Pimp my bike ride

The humble bicycle used to be the poor man’s car. But now that bike fads have trickled from the circuit to the streets, Varsity made a trip to Market Square to find out exactly what it takes (and costs) to have the trendiest two wheels on the road.

by Kirsty Gray

Saturday October 22 2011, 10:00am

The man behind the wheels:

5 minutes with Martin, the CycleSmith of Market Square.

What inspires your bikes?
I don’t work from sketches. My design inspiration could come from anywhere: fashion, animals, nature, something I see in the street.

What’s the most expensive bike you’ve ever built?
It was £3700. But I’m currently building a pretty expensive touring bike for a customer to cycle from East Coast to West Coast of the USA.

Who’s the most interesting customer you’ve ever had?
Every customer has their own story. Last month, I sold a fixie to a 60-year-old guy with bad knees because he just wanted a cool bike to make his son angry!

What’s your top tip for the next big bike trend?
Still on top is definitely the Fixie as well as Dutch bikes (always with a wicker basket). The new trend is electric: you can convert any ordinairy bike for £300-500.

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