Velo City: Bicycle Culture and City Life

King Of The Forest: Sven Cycles Classic CX

King Of The Forest: Sven Cycles Classic CX

On the head tube of each frame by Dorset’s Sven Cycles is the symbol of an elk. While Darron Coppin, founder of Sven Cycles, has his workshop in Weymouth, he was born in Sweden, where the Älg is the national animal.

Darron’s scope of work is wide, and rich: ranging from traditional three-speed British roadsters, to modern Columbus XCR racers and foraging bikes for local chefs. A classic cyclocross bike can now be added to the list, just in time for Bespoked Bristol 2016.

King Of The Forest: Sven Cycles Classic CX

Having been raised by a jeweller father, who also taught him to braze, Darron’s frames are not just finely crafted, they’re ornate. Even the utilitarian foraging bike is embellished with extra decorative motifs that set it apart from the purely functional.

King Of The Forest: Sven Cycles Classic CX

The classic ‘crosser was built as Darron’s personal project. It’s been on the boil for a few years now, as he’s slowly been collecting parts for it. They love a project at Sven Cycles, it seems. This one will be ridden and enjoyed and moved on to fund the next one.

King Of The Forest: Sven Cycles Classic CX

The frame, built from Reynolds 853 Pro Team, is dripping with rare components, like a sprung TA cable retainer that prevents the brake cables from bouncing around at the apex of their arc. NOS Campagnolo cable housing sits at the opposing end of the bike.

Darron painted the bike himself, including the matching pantographed Cinelli stem, with a vintage rasta reference to its purpose as an unofficial Brixton Cycles Co-Op CX team bike. The rear derailleur is a Campagnolo Rally unit with a matching green infill.

King Of The Forest: Sven Cycles Classic CX

The drillium, however, was undertaken by Jon Williams at Drillium Revival in Portland, Oregon. The Mafac levers got the treatment, along with the TA CX cranks and chainrings. Finally, for the saddle, a NOS suede Cinelli Unicanitor was sourced.

The Classic CX is one of a few machines that Sven Cycles will be displaying at the Bespoked Bristol show this weekend. Be sure to make it along to see their bikes — and Darron and Andrew “Mog” Mogford. Pictures don’t do them justice.

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King Of The Forest: Sven Cycles Classic CX