Belted Electronica: Custom Alfine Di2 Bikes
The integration of Shimano’s Alfine Di2 electronic shifting system with Gates Carbon Drive is among the great product innovations shown at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. Gates and Shimano worked with multiple custom bike builders to show off the clean, quiet and slick compatibility of these two leading technologies. Gates team photographer Tim Lucking shows the technical skill and artistry of the bike builders with his creative imagery.
Pictured above are the Independent Fabrications Di2 build (red) and the electronic shifting beauty from Shamrock Cycles (blue). Shamrock’s Tim O’Donnell turned heads at NAHBS several years ago with a lovely green city bike, and the builder hailing from “the mountains of Indiana” once again delivered a bike that drew stares and media attention. Look at that stylish belt guard.
Colorado beer and bikes fanatics REEB Cycles, the bike brand of Oskar Blues Brewery,displayed a steel Sam’s Pants commuter built by Chris “Soultrain” Sulfrian, below.
New Hampshire’s Independent Fabrications is one of the country’s premier custom bike builders. Owner Gary Smith has a custom belt drive city bike that he brings on business trips, and several years back his crew built a gorgeous pink-belted fixie.His Di2 flat bar commuter made us smile, and it even elicited a grin from Gary.
Hometown Mfg is a sister brand of Six-Eleven Bicycle Company in Roanoke, Virginia. Hometown Mfg is leading the drive for locally made bike frames in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but their Di2 bike would be home on the streets of any city in America.
Curtis Inglis of Inglis/Retrotec made a retro-styled commuter with a porteur rack that blends classic bicycle styling with modern technology. Enjoy the pictures and stay tuned for more posts about other gorgeous Gates Carbon Drive bikes from the NAHBS 2014 show floor.
