There’s not a great number of custom frame builders in Germany, but the work of Ulrich Vogel alone takes up the slack. Vogel Fahrradrahmenbau has a portfolio full of ornate steel frames, racks and stems that reflect a Gothic influence. This internally geared mountain bike, by comparison, is one of Ulrich’s less embellished, but reveals even more of his craft.
Ulrich has built road bikes, porteurs, mountain bikes and cyclocross frames with predominantly lugged construction, but there’s some examples of superb bi-laminate / faux lug work. This MTB is a chance to admire a fine double-crown custom fork and Ulrich’s trademark sigil — an impressive display of fine filing. See more on the Vogel Fahrradrahmenbau website and flickr. Photo credit: Mason Hörsch
