Hecho a mano en La Rioja is Reyes Soriano’s tagline, and it translates to ‘made by hand in La Rioja’. Reyes is a framebuilder who lives and works in La Rioja, one of Spain’s most important wine-making regions, and this is his ‘Gaslight’ model.
Reyes was a student of Mattia Paganotti, the Italian builder who you’ll recognize from the nom de plume of Legor Cicli. Reyes built his first frame under his tutelage at his workshop in Barcelona in 2014.
RS Cycles has been in operation since then. Reyes has been constantly building and refining his designs and skills, testing his work over the ideal landscape of La Rioja, where the Eroica Hispania takes place.
Between the ancient vineyards and surrounding mountains, it’s a testing paradise of gravel roads and spellbinding vistas. You can’t help but imagine that the spirit of the countryside is instilled within the tubes of Reyes’ frame.
The vintner’s illusion of gôut de terroir is one that can be applied to custom bicycle frames, just as a British Land Rover can be compared to an American Ford Bronco or a Russian Lada Niva.
A naturally Spanish frame will be spritely but forceful, like a Spanish Fighting Bull. However, it’s named after Ingrid Bergman’s 1944 film. Reyes’ thinking is that when one rides this bike it’s so light they can’t believe it’s made from steel. Is it real?!?
The Gaslight is built from a Columbus Spirit, HSS and Dedacciai mix with custom dropouts and seat stays. The geometries may vary according to the rider but Reyes assure us they’ll always know it’s a Gaslight — and a distinctly Spanish frame to boot.
Big thanks to Quique Bueno for the photos.
