GOBLIN BIKES is a French brand that design light and playful sportive bikes whatever they are Road - Gravel bikes or even MTB. All the frame are unique piece made to measure to fit to your body and your needs...whatever you are a tall or a small rider. The name GOBLIN comes from the nickname given to its owner in relatives to its size, but it also define the small and legendary creature : the brand is, by experience, skilled in designing complete bikes for small riders.
Yves MICHEL is presenting us his freshly welded GOBLIN BIKES machine made to his measures and handcrafted in France. It is a sportive and light machine made of TANGE Prestige Japan steel tubes (Double butted Heat Threated) and GOBLIN BIKES has really adapted the length, diameter and the thickness of each tube to the morphology of Yves.
Why is that so important ? Yves is a small bike rider and even if GOBLIN BIKES designs bikes to measure whatever your morphology is, the brand is specialized in building small frames. By using thin and small diameter Tange Prestige Japan steel tubes, GOBLIN BIKES intend to neutralize the small size by designing a really light and reactive machine.
Of course if you are tall or strong bike rider, then his build is different with larger and thicker tubes.....let s say that with GOBLIN BIKES each morphology as its matching set of tubes...
Maybe if you already know the philosophy of the brand, some small details differs from generally what a GOBLIN BIKES is...
First of all, the GBSP02 is using Cantilever brakes while GOBLIN BIKES are usually set-up with disc brakes. This is a personal request from Yves, feeling that cantilever are powerful enough for its way of riding. Then...the frame is welded by fillet brazing instead of TIG... Due to matter of time, the frame as not been build by MILC, but Julie Racing Design that only works by fillet brazing.
Those several details make this GBSP02 from Yves an even more unique GOBLIN BIKES.
About the geometry, the frame is a 410mm (axle-axle) for an effective 520mm top tube. The head tube angle is 72 degrees (45mm offset) for a reactive but not too fast steering...let's say predictive that perfectly fit if you plan to ride with a small travelling bag at the front. Chainstays are short -410mm- for quick accelerations.
I have asked Yves several questions about his bikes...let's read about it :
Yves, who are you ?
Yves, 44 years old, i am a journalist - photographer and i also work in media for a city of 45000 inhabitants in the south east of France.
What cyclist are you ?
2 rides between may and October (40km then a club ride of 80km) and i take parts to some events in my department with members of my Cycling Touring Club.
Why a steel road bike when all major bikes brand go mostly for Carbon frame ?
I have always been interested by steel and also titanium. Steel has a lot of good point in terms of performance on the road and also has the main advantage to be easily cut and welded to measure....well flexible to work with and allowing me to have a bespoke road bike.
GOBLIN BIKES are beautiful and rare bikes....how did learned the existence of the brand ?
I ve always keep an eyes on the road bike market, handcrafters and on all different French and European bikes manufacturers. Steel is back in force from now several years and it come to GOBLIN BIKES by searching on the Internet. I try to keep me update about technical news et what are doing / working on French, European brand - handcrafter like in Italy and United Kingdom where steel and titanium bikes are sold at a higher percentage.
What do you like about GOBLIN BIKES ?
I have been seduced by the way he is thinking bikes : a bespoke and customized bine " and different" to what is proposed by the usual carbon bike brand. It is also really easy to communicate with him and with each time great exchange about bikes as he has a huge and long experience in the cycling industry. Furthermore, the Japanese Tange Steel Tubes (Prestige Japan) used by GOBLIN BIKES have a really good reputation that do not need to be done...and having a steel road bike made Tange Prestige Japan was also part of my specification. GOBLIN BIKES gives the priority to a small production in order to have the time to provide the best quality to the final product (weld and paint are incredible).
What were key words of your specification ?
For the specification, i have followed Jean Christophe CHARRIER's (Owner of GOBLIN BIKES) advices, he has build be a frame for touring but it keeps a sportive attitude and feels good to ride, let's say...comfortable. My main request was, regarding my morphology, to have a bike really adapted to my "small size", well a really personalized bikes, made to measure with a higher headtube than regular to increase my back comfort while riding low on the handlebar.
You have chosen Cantilever brakes while GOBLIN BIKES usually build only disc road bike, why this choice ? (making your Goblin Bikes even more rare).
I have done this choice unlike what GOBLIN BIKES propose mainly because it match the way i ride...even more that the Cantilever brakes from the Campagnolo Potenza Groupset are powerful. Maybe one day i will opt for disc brakes...
What were your choice about components and drivetrain ?
With GOBLIN BIKES, we thought about setting up at first a Shimano or Sram Groupset...but when the Campagnolo Potenza came on the market i immedialty wanted this groupset. This groupset is really nice, well finished an also allow me to use a 11-32T cassette because where i live, without looking like the Alps, there are some really nice climb. Regarding my experience with other Campagnolo Groupset, Record and Veloce, the Campagnolo Potenza is really soft when it comes to changes gears or ring and shifters a pretty ergonomic. About other specs, wheels are Vision Trimax 30, handlebar and stem à from FSA product range and tires 25c. The white painting fit pretty well with the red lettering : really class, and the white paint is timeless and fit with the small diameter Tange Steel tubes.
GOBLIN BIKES are available worldwide, please contact the team for any project, they will take the time to answer your question and design your bike step by step and of course in your favourite colour. Bikes are designed and produced in France from the excellent Tange Steel Tubes. GOBLIN BIKES are sold worldwide, please contact them for a quotation of your project in your currency and to know all shipment details.
GOBLIN BIKES website : http://www.jaycees.fr/goblinbikes/goblinbikes.html
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