There are a lot of cool bikes out there, and during my week of ‘work related’ internet surfing some of them leave a lasting impression on me. There some great websites dedicated to sharing them – my intention isn’t to add to these sites but rather to each week share a bike which inspires me.
First up is this lovely Hampsten. The company is run by a guy named Steve Hampsten who also runs an olive oil press, and organizes tours around Tuscany where you can ride your bike with his brother Andy (apparently he won some race in this area a few years ago?) by day and eat fantastic Italian food by night. Hampsten Cycles started by out-sourcing the frame building to high-end American companies such as Moots, IF, and Parlee, but overtime Steve has brought all of the framebuilding experience in-house by hiring talented builders. They’re based in Seattle, Washington, USA and each frame is made to order, by hand.
Hampsten’s have a habit of looking incredibly well proportioned and this green machine is no different. I love the colour-matched Wound Up fork with it’s silver crown, and the small asymmetric strip of crema on the left leg. Even the mashup of Campag, SRAM and Shimano parts doesn’t detract from the clean lines of this dirt-road bike.
I built a pair of tubulars a few weeks ago which are destined for a MAX-tubed Hampsten in Auckland…hopefully next time I’m up that way the bike will be finished and I’ll be able to admire one in the flesh and take it for a quick lap of the block. Until then these pictures will have to do.
