Recent Build – BW Continental –

　
Rewind to this past February. At the NAHBS (North American Handmade Bicycle Show) in Sacramento, among the many show bikes on display at the BreadWinner booth, one bike stood out with a particularly unique presence.
　
That bike is the Continental.
　
　
The bike that sparked the career of Tony Pereira and Ira Ryan as BreadWinner Cycles is a favorite not only of theirs but also of ours. It embodies their philosophy, boasting a frame performance that is both tough and flexible enough to conquer the Rapha Continental rides, while also possessing the beautiful form of a classic horizontal frame and the elegant aura characteristic of a steel bike.
　
　
This was an order we received from a customer earlier this year, just before the show. Because the guys at BreadWinner offered to feature it as a show bike, we were given the unique opportunity to display this machine, assembled with a SimWorks By Nitto cockpit and SimWorks By Honjo fenders, at the actual event.
　
　
For this build, we chose the Co Misirlou handlebar and Wendy stem combination. When you're looking at a bike intended for long rides rather than racing, the suppleness provided by the traditional 26.0mm clamping diameter is sometimes more important than sheer stiffness. Simply put, this combination is a perfect fit for a steel bike like the Continental.
　
　
The owner, who loves brevets and long-distance riding, ordered this Continental with an eye toward using it for brevets. With tires of a healthy 26c volume and a pair of SW Honjo Smooth 35 fenders, the build exudes a determination to keep moving forward through rain or wind. For the wheelset, we focused on trouble-free performance by choosing Chris King R45 hubs and HED Belgium rims.
　
　
Beyond the fenders, we even color-matched the Silca Impero frame pump to the frame, which is the real thrill of building up a bike like the Continental—one that blends the modern with the nostalgic—to ensure the total balance is perfectly dialed in. We carry these frame pumps at Circles, so please feel free to ask us if you are interested.
　
　

　
　
The owner recently completed a 600km brevet. My first impression was that, contrary to its elegant appearance, the bike just keeps pushing forward, as if it’s saying, "Pedal harder. Let's go further!" "I don't ride to be serious or competitive," he says. "My riding style is just to keep pedaling away at my own steady pace without giving up, all to go further and have more fun." The Continental is truly a bike that fits that style of riding perfectly.
　
I am very much looking forward to hearing about his next adventures and where he decides to take it next.