Jurgen Kuipers “Sawyer”

I was pleased to see that Jurgen Kuipers went organic in the creation of his new custom bike.  The use of wood as a structural element gives this custom machine an aura of warmth and character.  The frame of “Sawyer” looks like the silhouette of a sitting cheetah - ready to pounce at a moments notice.  Wood is the only element that can give a bike the feeling of being alive, something that steel and rubber alone cannot do.

The choice of frame design (as well as the placement of key components) shows respect to performance and the rider’s needs.  I was drawn to the fact that the neck rake is not conservative, as it so easily could have been. The fork geometry - although subtle - ensures that the bike is visually non-traditional, and is concerned as much about aesthetics as it is about technical norms.

The seat and handlebars fit tight to the body of the bike. The handlebar stem pushes the classic riser handlebars forward - for ideal function and looks.  The seat has a black and white pattern which matches the grip area and the tires, helping to subtly unify the bikes overall stance. The color of the rims also fits in nicely with the overall warmth of the bikes appearance; no individual component is out of place here - everything works in favour of visual equilibrium.

The challenge of using non-traditional materials was well worth the effort in this case. Jurgen has introduced a bike that will be a standout wherever it appears.  Introverts should not own a bike like this, because you are going to attract a lot of attention whenever you take it to the streets.