big manufacturers are great but there's nothing better than something a bit more unusual.
We have also put together a complete bike for £749.99, details of which are on our main website here.

Attention To Detail

Our stock frames all use pressed lugs. For those who don't know, there are 2 types of lugs for bicycle frames, pressed and cast. There is a misconception that pressed lugs are inferior when built into a complete frame. This is untrue. It is true that pressed lugs are not as dimensionally accurate as cast lugs and also perhaps not as aesthetically pleasing.
Cast lugs on the other hand sometimes require extra work removing unwanted material from the lug, due to the casting process.

One thing we always do on frames with pressed lugs is remove the old unsightly, hollow allen key seat cluster and replace it with a new boss. On cheaper frames this is often over looked.

First Post!

I've started this blog so that customers and enthusiast and in fact anyone who is interested at what goes on in our framebuilding department, can see why we do things the way we do and also what sets us a part from other framebuilders in the UK.
There are lots of hand built frames but there is only one Ellis-Briggs.

Paul