Closed: Tuesday 27 October through Sunday 1 November. Please note: the workshop is from now on also closed on Thursdays.
Cords Cycles · Sourced & built in Rotterdam
Old steel MTB frames have a ride dynamic you won't find in modern aluminum city bikes. We source them, restore them, and build them with the same precision as our road bikes, but with the gear and locks Rotterdam demands.
From €950 · usually €1,450 - €2,400
The process
Five steps, personally tailored. Thomas will contact you after the first talk to discuss frame, groupset and equipment.
Thomas sources about 20 to 30 vintage steel MTB frames every year from the '80s and '90s: Koga, Batavus Stratos, Gazelle Tour de l'Europe, Marin, Specialized Stumpjumper and Italian rarities. Together you choose the frame that fits your height, color and character.
The frame is stripped, checked for cracks and alignment, and powder coated or polished where needed. Bottom bracket, headset and rear dropouts are machine straightened: the same standard we apply to a Basso.
We build with a modern 1x11 or 1x12 Shimano or SRAM group, hydraulic disc brakes where the frame allows, and hand built wheels on DT Swiss or H Plus Son rims with Schwalbe Big Apple or G-One Allround tires.
A pizza rack from Wald or Soma up front, SKS or Velo Orange fenders, and a Shimano or SON hub dynamo with Busch + Müller lighting. Ready for rain, darkness and groceries.
Unlike a road bike, this bike gets locked up outside. As standard we choose an ABUS Granit X-Plus 540 U-lock plus an ABUS Bordo Granit XPlus 6500 folding lock: both ART**** certified. On request an AXA frame lock for quick stops.
Recently built
Below a recent build on a blue-speckled steel frame, with front pizza rack, rear rack, dynamo and gravel tires. Click a photo to zoom in.
Book a talk with Thomas. We'll see which frame from the stock fits you, and then put together the complete build.