BIKE: Many of the small custom forges in England swear by steel frames. You could almost think that the English engineers are not familiar with aluminium or carbon?
Joe McEwan: I worked as a structural engineer in the aerospace industry for almost 20 years, mainly in carbon research and development. So there is definitely no shortage of expertise, including for aluminium. That's not the reason why steel is so popular. Maybe it's because of the way we like to do things in the UK. It's in our British nature to try things out without hesitation. Think less, do more. In aerospace, the French and Germans were always very good when it came to sophisticated analyses and calculations. But they tended to overshoot the mark. The pragmatic and realisable solutions, on the other hand, usually came from British engineers. It's the same with bike frame construction.
Good steel bikes can be built with fairly simple means. Sure, you could just cobble something together out of carbon in the hope that it will last. But the results would not really be satisfactory. Even aluminium is not so easy to work with at home due to the heat treatment required after welding. Steel frames are therefore the logical consequence of the 'let's just do it' attitude of the British. We also focus more on ride quality and not so much on weight, which is why steel is not ruled out as a frame material from the outset.
Why do you only weld the main frame of your Murmur fullys in Bristol while the rear triangle comes from Taiwan?
I also experimented with complete steel frames from Taiwan and was very satisfied with the quality. However, it limited my flexibility to respond to customer requests, which is extremely important for a small company. However, there are only two variants of the rear triangle to cover my three bike models. For the front triangle, the variety is much greater due to different frame sizes, different installation lengths for the shock or special requests for cable routing, and I don't have to wait six months for supplies from Taiwan.
Although you don't have a hardtail in your programme, there is a large fan base in England. Why are MTB hardtails so popular?
The plans for a hardtail are already in place. I just have to think about how I can stand out from all the other brands. I think easy maintenance speaks in favour of the hardtail, especially with as much mud and wetness as we have here. Also, the hills aren't that high here and the hardtail makes riding a bit more challenging. So we get the best out of the terrain. With a powerful fully, the trails would be much more boring.
What distinguishes a bike handmade in England from a standard production mountain bike?
I think it's less about pure performance, even if my bikes ride great. It's more the passion that goes into every detail of the product. Customer loyalty is simply greater than with a clinically produced carbon frame from China.
There is a preconception that all bikes from England have a super long main frame (reach) and very long chainstays. Is that really true?
I think that the Geometron Bikes (Nicolai) Chris Porter's extreme geometries have had a big influence on the UK market. I also experimented with extremely long bikes on his recommendation. As a giant like Chris, extreme geometry may be faster if you have the strength to push the bike around. For mere mortals, however, a slightly more conservative geometry is the better approach. Interestingly, the geometry I've been using on my bikes for about four years has now become the standard for many manufacturers. A 29-inch bike with a 65-degree head angle, 77-degree seat angle and 485 reach in size L. But I can't say why the British tend to favour longer chainstays.
What do you think about Brexit and the possible consequences for your company?
I think that Brexit is a step in the wrong direction. I currently sell a third of my bikes to the USA, England and Europe respectively. Mostly to Germany and Switzerland. If one of the sales markets causes problems, I still have other options that I can focus on. If the pound sterling loses value, that will boost my exports for the time being.
Brexit has been decided and the UK is turning its back on the EU. But regardless of the political developments, the UK has an exceptional bike scene with fine customised bikes. That's why we tested three UK fullys from Starling, Nukeproof and Vitus in BIKE 4/20. BIKE 4/20 - in stores from 3 March.
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