Happy new year, we are back in the workshop. New build by Andrew a #roadbike built at home.

New year, new build. Andrew kicked off the riding season with a proper road bike built at home from our kit.

The setting screams Australia — eucalyptus trees, dry grass turning gold, that particular quality of antipodean light. Somewhere around Melbourne or Adelaide, perhaps, where the cycling scene is strong and the roads are made for long rides.

Shimano 105 on the drivetrain is the smart choice for a road build. Reliable, serviceable anywhere in the world, and performs way above its price point. The groupset has been the workhorse of club cyclists for decades.

The frame itself shows clean execution. Those brown lugs have a speckled, almost cork-like texture that pairs well with the golden bamboo tubes. The proportions look right — proper road geometry with a comfortable but efficient position.

Building a road bike at home requires precision. The demands are higher than a casual cruiser: everything needs to be aligned, the contact points need to be exactly right, the frame needs to handle speed and distance. Andrew clearly got it right.

That post leaning in the background looks like a local park or trail head — a starting point for rides into the Australian countryside. Happy new year indeed. 🇦🇺