Since their founding five years ago, Portland’s Breadwinner Cycles have established a reputation for reliability and integrity. There isn’t a bike in their range that isn’t the result of years of both frame building and riding experience.
Bikes of such a high caliber require extensive prototyping and occasionally a certain configuration won’t make it out the other side, such as this B-Road. It wasn’t a complete loss, as Breadwinner’s Ira Ryan built it up for his brother, Dustin.
When it comes to designing bikes, Ira Ryan and Tony Pereira know what works and what doesn’t. This B-Road was assembled when they were experimenting with the Paragon 44mm head tube and the segmented forks built for them by Chris Igleheart.
The Igleheart fork ended up being used specifically on the G-Road, whose narrower head tube suited the fork better, while the B-Road — with its 44mm head tube — is available as a frame and fork with an ENVE or TRP carbon fork that’s painted to match.
The B-Road was eventually refined to be a drop bar-specific model, and Dustin’s is one of only three B-Road bikes that will be seen without drops. A Sycip Singles Bar and Portland Design Works Cork Chop grips were used instead.
Today’s offering is indeed a reliable steed — if you like riding drop bars. They have their advantages, of course, but for the type of riding Dustin will be using his B-Road for — riding around town and short-term touring — regular handlebars will suffice.
With its final purpose in mind, Ira assembled it with polished Velo Orange fenders, a sturdy Blackburn rack, a sprung Brooks saddle, Takagi ART cranks with a triple chainring, and Shimano XT shifters, derailleurs, and brakes.
Ira would have as good an idea of what his brother’s ideal ride should be as anyone. It’s an eclectic and functional ensemble, and probably the most classically-styled B-Road you’ll see. For Dustin, who is a luthier by trade, that’s a most complementary match.
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