Cycling dreams come true: Emma's Custom Big Bro build with Velo Domestique
We spoke to Emma, a cycling inspiration, always focused on the fun and adventure of cycling, and constantly planning her next escapade with her son Marlon. For Emma, cycling is not just a mode of transportation; it's a way of life filled with excitement and exploration.
Among her cycling endeavours, Emma embarked on a journey with Velo Domestique to build her dream bike—a custom Brother Cycles Big Bro. Through this process, she found not just a means of transportation but a companion for her life-long adventures.
Dan, the founder of Velo Domestique, emphasises the unique satisfaction that comes with crafting a custom bike tailored to a rider's desires. For him and his team, it's not just about assembling a bicycle; it's about understanding the rider's needs and witnessing the bike come to life as it's used for its intended purposes.
"In our perspective, seeing someone ride away on a custom bike of their dreams brings a different level of satisfaction. It's not just another bike; it becomes an extension of the rider's personality and aspirations. Mike, our head mechanic, particularly enjoys the adaptability of custom builds. Knowing he can easily tweak the bike to suit different riding styles or adventures adds to the joy of the process. Mike loves to know how the bike is being used, it gives it purpose and makes it more than just a collection of parts."
For those unfamiliar with the concept of custom bikes, the process involves tailoring every aspect of the bicycle to the rider's preferences and needs. Unlike off-the-shelf models, custom bikes offer a personalised experience, ensuring that the bike is not only a joy to ride but also aligns to the rider's way of life.
Brother Cycles tough as nails, do it all steel 29er frame, huge amounts of clearance and one of our favourite rigid MTBs available.
Brother Cycles:
‘Our all purpose, tough as nails 29er/27.5+ adventure frame; designed to take you well off the beaten track and beyond. Whether you’re running a lightweight bikepacking setup, front and rear panniers for a fully loaded ’round-the-world’ tour or just stripped back to thrash some forest trails the Big Bro can handle it.
The frame is made out of tough 4130 double butted cro-mo tubing and comes with a 100mm suspension corrected fork, both with corrosion resistant ED coating applied. There’s clearance for big 29 x 2.6″ tyres or up to 3 inch tyres if you’d prefer to go 27.5+. It features stealth dropper routing, rack mounts, bottle mounts on the seat tube, down tube and under the down tube for an extra bottle or storage. The forks also feature triple bottle mounts to fit further bottle cages or Anything Cages. S-bend chainstays with replaceable alloy thru axle sliding dropouts allow for geared or singlespeed setups.
Like all Brother products the Big Bro has been rigorously tested out in the real world – we took prototypes across the South Downs, through Snowdonia National Park and up to the Scottish Highlands. The Big Bro has since completed two of the worlds toughest bikepacking endurance races – the 4,418km Tour Divide from Canada to Mexico and the 1,710km Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan.
For pre orders we are offering 10% off any component purchases made with us at the time of pre ordering this frameset, please email us with your order number and proposed parts list.
The current stock shown is in stock NOW available for builds/shipping.
FEATURES
Tubing: - 4130 Chromoly steel - double-butted main triangle, ED coated
Brake compatibility; 51mm IS disc brake mount, 180mm max rotor size
Dropouts: BOOST
Seat post diameter: 30.9mm
Seat clamp diameter: 33.1mm (included)
Headset: 44mm, SHIS ZS44/28.6 upper, EC44/40 lower (not included)
Front derailleur clamp diameter: 34.9 mm high direct-mount (adapter available separately)
Bottom bracket shell: 73mm bottom bracket, ISO threaded
Maximum tyre clearance: 29" x 2.6", 27.5" x 3.0" (note: not all drivetrains allow for these maximum tyre clearances)
Fork : 4130 Chromoly tapered unicrown fork, ED coated. BOOST
Full-length cable housing guides for derailleurs and brakes
3 sets bottle cage mounts on all sizes
Chainring clearance: up to 48-36-26t triple, 42-28t double, 38t single
Weight: medium (18") frame 2.60kg, fork (300mm steerer) 1.37kg
Tested to ISO 4210 MTB standard
Brother Cycles tough as nails, do it all steel 29er frame, huge amounts of clearance and one of our favourite rigid MTBs available.
Brother Cycles:
‘Our all purpose, tough as nails 29er/27.5+ adventure frame; designed to take you well off the beaten track and beyond. Whether you’re running a lightweight bikepacking setup, front and rear panniers for a fully loaded ’round-the-world’ tour or just stripped back to thrash some forest trails the Big Bro can handle it.
The frame is made out of tough 4130 double butted cro-mo tubing and comes with a 100mm suspension corrected fork, both with corrosion resistant ED coating applied. There’s clearance for big 29 x 2.6″ tyres or up to 3 inch tyres if you’d prefer to go 27.5+. It features stealth dropper routing, rack mounts, bottle mounts on the seat tube, down tube and under the down tube for an extra bottle or storage. The forks also feature triple bottle mounts to fit further bottle cages or Anything Cages. S-bend chainstays with replaceable alloy thru axle sliding dropouts allow for geared or singlespeed setups.
Like all Brother products the Big Bro has been rigorously tested out in the real world – we took prototypes across the South Downs, through Snowdonia National Park and up to the Scottish Highlands. The Big Bro has since completed two of the worlds toughest bikepacking endurance races – the 4,418km Tour Divide from Canada to Mexico and the 1,710km Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan.
For pre orders we are offering 10% off any component purchases made with us at the time of pre ordering this frameset, please email us with your order number and proposed parts list.
The current stock shown is in stock NOW available for builds/shipping.
FEATURES
Tubing: - 4130 Chromoly steel - double-butted main triangle, ED coated
Brake compatibility; 51mm IS disc brake mount, 180mm max rotor size
Dropouts: BOOST
Seat post diameter: 30.9mm
Seat clamp diameter: 33.1mm (included)
Headset: 44mm, SHIS ZS44/28.6 upper, EC44/40 lower (not included)
Front derailleur clamp diameter: 34.9 mm high direct-mount (adapter available separately)
Bottom bracket shell: 73mm bottom bracket, ISO threaded
Maximum tyre clearance: 29" x 2.6", 27.5" x 3.0" (note: not all drivetrains allow for these maximum tyre clearances)
Fork : 4130 Chromoly tapered unicrown fork, ED coated. BOOST
Full-length cable housing guides for derailleurs and brakes
3 sets bottle cage mounts on all sizes
Chainring clearance: up to 48-36-26t triple, 42-28t double, 38t single
Weight: medium (18") frame 2.60kg, fork (300mm steerer) 1.37kg
Tested to ISO 4210 MTB standard
What inspired you to buy a custom bike?
One of my main reasons was not having a good idea of what bike I could buy off the shelf or online. Velo Domestique has built some beautiful custom builds for our community, so I knew I could turn to them for guidance on having all my needs met and meshed into one bicycle.
I am not a bike expert, so I was worried about getting something off the shelf again or getting something second-hand, which I knew hadn't met my needs or expectations in the past - my past bicycles did not meet my requirements.
What did you want from your new bike?
Many things.
I've always had awful bikes that I've bought cheap from people or just passed on to me. I wanted a bike that I deserved. I wanted a bike that was better than any like I'd ever had, and I wanted a bicycle that would last me forever and could do everything always. I only have a little space to store bikes because I live in a flat, so I can really only have two bikes. So I need to meet all my needs with two bikes, one of them needs to be a cheap bike that I cruise along the beach on, and the other needs to be a reasonably expensive, well specced bike to carry me off on my incredible adventures.
Was there a particular bike or brand we stocked that interested you?
I had been looking at several gravel/rigid mountain bike options, particularly ones with chilled swept-back bars. However, I went to Brother in the Wild in Dorset and was really drawn to Brother Cycles Big Bro, and I was excited at the prospect of being able to build a bike around the frame.
"The Mehteh is our Reynolds 725 steel gravel frame – a fast and agile drop bar bike designed for long days in the saddle on varied terrain. We’ve pushed the tyre clearances beyond what you’d find on the average gravel bike, giving the option of taking your ride even further off-road. Whether that’s an after work gravel dash or a full blown bikepacking adventure.
The personality of the Mehteh (pronounced /meɪteɪ/) is reflected in its name – a Himalayan word for the mountain-dwelling Yeti, which literally translates as “Man Beast”!
The Mehteh is constructed out of Reynolds 725 steel; a heat treated tubing famed for its strength and weight saving properties and an ideal material for the challenges of gravel riding and bikepacking. This is now matched with the new 2022 Brother carbon gravel fork – featuring full carbon construction, fender mounts, triple cage mounts on each fork blade, dynamo routing and flip-chip dropouts. The frame and fork have clearance for up to 650b x 2.2″ or 700c x 50 tyres to help you through the rough stuff.
Other features include thru-axle flat-mount dropouts, a replaceable derailleur hanger, 3 x bottle cage mounts, stealth dropper post routing and a custom Brother seat clamp, CNC machined in the UK.
As with all Brother products, the Mehteh has been tested rigorously, and it’s taken everything we can throw at it, from the rough tracks of the Scottish Highlands to the smooth gravel of the Bavarian Alps! Most impressively a Mehteh completed the 1,100km Atlas Mountain Race in Morocco.”
FEATURES
Frame tubing: Reynolds 725 heat treated chromoly double-butted main triangle, ED coated
Brake compatibility: flat mount, 160mm max rotor size
Rear dropouts: 12x142mm TA (included)
Seat post diameter: 27.2mm
Seat clamp diameter: 30mm (included)
Headset: 44mm, ZS44/28.6 upper, EC44/40 lower (not included)
Front derailleur clamp diameter: 28.6mm
Bottom bracket shell: 68mm bottom bracket, ISO threaded
Maximum tyre clearance: 700c x 50mm, 650b x 2.2"
Full-length cable housing guides for derailleurs and brakes
Stealth dropper post routing
3 sets bottle cage mounts on all sizesRear rack and mudguard mounts
Chainring clearance: up to up to 52-39-30t triple, 50-34t double, 48t single
Fork: 1.5″ – 1.1/8″ tapered steerer full carbon disc fork, mudguard/triple cage mounts, Dynamo routing and flip chip dropouts, 12x100mm TA (included)
Frame weight (medium): 2.2kg
Fork weight (uncut steerer): 0.55kg
“The Kepler has been a stalwart in our lineup for 6 years now and keeps going strong into 2021. We designed the Kepler with versatility in mind, it’s a gravel grinder, super commuter, galactic tourer… ready to tackle whatever you throw at it. So if you need a bike that’s as happy on the daily commute as it is on a weekend bikepacking trip, look no further than the Kepler.
The Kepler can run either 700c or 650b wheels and has clearance for 700c x 45 or 650b x 48 tyres to keep you stable when the going gets tough. The frame is constructed from double butted 4130 chromoly steel, a functional tubing which provides the perfect balance of comfort and durability and we’ve applied an ED coating under the paint to protect against corrosion. It’s fully equipped to fit front and rear racks, mudguards and has three bottle mount positions if you’re loading up for a longer trip. For 2021 the new Kepler now features flat mount thru axle dropouts with a replaceable derailleur hanger, s-shaped chainstays and a unicrown steel fork.”
FEATURES
Tubing: 4130 Chromoly steel - double-butted main triangle, ED coated
Brake compatibility: flat mount, 160mm max rotor size
Rear Dropouts: 12x142mm TA (included)
Seat post diameter: 27.2mm
Seat clamp diameter: 30mm (included)
Headset: 1 1/8˝ threadless steerer/headset (not included)
Front derailleur clamp diameter: 28.6 mm
Chainring clearance: up to 52-39-30t triple, 50-34t double, 48t single
Bottom bracket shell: 68mm bottom bracket - ISO threaded
Tyre clearance: up to 700x45c or 650x48c
Fork: 4130 Chromoly unicrown fork - 300mm steerer, 12x100mm TA (included)
Frame weight: 56cm = 2.25kg
Fork (with uncut steerer): 1.19kg
Tested to ISO 4210 standard
"The Mehteh is our Reynolds 725 steel gravel frame – a fast and agile drop bar bike, designed for long days in the saddle on varied terrain. We’ve pushed the tyre clearances beyond what you’d find on the average gravel bike giving the option of taking your ride even further off-road. Whether that’s an after work gravel dash or a full blown bikepacking adventure.
The personality of the Mehteh (pronounced /meɪteɪ/) is reflected in its name – a Himalayan word for the mountain dwelling Yeti which literally translates as “Man Beast”!
The Mehteh is constructed out of Reynolds 725 steel; a heat treated tubing famed for its strength and weight saving properties and an ideal material for the challenges of gravel riding and bikepacking. This is now matched with the new 2022 Brother carbon gravel fork – featuring full carbon construction, fender mounts, triple cage mounts on each fork blade, dynamo routing and flip-chip dropouts. The frame and fork have clearance for up to 650b x 2.2″ or 700c x 50 tyres to help you through the rough stuff.
Other features include thru-axle flat-mount dropouts, a replaceable derailleur hanger, 3 x bottle cage mounts, stealth dropper post routing and a custom Brother seatclamp, CNC machined in the UK.
As with all Brother products the Mehteh has been tested rigorously and it’s taken everything we can throw at it, from the rough tracks of the Scottish Highlands to the smooth gravel of the Bavarian Alps! Most impressively a Mehteh completed the 1,100km Atlas Mountain Race in Morocco.”
FEATURES
Frame tubing: Reynolds 725 heat treated chromoly double-butted main triangle, ED coated
Brake compatibility: flat mount, 160mm max rotor size
Rear Dropouts: 12x142mm TA (included)
Seat post diameter: 27.2mm
Seat clamp diameter: 30mm (included)
Headset: 44mm, ZS44/28.6 upper, EC44/40 lower (not included)
Front derailleur clamp diameter: 28.6mm
Bottom bracket shell: 68mm bottom bracket, ISO threaded
Maximum tyre clearance: 700c x 50mm, 650b x 2.2"
Full-length cable housing guides for derailleurs and brakes
Stealth dropper post routing
3 sets bottle cage mounts on all sizes
Rear rack and mudguard mounts
Chainring clearance: up to up to 52-39-30t triple, 50-34t double, 48t single
Fork: 1.5″ – 1.1/8″ tapered steerer full carbon disc fork, mudguard/triple cage mounts, Dynamo routing and flip chip dropouts, 12x100mm TA (included)
Frame weight (medium): 2.2kg
Fork weight (uncut steerer): 0.55kg
Can you please describe the process of selecting a bike from us?
I knew vaguely what style of gravel bike I wanted, but I didn't have an exact idea of what components I would need and what options there were. Dan and the Velo Domestique team were very helpful in guiding me through selecting parts, often over a coffee but also gave me time to research them myself and ask more questions if needed. I knew I wanted to get this once in a lifetime bike right.
I had never really looked into the details of building a bike before, so the information Velo Domestique provided gave me a chance to research what parts I wanted based on guidelines of what would fit the frame and what components would be best for my use.
I knew getting the right wheels and tyres was really important, but there are so many variations and sizes, so it was great to have their support. Dan let me know at the time that they had a sale on SRAM Eagle groupsets, which would be perfect for my adventures at a great price point. Having durable components like Hope was important to me, and Dan made it really clear when it was worth spending a little more money for considerably more quality.
How would you rate the overall experience?
The experience was great! I made no decisions quickly, and Velo Domestique was incredibly patient. They did not make me feel stupid; they informed me, but they did not tell me or force me to make a decision. I also felt like I could talk to anyone at Velo Domestique about my new bicycle, especially Mike, who I spoke to a lot about bikes.
Mike is Velo Domestique's Head Mechanic, and he is fantastic. He offered to let me watch him build my bike and was so supportive throughout.
I want this bike for the rest of my life but I didn't necessarily know what I am going to use it for in the distant future - I might cycle round the world, and have to change some stuff. Velo reassured me that you've got that flexibility with a custom build. You can take anything from it, and put it back on or off and keep it for something else you might need it for.
Do you know the whole story about Mike telling me he had a dream? He came up to me and asked, "Can I tell you something weird?" I said, "Yeah." He said, "I had a dream that I built you your perfect bike, and I was riding it on a test ride, and I was really happy." That's an amazing technique for selling a bike. But he was genuine. He had never said that to anyone before because he really did have a dream about building a custom bike for me.
Were there any challenges or issues you experienced, and how were they resolved?
The starting challenge we had to overcome was that I didn't know enough about bikes, so I needed Velo's support in making the right choices.
Being able to purchase the bike with a Green Commute Initiative cycle-to-work voucher has not only made the bike cheaper but also allowed me to pay it off over two years. This was massively important for me as I'd never spent this much on a bike before.
The final curveball to overcome was that I decided to participate in the Thighs of Steel cycle to Paris. Some of the parts were arriving with less than three days before I had to leave, but Mike managed to coordinate getting everything built in time. I'm really pleased we took the time to decide on the parts that we did because the gear ratio on my bike meant I didn't have to get off my bike and push it up any hills on the ride to Paris. I love the gearing. It's like sitting on a sofa and spinning your legs around. Not to mention it makes it much easier to tow my kid on his bike, which is really important.
Find out more about the new bikes and custom builds we sell
Where have you taken your new bike on rides so far?
The first ride I took it on was the Thighs of Steel ride to Paris, which was 99.5% on road, I didn't get a puncture the whole way! Before my last minute decision to sneak in the Paris trip, I had already planned a cycle in North Wales so I travelled through Saturday night to make it back to Wales on Sunday. Cycling the Big Bro was amazing in North Wales.
I also managed to finish the South Downs Way (SDW) on this bike, which was incredible. I actually got my first puncture on the SDW, which I had never experienced with a tubeless tyre set-up. I remember looking down and thinking, 'Why am I covered in this white paint?' Then I realised it was the sealant. I used a plug, and it was so easy to seal. I was really grateful because it was pouring with rain.
Since then I've been riding a lot with Marlon (my kid) and the New Forest Off Road Club all over Dorset.
Every bike is different. I've loved all the bikes I've owned for different reasons, like the really old Trek I have in Chile. It's extremely heavy but has taken me all the way along the Austral route. I also have an old Dawes Road bike, which is loads of fun to ride, but the Brother Cycles Big Bro is by far the nicest bike I have to ride.
Do you have any exciting adventures planned on your new bike in the future?
Marlon and I are going to do the Isle of Wight Randonee, and I'm also going to do the Downs Link with Martine and Tom. Last year, we joined them to do the Devon Coast to Coast on our old bikes, which was hard! It will be so much easier to tow Marlon with the Big Bro, and I won't have to have such a heavy set-up with panniers, woop!
There are two other possible cycling trips I have planned; the Trans Snowdonia Way and a route along the Yorkshire Coast, I will decide closer to the time based on where the weather looks best.
And then, one day, I am going to cycle around the world on my custom Brother Cycles Big Bro.
Did the assembly process meet your expectations?
It exceeded my expectations, but I was genuinely worried my slower decision-making meant we wouldn't be able to finish the build in time. Somehow, everything came together, and Mike assembled the whole bike in less than a week. If it wasn't ready, I would've had to cycle to Paris on the Dawes, which would have been challenging as it has suicide lever gears.
What would you say to someone considering building the bike of their dreams?
You won't regret it, and you deserve it. New bicycles built especially for YOU are AMAZING.
Once, I bought a second-hand bike from a dodgy place in Paris; even though the brakes didn't work and I didn't know how to fix it, I was too scared not to buy it. I couldn't afford to repair the brakes, so I just wore out the soles of my shoes and used them to brake.
And the first bikepacking trip I went on was a bike my Dad bought me from Macro when I was 13, I had it for eight years, never serviced it and then decided to cycle the coast to coast on it, North Shields to Whitehaven - it was a struggle.
I've had subpar second-hand bikes my whole life, often rusty and lots wrong with them. Having a bike I love and understand that is personalised to me, and I have made loads of important decisions about my life when I am riding it, is a dream come true.
Conclusion
Building a dream bike isn’t just about choosing parts; it is about understanding the rider’s needs and creating something uniquely theirs.
Emma's story reminds us of the joy and freedom cycling brings. Custom builds are about the memories made and the adventures yet to come.
We’re excited to hear about Emma’s next trips, from cycling the Isle of Wight Randonee to dreaming of global exploration on her custom Big Bro.
Photography by Ben Ramshaw @ben_ramshaw
Finding the right bike for your cycling adventure
We're always keen to sell you the bike you need, not just the bike we have.
Choosing a new bike is an important decision, which is why we're always happy to offer free consultancy and test rides to help you begin your bicycle adventure.
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