Mosquito Bikes unveil new The Escapist steel frame

London-based bike shop Mosquito Bikes, purveyors of some fine brands like Moots, Pegoretti, Zullo and Independent Fabrication, have been busy working on their own steel frameset, The Escapist. The new frame is intended to be an ideal UK bike, happy doing a sportive, Audax or club ride, with a good level of comfort.

The new frame was first revealed at the London Bike Show in its prototype guise, allowing the high craftsmanship of the welding work to be inspected. Mosquito plan to fully launch the new frameset at the upcoming Bespoked Handbuilt Bicycle Show, but this prototype has been getting an outing in the Surrey Hills this week, with Mosquito’s Phil Burnett testing it and sending us some photos and first impressions on its maiden voyage.

Following his first ride, we asked Phil, as someone who has ridden and raced many high-end road bikes and has a 2.5 hour commute which takes in Box Hill, for some early feedback on the performance of the new frameset. The frame has been cobbled together with a used Shimano 105 groupset for the purposes of testing, final bikes will likely include a 105 option with Mosquito handbuilt wheels and special Velo Orange finishing kit.

“The idea behind the bike it to produce a bike which is ideal for UK riding conditions and roads - Audax, sportives, light touring etc,” says Phil. “Riding the bike on my extended 2.5 hour commute yesterday (Boxhill, a few fast descents, cobbles, London roads) I was really struck by the smoothness of the ride even compared to my usual winter bike which is an IF Steel Club Racer.

“Over the cobbled sections and infamous Surrey potholes it really helped smooth things out - it would be great for a long day without feeling beaten up. Power transfer felt good, I think aided by the chunkier rear chainstays (the frameset is Columbus Life, Roger has selected the tubing in conjunction with the framebuilder Jon Chicken).”

The final details of the frame are yet to be fully revealed. It’s going to be built from Columbus Life tubing, and they’ll offer stock and custom geometry for the same price, with a bike fit included in the process. The frame is currently on its way to the paint shop, and you'll be able to see the finished frame at the Bespoked show in a couple of weeks time.

This isn’t the first time Mosquito Bikes have produced an own-brand frame. Some 20 years ago they offered their own frame, but it faded into the history books when the framebuilder they were then working with stopped working.

With the resurgence of interest in framebuilding in the UK, Mosquito have decided the time is right to bring their own frame back, and have partnered with Jon Chickens, a well renowned framebuilder based just outside of Brighton, to produce the new frame.

We'll keep you posted on this new frame, and of course you can see it first at Bespoked.

http://mosquito-bikes.co.uk