Stumbled upon this: http://www.hartleycycles.com/camilles-demi-porkeur/

Now, it’s fucking expensive and not something I’d be entirely happy about it being left ‘locked’ outside a pub or cafe as my own usually is when on ‘adventure’ but that fork is a thing of beauty.

Not for me but I’m glad somebody did

Tenuous link, Caren Hartley's boyfriend's farther works for the removals firm I used when I moved house. When he came round to quote he saw my Bearbones jersey airing in front of the radiator and asked if I was a cyclist? before then recommending Caren for custom frames. I assume the jersey is why I got such a good deal and why they did such s good job on moving day

Not the style of bike I usually like, but that is lovely!

I follow her on instagram since my move, her bikes are really really nice with an amazing attention to detail. I'd be scared to ride one though in case I scratched it.

I like that, looks stunning!

Does make me think of GT though, so perhaps fond memories

her bikes are really really nice with an amazing attention to detail. I'd be scared to ride one though in case I scratched it

Hell yeah, very much this...

It was only when I looked at the detail photos that I got it. Mind you if I was paying £5k+ I’d be wanting amazing detail!

All the bits are hand made, she'll post up pics of a bi-laminate lug that's been made from 2 pieces of tube hand cut and filed then brazed together. The time the frames take I wouldn't think she's getting rich making them even at that price. They're real artisan items, but she does ride, and off road, so intends them to be used.

Really, I’m not having a go. Yeah, detailing like that is craft/skill/art (she trained as a jeweller I think). I’m not saying she’s overcharging. Stuff like that takes time.

And, I think I may have mentioned it, that fork (crown) really is stunning.

That's ok, I didn't think you were. Being a trained jeweler makes sense now, some of the bikes have inlayed silver details. You're right, for £5k I'd want that level of finish, but that's showing my age I guess. The nippers I know pay more than that for a plastic (carbon) enduro bike which will be out of fashion in 12 months and think that's normal bike purchasing behaviour

That chainstay?

And the fork crown is a mud trap.

It’s Camilles bike.
He lives in France.
Everybody knows that there’s no mud in France.
Get back to stw if yer gonna be a funsponge.

Camille had to sell the bike as it caused a flare up in his arthritis (I think it’s arthritis) so someone else has it now, that bike was absolutely stunning in the flesh and it was designed to be ridden around the alps carrying photography gear

1 - that is a thing of beauty (imo)
2 - her work, detailing and skills are producing pieces of art that can actually be used (imo)
3 - cheers scotroutes and metalheart, it's good to have a chuckle on a Sunday morning

I could ride that - all apart from the chainstay bridge because that would trigger my OCD

Fugly

ETTO

There are some lovely bikes on the site, but some "others" as well. I much prefer a clean road bike look to the touring sort