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Meet the Expert: Matt Mears
You might remember Temple Cycles as a pop-up shop and workshop on St Nicholas Street in the Old City. They have now moved to Filwood Green Business Park, where customers are still encouraged to pop in for a cup of tea and then ride away with a new bicycle.
“We believe that too many people are riding around on the wrong type of bike, and get caught up with the hype for the most modern, sporty-looking bikes with big, ugly graphics and frame designs that aren’t actually that practical,” says founder and designer Matt Mears.
“We are trying to push a more continental approach to cycling and produce well designed, lightweight but also versatile bicycles with a timeless design.”
is needed now More than ever
A Temple Cycles bike is designed to be practical. Frames can be built into a lightweight and simple single speed bike for urban riding, but maintain all the features required to upgrade to have gears, fatter tyres, mudguards and pannier racks in case you need to take it on a touring adventure.
Matt also loves to try out new ideas, and is always creating interesting custom bikes such as vintage style path racers, or elegant ladies town bikes kitted out with bamboo mudguards and Brooks saddles.
“Until the early 1980s, Britain produced hundreds of thousands of bikes per year. Our plan is to up production and put Bristol on the map for bicycle making,” Matt says.
Matt admits that his company cannot compete with cheap bikes made overseas, so he makes bikes between £500 to £1,000, focusing on high quality, good design and stylish touches.
These stylish touches include such luxuries as handmade bells, a clock or thermometer built into a frame, or even a leather wine bottle holder – who hasn’t felt the need when returning with a Rioja to hang the bottle on your bike with antique brass fasteners to transport it safely back home or to the garden party?
“We want our bikes to stand the test of time and last for years to come. We need to convey the message to people that a bicycle is a highly personal item and something that you should invest in and look after.’
“Another aim is to get more people on bikes. The physical act of cycling is great, but there is so much more to be enthralled by. Customising your bike, learning to maintain it, and caring about the aesthetic values of it. This is where we come in.”
For more information, visit www.templecycles.co.uk or telephone 0117 403 2314.
Photos by Fiona Burgess
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