Penhale Bicycle Co.

Explore the world or your backyard.

It would be easy enough to categorize Penhale frames as tourers, mountain bikes, gravel grinders or the name du jour; however, we formed the company with the primary goal of developing frames which go beyond those traditional definitions. Penhale frames can be built into truly versatile machines which, on one day, can be used to commute to work, the next to set off on the trip of a lifetime.

Penhale Bicycle Company builds all its frames using custom drawn Japanese chromoly steel designed for its strength, comfort, reliability and versatility rather than the ultimate lightweight and speed on which the big brands focus. The versatility comes from details like 3 sets of water bottle bosses and rack mounts on the B'Stard trail frame, multiple tire options on the Vagabond - 27.5 x 3.25 up to 29 x 2.4" and 29 x 2.0 tires plus fenders on the Gypsy tourer to name a few. The point is, you can take a Penhale frame and make it your own, go touring on the trail hardtail, hit the fast trails on your plus bike, ride to the pub on your dirt roady and grab a tour on some singletrack.

Penhale is a small company designing and selling framesets with most of the work done by Andy Holmes - me - the Chief Cook and Bottle Washer. I've been working in the bike industry for the better part of 30 years - scary when I think of it! If you had a mug of tea at Bicycle Doctor in Manchester, England on any weekend in the mid 80's, chances are I brewed it. With plenty of racing and touring under my belt I quickly started getting a good idea of what I wanted out of a bike and in 1991 I designed my first frame. It was a fast road bike, built to put up with my road club's tendency to take shortcuts along dirt roads but still crank with the chain-gang. It's a frame that I still have today. I've toured and explored all over the world, all while developing bikes for some of the most influential brands on the planet.  

Moving to the USA in 1998 to work in the home of the bicycle industry of Southern California, I quickly discovered the Southwests dirt roads through the mountains and deserts. That led to adventures ranging from fast weekend back road trips to epic tours of Baja and beyond. While work was focused on performance mountain bikes, my passion was always dirt touring and adventure. That passion was why I focused of touring and adventure. We started in Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca. in 2014, but recently relocated to the bike friendly city of Eugene Oregon. That move gives us access to the spectacular trails and roads of the Pacific Northwest, to improve the brand and continue exploring into the future aboard some of the best adventure bikes on the planet.

I'm confident that, not matter which Penhale frame you purchase, you'll enjoy it, you'll have fun and it'll take you places you've never been.

Cheers

Andy