Speedvagen Custom Rando
With new employees comes new energy, excitement, and bike models.
One of the most interesting parts of Speedvagen is seeing how individuals can bring their own riding style, perspectives, and ideas to the brand and push us in new directions.
Think back to Sacha and the Urban Racer. Richard and the GTFO, Glenn and the AFF, and now Bradford and his baby the Speedvagen Custom Rando.
Last summer during the middle of the pandemic we hired Bradford Smith to build frames. While that was a crazy time to start new, he’s taking to the role exceptionally well and has been a staple in developing new ideas. His excitement for bicycles and riding is unlike anyone we have ever seen.
Bradfords riding style is just different than that of an average cyclist and he thrives in the ultra endurance category and cyclocross, a strange mixture on opposite ends of the spectrum. Brad is known to do some pretty wild rides like completing 1200 Km (750 miles) Paris-Brest-Paris in 48hours of moving time. Finishing the Trans America bike race in 11th place and many more long distance adventures.
The Rando is his influence and thoughts on how a bike should ride, combined with all of classic SV signature touches, seat stays, geo, materials, technology, and style.
details make the difference
Details make the difference. The time and care we put into each bike goes toward the craft of hundreds of details big and small. Each refinement alone is not revolutionary, but when put together make for a rarified gestalt experience, on and off the bike. This sum, greater than each part, is a feeling — an emotion for how the bike rides that only a Speedvagen can give you.
speedvagen standard features
One Spec, but with custom Geo
The Speedvagen Custom Rando has the platform set: Steel fork, 650b wheels, rack and bag, fenders, and lighting. Let us dial in that custom geo and you are ready to roll. Higher volume supple tires work great for the rough stuff and are still fast on the road. SRAM Force AXS is as hassle free as it gets. Only when we believe in something do we put it out there.
Speedvagen steel is realer than real
Made from the latest technology, our new steel is to traditional steel what a Tesla is to a 60’s Ford. Speedvagen tubes are 4-6 times stronger than the tubing people typically associate with a steel bike. Because it’s stronger, it can be made lighter.
INTEGRATED SEATMAST
The integrated seatmast makes for beautiful lines. There are a couple of things that are unique to our bikes. Each length of every Speedvagen seatmast is finished specifically for its owner. We also use stainless steel around the top of the seat tube where our post head mounts, rather than the post head wearing on a painted surface. The result is lighter and cleaner than a traditional seatpost, and the collar looks great topped with our 2.0 ENVE-made Speedvagen post head.
The Spec and Details
Rack and Bag
Just enough and not too much. The Custom Rando features a custom made in house rack paired with the Ultralight Randonneuring bag made in San Francisco, California by Ruthworks. Leave a rain jacket in there and its alway ready to go winter or summer.
Fenders painted to match
Riding in Portland 365 days per year, we know (and love) fenders. Honjo fenders (made in Japan) are the lightest and most beautiful available. For the Rugged Road we customize the fenders to size, they then paint to match so that they’re more of an extension of the frame, rather than more stuff that’s just bolted on.
Lighting
When you ride through the night you have to see. We put our trust into Supernova products to get the job done and keep us safe. We use the E3 model front and rear.
