• How to convert an old steel frame to take modern equipment

    Convert an old steel frame to take modern equipment? I would say our customers are split 50:50 between building their renovated frames up with period components and converting them to take modern equipment but in a retro style. There is no right or wrong. Surely its better to give a neglected steel frame and new…

  • Pedaling Through Time: Balancing Heritage and Modernity in Cycling

    Explore how Ellis Briggs navigates the tension between classic cycling traditions and today’s gentrified scene, offering bespoke craftsmanship amidst rising costs. Discover a world where passion and history intersect with the modern cycling revolution.

  • Reflecting on 2024: Challenges, Lessons, and Plans for 2025

    As 2024 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on a year that has been both challenging and transformative. Running a nearly 90-year-old family business as a one-person operation has its rewards, but it also comes with immense pressures. This past year has tested my limits, but it has also reaffirmed my deep commitment…

  • San Remo Super: Our Neo-Retro Build with Heart-Shaped Lugs and Reynolds 853 Tubing

    Here at Ellis Briggs, we’ve always been passionate about the art of bicycle frame building. Recently, we’ve had the opportunity to take on a few special orders from customers who were left in the lurch when Mercian Cycles ceased trading. Today, we’re excited to share one of these unique projects—a neo-retro build that perfectly blends…

  • Beltramo “Dolza” overview and history

    A guest post by Giles Jacobs Circa 1932 As promised, here’s an account of my latest build. It was eventually imported from Italy (after over a month languishing with UK customs) and originally came from an elderly collector based in Turin, home city of its artisan frame builder Lino Beltramo. The Dolza name refers to…

  • Farewell to an Icon: Mercian Cycles Ceases Trading

    In the world of cycling, where competition drives innovation and excellence, it’s not often that we pause to reflect on the closure of a competitor. Today, however, we make an exception. After nearly 80 years of craftsmanship, innovation, and dedication to the art of bicycle frame design, Mercian Cycles has ceased trading. It’s with a…

  • Illness

    Illness

    Dear valued clients and partners, I hope this message finds you well. I want to take a moment to address the recent delays in our work and offer my sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused. Unfortunately, I’ve been suffering from illness for the past three months. However, I am starting to get…