On Schultz’s scatter diagram, the Bastion sat close to the S-Works Tarmac in terms of agility and handling, and I had to agree with that assessment in practice. And the handling is where the Bastion really shone. In general, I found the power transfer more than adequate, and I wouldn’t have opted for any more stiffness for fear of undermining the ride quality and handling characteristics. When I went for a sprint at the top end of my power output, I noticed a small degree of flex, so riders who like to pump out the watts might want to go for the ‘Extra Stiff’ option. In terms of reducing injuries and being more comfortable on your bike, and making that experience more enjoyable, that’s the best value.Also, some riders might want to upgrade the stiffness. It’s a measurement you can set on any bike from then on. “I see a lot of people riding around and I can instantly tell they’re going to end up with a back or knee injury, just based off their positioning … If you get a fitting done, it’s not specific to just that bike. Schultz thinks it’s the best entry-level customisation for a cyclist. Anyone can have any bike fitted to their needs. Then you’re placed on an adjustable bike – essentially a template – which is dialled to your exact specifications as you ride in real time. When you’re getting fitted for a Bastion design, bike fitter Stewart Morton performs a full medical evaluation, assessing flexibility and mobility. Schultz says many of Bastion’s customers have atypical proportions, for which a custom-build is the only permanent solution. With a comprehensive fitting session, Bastion can tweak the geometry of its frames to relieve some of the pressures placed on a rider by racing frame geometry. They end up on a bike, but they don’t have the flexibility of an athlete.” They’re enthusiasts – it’s their way of relaxing. That’s still more than most people, but they’re not professional athletes. “They won’t be riding 800 kilometres a week, but closer to 100 or 200 kilometres. “Most of our customers aren’t aggressive athletes,” Schultz explains. A custom bike built for a buyer in Dubai features black-gloss lugs, bright gold inlays and a specially designed triangular design on the frame tubes.īut while some of Bastion’s clients desire a bespoke bike replete with luxe finishings and a one-off paint job, the majority just want their custom-fitted bike for a better ride. The rider’s choice of components and custom finishing requests, such as specialised paint jobs, can nearly double that price tag. Bastion’s base frame design costs just under $10,000, which is a competitive price in its field. Sleek and NASA-esque, these bikes are an exemplar of clean design. “We were the first ones to have it fully tested, validated and on the market.”Īnd they’re beautiful. “We developed the first commercially available 3D-printed bike in the world,” Schultz says proudly. We’re now using the same technology used in Formula 1 and high-end supercars,” Schultz tells Broadsheet. We get to play with all the technologies we are super excited about, but just weren’t an option on a mass-produced Toyota. “Bastion was really our opportunity to explore both our passion for bikes and advanced engineering. They took the opportunity to apply their design savvy to cycling. This engineering trio worked together at Toyota’s Melbourne office, designing cars, until being made redundant. Their Kensington headquarters feel more like SpaceX’s research and development lab than a bicycle workshop. And it’s precisely this clientele who buy Bastion Cycles’s custom-built bicycles.īastion Cycles was founded by three avid cyclists: Benjamin Schultz, James Woolcock and Dean McGeary. It’s the latest arena for gear-junkies with expendable incomes. There’s even a popular adage: cycling is the new golf. The most recent census data suggests over three million Australians ride their bike weekly. Whether you’re commuting to work, striving for a softer carbon footprint or training for the Ironman, cycling can quickly become an integral part of your life.
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