Fresh Build: LOLO / Breadwinner Cycles

　
The inseparable relationship between bicycles and coffee is a universal truth. You can see this clearly here in Nagoya by taking a peek at Early Birds, and there are plenty of other cyclist-friendly coffee stands as well. However, in their home across the sea, there exists a place where that bond is even stronger.
　
　

Portland’s Breadwinner Cycles moved their workshop last year, and they took that opportunity to build a café right next to the new space. After a soft opening, we received the happy news that they finally had their grand opening the other day. The Breadwinner Café is located on North Williams Avenue, a street many cyclists choose for their commute. It serves as a hub for cyclists—somewhere to stop before work, during a lunch break, or as a starting/finishing point for weekend rides—while also allowing people to actually see frame-building in progress or discuss custom frame orders.
　
Though they’ve been busy building the café, they certainly haven't neglected their core business of frame-building. In fact, they’ve added to their team and are stronger than ever. Thanks to all of you, they still have a backlog of orders, but the first frame that arrived this year has already been built up, and it left for its owner today. I’d like to introduce it to you.
　

　
The model ordered was the LOLO, which boasts unwavering popularity as a modern steel racer in their lineup.
　
Even though it’s called a "racer," not everyone uses it for racing; many people prefer to just point their handlebars wherever their heart leads them. I believe this bike is the optimal solution for those kinds of cyclists.
　
To explain the Breadwinner ordering process again: while there are base models, all sizing is custom. When an order is placed, we take measurements, use them to coordinate the geometry with the Breadwinner team, and create a design sheet (blueprint) for each individual order. In short, you can build a bike that perfectly fits your own body.
　

Since the owner enjoys rides with lots of elevation changes and forest road cycling, they chose hydraulic disc brakes, and to match that, both the front and rear are thru-axle. Of course, with the Lolo, you could also choose caliper brakes or quick-release disc brakes. The benefit of a custom order is being able to select these standards based on your preferences, rather than viewing things through the lens of trends or mass-production intentions, allowing us to envision how the rider will fully utilize the bike.
　

Those of you sharp enough to notice in the photos so far: the frame paint is a custom color rather than a stock one. Breadwinner uses a local painter, and for an upcharge, you can get custom paint jobs like this one. On this bike, painted in a simple black and gunmetal, we’ve assembled a full set of Chris King components in Matte Emerald.
　

　

　
With mechanical hydraulic disc brakes and a wide 11-30T gear ratio tailored to the rider's style, the bike itself has been finished as a machine that moves responsively whenever you step on the pedals. The owner is heading out for a ride this weekend, and with a bike like this, you can enjoy yourself regardless of the season!
　
Breadwinner custom frames currently take about 3 to 4 months to produce. Of course, beyond the LOLO introduced here, you will surely find a bike that matches your desired riding style, so please feel free to consult with us.