Visi – August 2019

NO

19

WORDS

BIDDI RORKE

TURN TO TIMBER

Sustainablemobilityis thenameof thegame– and Volk Bikes’

hardwood bicycle frame is the clear winner.

sharedinterestin cycling,
design,sustainability,
socialupliftmentand
mobilityhasresultedin
VolkBikes,thebrainchildof Dan(the
designer),his wifeJazz(thetechnical
whiz)andhis brotherPierceHoffman
(thefinancier).ThesethreeEastern
Capeentrepreneursmakecustomised
bicycleframesoutof sustainable
hardwoodfor thedesign- and eco-
consciouspedaller.
“Sustainabilityis keyfor us,
so we sourceourtimberfrom
premiumsuppliers,”saysDan.“We
usepredominantlyashandbeech
wood because of their strength and

durability;a timberframeoffers

a smoothridewhilestillbeingstiff

andresponsivewhereit counts.”

Volkframescomewithmetal

sleevesbondedintothebottom

bracketandthesteerertube.“Wealso

incorporatea layerof carbonfibrein

the downtube to increase torsional

stiffness,ensuring awesome handling,”

Danadds.

To ensureexceptionalstrength

anddurability,theyusemarine-grade

bondingagentsandfinishtheframe

witha multilayermarine-grade epoxy,

all naturallyderived.

Plansfor thefutureinclude

expandingtheirrangeto include

“off-the-peg”road,gravelandtouring

modelsin standardsizes.“Ultimately,

we wantto offera broadselectionfor

mountainbikes,BMXbikes,children’s

bikesandevene-bikes,”saysDan.“The

greatthingaboutworkingwithwoodis

thattheonlylimitation is imagination.”

volkbikes.com

A

“A TIMBERFRAME

OFFERSASMOOTH

RIDEWHILESTILL

BEINGSTIFFAND

RESPONSIVE

WHERE IT COUNTS.”

�ISI REASONS

visi.co.zaAUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 172