Emily Horton meets Caren Hartley, one of the country’s leading lady bike smiths
All hail Caren Hartley – one of the UK’s few female frame builders who has been making bespoke steel and stainless steel bicycles in her South London workshop since 2013.
A graduate of the Surrey Institute of Art and Design in Epsom (now University College for the Creative Arts), Caren was initially a jeweller, before turning her love of metalwork to bicycles.
“I have always cycled – long before it was fashionable in London. I was looking for a decent road bike, but couldn’t find anything suitable for my build and height,” she recalls. “I am 5ft 4” – which is pretty average in this country, yet everything was geared for men.”
Caren responded by teaching herself how to make her own bike. After realising she could use her know-how to fill a niche in the market for women-friendly cycles, she set up her own business, Hartley Cycles.
Three years on, she is producing beautifully crafted bikes that are tailored to each customer. Not surprisingly, she has attracted a loyal female customer base who are also keen to find that perfect model which complements the female form.
“I’m passionate about making bikes for both women and men that are equal in beauty and performance, but most importantly, are perfectly fitted to the rider,” she says of her custom-made creations which usually take around a month to produce.
Since her bikes started to win praise at Bespoked: The UK Handmade Bicycle Show, the 32-year-old has been gaining traction as the South East’s top female frame builder; she has won four prizes in the last three years.
Top tips for ensuring the right bike fit
1) Fit
Find a frame that fits you and you’ll see how much better the ride and handling can be. It’ll also help you feel more confident on the road as a result. I see too many women riding bikes that are far too big for them
2) Reach
This is the distance from the rider’s position on the saddle to the handlebars. Getting the best fit is particularly important as it’s not something that can be easily adjusted afterwards.
3) Posture
It takes time to discover what works best for you. Having some professional industry advice is a must, because there is no one ‘hard and fast’ rule that suits everyone, although general guidance suggests aiming for a long, neutral spine where the neck is not overly rotated; shoulders and elbows should be soft and relaxed, and there shouldn’t be too much weight dropping onto your hands.
4) Advice
A professional fitting can make a big difference to your cycling experience. Don’t underestimate how poor posture causes problems for the body.
Top tip for DIY
“Learn to resolve any bike issues yourself. Going to a basic maintenance class to increase your understanding of how your bike works will improve your confidence and avoid a panic if a problem suddenly arises when out riding. I can highly recommend London Bike Kitchen for its women-specific classes (lbk.org.uk). Plus, always carry a spare tube, tyre lever and pump with you.”
- Hartley Cycles steel frames start at £1,300. Full stainless steel frames start at £1,950, and steel forks start at £260. Hartleycycles.com
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