Claire rode hers daily for five years — then came back for a repaint

Some bikes get measured in races won. This one gets measured in mornings.

What happened

Claire built her bamboo bike with us and then did the most ordinary, most demanding thing you can do with a bicycle: she rode it. Every day. As a London commuter. For about five years.

What we did

When she came back, it wasn't because anything had gone wrong. She dropped in for a repaint and to fit some new panniers — a refresh for a frame that was still going strong, and a bit more carrying space for the daily run.

Why it matters

The honest durability story isn't a lab number. It's a rider who, after five years of daily city miles, returns to tidy up the paint and add panniers rather than replace the bike. A frame people choose to keep and upgrade, not throw away, is the point.

In Claire's words

"Claire's been riding her bike for 5 years everyday as a London commuter — she dropped in for a repaint and to fit some new panniers."

Build your own

• Frame build kits
• Frame-building workshops