Paola's Rachel
Paola recently went on pilgrimage to the greatest bike shops of Japan, came back with the nicest assortment of parts, and said “build me a bike!” We obliged, and with this Monet-blue Rachel frame as the foundation, everything came together into the loveliest custom we’ve seen in a minute. With highlights from Crumbworks (KT bar!), Magic Components (ELBO stem!), Blue Lug (YMC Crank!), and Sim Works (Honjo fenders! Nissen housing! John Cage!), it’s just perfect. Photos by Troy!
Van's Rachel
Van's had a couple bikes built by us, each one more tasteful than the last. His brand new brown Rachel, that he realized he needed after he couldn't stop borrowing his partner's blue one, is a nice mix of parts pulled off his BMX-y Hog and some new bits, all in keeping with the comfy, good looking, and practical vibes. Here's what Van has to say about it: Here's my everyday plus bike built with comfort and utility in mind. Being able to size up without standover issues is a game changer for me. But I never anticipated how at home I'd feel on a bike that's two whole sizes up (thanks Julian!). The combo of up sized frame & wheels is a totally different vibe for me. With 2.0 tires it feels like I'm rolling on a big cushy rover. The versatility is so fun; it rips! The sturdy Obento/basket is so practical and feels right at home with the vibe and the Shutter Precision dynamo and IQ-XS light add even more utility without being too over the top. The cockpit came together pretty naturally; 100% satisfied with my Bubbly pedals and B17 which I carried over from my last build. And quill stem meant I finally had a bike that could work with the comfy KT Bar! I had invested in some fancier White Industries and Paul parts that I knew I'd love for the rest of my life and I couldn't wait to see them on this Rachel. I love the way this build came together. It feels like a serious bike that's just a little more practical and down to earth. I feel just as comfortable on long rides and the occasional mini tour as I do going for groceries and hauling my toddler to the pool. Build Spec Bassi Rachel Frame, 55cm, Fondue FSA Duron Headset White Industries G30 Crankset Velocity Atlas Rims Shimano Tiagra Rear Hub Shutter Precision Front Hub Continental Race King Tires, 29x2.0" SRAM Apex Drivetrain Paul Love Levers Shimano T610 V-Brakes Nitto Technomic Stem Crumbworks x Nitto KT Bar ODI BMX Grips Sim Works Froggy Seatpost Brooks B17 Saddle B&M IQ-XS Light Paul Skewers Widefoot Litercage Sim Works Obento Rack Wald 137 Basket Sim Works Bubbly Pedals Photos by Troy
A Touring Rachel
We've observed several customers opting for the Rachel with drop bars since we first started producing it in 2017, and it's something we genuinely appreciate. It’s something that needs to be planned carefully, because we make the Rachel frame quite long in the front so that it’s comfortable with swept-back handlebars. That means a shorter and higher stack stem is needed to shorten the reach when using drop handlebars. In building this one, we drew inspiration from the type of riding we enjoy most: long all-day rides over different terrains, where you could be rolling over five different kinds of roads in the space of a couple of hours. The gearing is wide, the brakes are powerful, the cockpit is comfortable, and the tires are knobby. We were pleased by how nimble yet easy and pleasant the steering is with this short-but-tall stem and the very best drop bars, Nitto’s Noodle Mod.177. The brake levers are a new model from Dia-Compe, and are special in that they’re long-pull levers, meaning you can use drop bars with standard V-brakes. We’ll definitely be using these levers in the future since they feel and look fantastic. The front dynamo wheel with standby rim, the Sun Ringlé CR18, is also the first wheel our own Emiliano ever built! He did amazing, go Emiliano! Oh also this bike is for sale right here! Parts list: Frame: Bassi Rachel 51cm FondueHeadset: Tange CDS blackSeatpost: Bassi 27.2 Silver Saddle: Brooks C17 GreenStem: Nitto Technomic NTC 50mm x 225mmHandlebar: Nitto Noodle 46cmBar tape: Fizik 2mm TempoDrivetrain: Microshift XCD 11-speed paired with Microshift bar end shifterCassette: Microshift 11-46tCrankset: Bassi narrow-wide Low 38tWheels: Rear CR18 paired to Shimano hub, front CR18 handbuilt with Shutter Precision PD-8 dynamo hub.Tires: Continental Race King 26 x 2.0”Brakes: Shimano Alivio T4000 V-BrakesBrake levers: Dia-Compe 287VPedals (sold separately): MKS Allways
Lilah's Beautiful Rachel
Ever since I took a spin on a borrowed single speed Rachel about four years ago, from the dark blue/mustard yellow batch, I was enamoured. My old Specialized Hardrock was starting to make squeaks, creaks and cracks that were becoming difficult to stand, and the Rachel seemed like a perfect candidate for a do-it-all replacement - but the colour had to be just right. When Julian was flipping through the paint sample catalogue for inspiration, I took a chance and casually pointed out two or three I liked. Three months later, the pearlescent blue with sparkly green highlights landed and I wasn’t disappointed. For the build, the most difficult choice was between the similar but different Rivendell Wavy and Sim Works Getaround. Once I finally decided on the Wavy (thanks Sam!), the rest came naturally. I knew what I wanted: a lightweight and fun bike, mostly silver parts with a spattering of black here and there, a dynamo setup because I always forget to charge my lights, a lil’ basket for an eventual lil’ doggo on a very solid Memento Ant rack, and Soma Shikoro tires inspired by JD’s lovely yellow Rachel, as wide as possible while keeping space for fenders. Unable to choose between black and silver fenders, I opted for the wet streak up my back (still taking votes for black vs. silver). To top it off, I chose a bell based on its sound, the cutesy matte gold Crane E-NE, and the Tarugata grips, one of my favourite parts on the bike. Since it’s been captured by Troy, I’ve also added a Velo Orange Retro Cage and a basket bag from friend Gurp. After a few months of riding, I can without a doubt call it my ideal bike. The only downside is that everyone around you will want one and you’ll end up in a sea of beautiful Rachels (Julian since copycatted and got a brown one). Build Breakdown: Rachel frameset, Monet, 55cm Bassi double crankset silver Nitto Wavie handlebar Taraguta creme rubber grips Rivendell thumbies shift levers Velo Orange Grand Cru brake levers silver Brooks B17 short saddle Memento fourmi front rack Soma shikoro 700 x 42C tires Shutter Precision PD-8 silver Dynamo Hub CR18 Polished 700C Rims MKS XC-III Bear Trap pedals silver Photos by Troy
Lorenzo's Rachel
Around the end of the summer, Lorenzo came into the store looking for a gem of a bicycle. After a quick discussion, we learnt that this bike wouldn’t only be used for simple commutes, but also to distribute a tasty treat throughout the city. The treat: homemade gelato made by Lorenzo himself. We therefore felt the need to build a comfortable and solid bicycle so that Lorenzo could deliver his Gelato al Ladro (@gelato.al.ladro) with ease. We introduced him to our Bassi Rachel, an elegant, versatile bike that is above all easy to mount thanks to the lowered top tube. A useful asset when the time comes to get on a bike loaded with gelato! In short, it was a perfect match that Lorenzo couldn't resist, in the same way we couldn’t resist his delicious frozen creations. When warmer months come, don’t hesitate to hit up Lorenzo for a delicious, Bassi-delivered snack! Photos by @jochhoo