Our Readers’ Rides segment inspires people from all over the world to submit their well-loved machines. Giles from Belgium sent in his self-built 27.5 rigid MTB for this week’s feature!
My name is Gilles, and I’d like to submit my self-built 27.5 single-speed MTB. I’m a Belgian/Malagasy wheelbuilder and bike mechanic under the name Karma Wheels. I was one of the 3 co-founders of La Cyclerie in Liège, Belgium, in 2016, and I also work in Brussels at CyCLO, where we refurbish discarded bikes.
During those years, I had the opportunity to practice framebuilding with La Cyclerie co-founder Thomas, aka Cycles Rouge Gorge, and also with local friend and frame builder Nicolas Noblet from Noble Cycles. Later on, I also took courses in Berlin with Konstantin from Drust Cycles, and in Madrid at ETB, which I would both recommend!
This 27.5 singlespeed MTB was made out of a mix of NOS Tange Ultimate Superlight and Prestige tubing that Ceeway still had in stock; chain stays are made of Dedacciai tubing, 4130 was used for the seat stays and the stem (that has a Paragon Machine Works plate), plus some laser or hand-cut steel parts were used for disc mounts and dropouts. The geometry is based on a relatively short front end regarding actual MTB geo trends, and also with a high-ish bottom bracket height; this keeps the ride snappy and fun while giving a more upright position for daily errands and commuting.
As we usually do at La Cyclerie, the build is a mix of second-hand (White industries crankset, Deore XT brakes, Hope and Sun Ringlé Hubs, Ritchey and 3T carbon seatpost and bars, etc) and new stuff for the main wear parts (Stan Crest Rims, Hoshi brass nipples, Sapim Race Spokes, Maxxis Ardent tyres, Stridsland chainring).
The finishing kit is made of custom bags, also made in Liège by our colleague Chloé from C.Pouki. These were made from recycled tent fabric with the famous Strichtarn rain camo. The smiley patch was made by Ultra Boys graffiti crew. Most of the pictures were shot in the Fagnes, my favourite semi-local area for cycling off-road. It is a natural reserve that crosses Belgian and German borders, and that has an endemic flora and a very eerie atmosphere that changes at every season.
Thanks for the inspiration through the years!
Regards,
Gilles
Build Spec:
- Frame, fork & stem: Karma Wheels, made with Tange Ultimate Super Light & Prestige tubing, Dedacciai, 4130
- Crankset: White Industries by Sugino
- Chainring: Stridsland
- Wheelset
- Rims: Stan Crest
- Hubs: Hope Pro 2, Sun Ringlé Dirty Flea
- Spokes: Sapim Race
- Nipples: Hoshi x Sim Works
- Handlebars: 3t
- Seatpost: Ritchey
- Saddle: Flite
- Pedals: Veloci
- Panniers: C. Pouki
We’d like to thank all of you who submitted Readers Rides builds to be shared here at The Radavist. The response has been incredible and we have so many to share over the next few months. Feel free to submit your bike, listing details, components, and other information. You can also include a portrait of yourself with your bike and your Instagram account! Please, shoot landscape-orientation photos, not portrait. Thanks!