Plein Air Painting Bike

So you want to ride up the Alps, paint a landscape in oils and ride back down? Carry a canvas up to 850mm x 500mm with wet oil-paint on it, along with easel, brushes, jars of oil, warm clothing, sun hat, and of course a hearty lunch? Oh, and when you’re not doing that you’d like to go for a spin on the local single-track? No problem.

Dan’s painting bike was built to do just that. Pilgrim based adjusted geometry, or at least a slightly longer rear end. Fittings for mudguards, big load carrying racks and some mother load panniers.  Oh and a little bit of electric assistance, to get all the gear to the best possible painting spots, high up in the mountains.

Plein Air FRAME

FRAME » Load-carrying hardtail MTB frame

FORKS » Custom steel rigid fork

BRAKES » Low mount

TYRE CLEARANCE » 29 x 2.4"

GEOMETRY » Custom

REAR AXLE » 148 x 12 Boost

DRIVE » Rohloff A12 1 x 14

FINISH » Ceramic coating single colour

PRICE » Custom frame and fork from £2325

OPTIONS
Luggage – custom front and rear packs
Motor – Cytronex c1

As always it started with a bike fit, making sure the bike would fit Dan, not Dan adjusting to the bike. Next the geometry was dialed to give a stable load carrying ride that was still up for a bit of fun when not hauling his life up a hillside. A Rohloff boost spacing hub sorted out the gearing. A low maintenance solution, with a long life span and a clean look. Shimano hydraulic 180mm discs for stopping all that kit safely. An SQ Lab handle bar with 16 degree back sweep to get his hands in a relaxed position, without loosing any control.

Electrical assistance is provided by a Cytonex front wheel. Three power levels that can be customized via an online app. A simple solution to getting all the kit up the steepest alpine tracks, that can quickly be switched for a standard Hope front wheel when you want to get back to basics.
The wheels were all hand built by Strada wheels and come with great after care service.

Fillet brazed tubing is a mixture of Reynolds 853 and Columbus Zona. Head tube courtesy of Bear frame supplies and rear dropouts by Paragon Machine Works. The  extremely tough ceramic coating will keep the frame looking great for years to come.
You can follow Dan’s on-going artistic adventures at https://danieljamesyeomans.com.