Lester Cycles Allroad

I could never get behind the whole Amsterdam v. Rotterdam, Feyenoord v. Ajax thing. I mean, I'm not really into basketball anyway... But putting sport aside, and leaving airports out of it, Lester can really build bikes. And more importantly, Lester can work your dreams in steel and make a bike that fits exactly how you want it to.

I talk about "custom" a lot here, and what custom means to me, and honestly I have a pretty low standard. Some custom wheels, swap your saddle, and put on some bling tubeless valves? Yeah, that's custom for sure. But nonetheless we all have those sorcerers of flame and brass in the back of our minds. Those seemingly medieval metalsmiths melting molten brass, shrouded in smoke and dunking the still warm frame into a tub of water. Now that, is truly custom.

I'm thrilled to be building up Lester frames from this point forward, as an option for his clients. By working together, I can help translate a client's wishes into technical language when needed, and when it's all done, and the builder has worked their magic, I can then work mine. I can take the frame and make sure it's done proper justice by mounting and tuning the setup to its maximum potential with the components to match the adventure.

Working locally, supporting other builders and makers is still one of my most important ideas, and I am proud to support Lester as he supports me. And I'm f-ing jealous of this bike. I mean, wouldja look at it!?

PS, don't worry, I know that Feyenoord and Ajax aren't basketball teams. But seriously, who even watches cricket...?!

Lester Cycles Allroad

Man, I've built some bikes in my days, but few have required the amount of concentration and work this bike did. I hand polished a number of details to make this bike into a new-retro masterpiece.

The frame is of course from the torch of Lester in Amsterdam so I figured photographing the complete bike with a nearby Rotterdam Noord icon only made sense. Kidding of course, it was because it was sunny and this bike deserves to be photographed in the sunlight.

I'm not sure if there's much to explain here, I mean, did you look at the photos? But I guess I could tell you about the beautiful hand polished rims from Velocity, and the dynamo setup that took me way too long to wire up. And that yes, although not ideal, this lamp can be used upside down (because I know you were going to ask that! 😘). Or maybe you're stoked about super-futuristic robo-shifting on a bike that looks like it could be from the 70's but performs like a new Bentley... Yeah, me too.

Open U.P.P.E.R.

Some bikes don't require an introduction. Some bikes are part of a group of bikes that define a category. I reckon this is one of them.

We all know ENVE, and that no coincidence. Although there are a number of smaller companies giving them a run for their money, it's not for nothin' their name brings up that feeling you had when looking at these photos. They are truly one of the greats and a pleasure to work with. Throw on top of that the Open UPPER, well, you've got Unicorn Status as far as I'm concerned.

This bike is ready to get dirty, even of it's polished exterior says otherwise. With the SRAM AXS Mullet drivetrain and v.fancy René Herse tires, this thing is probably more ready than you think you are. Just make sure to clean it when your done 🖤