RyanBuildsWheels creates bespoke handbuilt bicycle wheels in Bristol. He is currently embarking on an exciting new project in Lincoln Street Warehouse. We grabbed a bite to eat with Ryan and fellow bike-builder Pi in Roll for the Soul, to talk of all things bike.

Ryan came to Bristol seven years ago to study postgraduate theatre. The theatrical cycling club quickly became of more interest to him than the degree itself, and he began fixing bikes instead. Many Bristol cyclists will recognize Ryan from Roll for the Soul, where he has worked as a bike technician since the café was born. Today, Ryan works self-employed under the title of RyanBuildsWheels.

Pi came into the picture four years ago, when he came to Bristol as part of the Bristol Bike Project. By this point Ryan was well engrossed in bicycle repairs, and the two quickly became friends.

The pair are keen to emphasize their love of all types of cycling. Pi recalls his childhood as being full of freestyle BMX and off-road cycling. Since then, he has worked on many weird and wonderful projects.

“The best example is the Mini Rinky Dink. It’s basically a weird bike with a built in sound system. The original lives in Bath. We helped to build a miniature version for Bristol, which can often be seen parading around local cycling events.”

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Ryan also entertains an interest in classic and vintage bikes.

In his working life, Ryan enjoys the creative side of bike building.

“Bike building is so much more than working 9-5 in a bike shop. You get a sense of zen from the creative aspects, and a desire to progress through building all bike parts independently.” 

After his rich experience with repairs and wheel building, Ryan feels mastering the art of frame building will complete the cycle (pardon the pun).

Pi, on the other hand, emphasized the freedom of working in their own space:

“Having our own private space in Lincoln Street Warehouse is liberating, and crucial to the creative process.” 

Beyond their working life, the pair engage in as much cycling as possible. Bristol is a rewarding city, both for its cycle tracks and huge biking community. Ryan notes the difficulties of finding empty spots when it comes to mountain bike trails. Thankfully, Bristol is surrounded by secluded woodlands, with a number of hidden dirt tracks.

Pi’s favourite Bristol route is the path from Stapleton Road to Lawrence Hill. It’s wide, smooth and flat and you don’t need to worry about being run over.

As for the cycling community of Bristol, Pi tells me Roll for the Soul is the perfect example:

“Roll for the soul exemplifies how awesome the cycling scene is in Bristol. It has only developed thanks to the strong community of bikers here. We have Boneshaker Magazine writing creatively about cycling, the cycle festival holding crazy events, and even cycle speed dating and ride in cinemas.”

For a final thought, the pair discuss the benefits of buying (and building) handmade bikes and parts. Pi notes the unfortunate and widespread disconnect between buying a good and knowing where it’s from.

“If you buy from a large store, materials might be sourced from Africa, built in Asia, and imported to the UK. They pass through so many hands that the bike is never tailored to you. Buying handmade is empowering. You know you’re more than just another consumer. Everyone who has worked on your bike has a huge passion for what they do.” 

Ryan believes we should all try to be hands on with our bikes, we all have the ability to make small repairs and fix punctures, we just need to trust ourselves to do so. He would love to see a community space in Bristol, where cyclists can come to ‘just have a go’.

We are thrilled to have Ryan and Pi working in Lincoln Street Warehouse, and can’t wait to see how their builds develop. For now, check out the handbuilt wheels on Ryan’s website.