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Builders, Bikes and Partners

What follows is a collection of workshop photos and interviews with the independent frame builders who have built Continental team bikes. While cycling and bicycle manufacturing is overfast and obsessed with efficiency, these builders and their processes are not. In fact, it’s their individual experiences and character, and their attitudes and preferences that shape and inform their product.

About the Bikes

Our approach to building bicycles for the Rapha Continental Riders is a reflection of our environment both in terms of riding and in terms of the people, builders and brands local to the Pacific Northwest; Portland in particular. Inspired by the style of riding we’ve come to affectionately, if not with tongue-in-cheek, refer to as Gentlemen’s Racing or Epic’ing. It calls for steel and timeless classics to be lovingly, and with great deliberation, paired with lightweight nano-technology – on these bikes leather and carbon play well, ride heroically and look stunning together.

Each reliable understated bike starts with a local independent frame-builder and craftsman. For the West Coast Riders we worked with Ira Ryan, Tony Pereira, Sycip, Davidson, Signal, Rick Hunter, Lyonsport. For the East Coast Riders we went with Richard Sachs, Bilenky, Seven Cycles, Circle-A, Independent Fabrication and Igleheart. They’re custom and brimming with intention. They are hand built and designed to handle gravel descents as well as 23% perfectly paved climbs with panache and a grin.

We built them up, from the ground up. Each sponsor and part reflects the Continental ethos. Chris King wheels-sets (built up on 32 hole hubs and Mavic Open Pros) and headsets, Sram Force, FFI'ZI:K saddles, Continental Tires, FSA bars, stem and post, Reynolds carbon forks, Specialized helmets, shoes, optics, and LOOK pedals.

Continental race-not-race bikes are as nimble and sexy as they are dependable and classic, designed for year-round self-supported speed.