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It’s time to call a wrap on our coverage from Spoken 2025. As with previous years, the show once again proved that the relatively small population and geographic isolation of Australia mean local makers and brands need to come out swinging to break into the global market.
In our first gallery, we looked at Prova’s latest, a potential new direction for Curve, and Kumo's return. The second gallery looked at the biggest update from Bastion in nearly a decade, a hard-hitting Devlin, and what’s next for Sugarloaf. Meanwhile, the third gallery was just all Baum, including a few experimental projects.
Now, it’s time to share what Australian makers such as Woods, G.Duke, HTech, Palmer, and Chimera have been up to with a variety of materials. Plus, we look at the latest locally designed (but outsourced) bikes from Bossi, Simpitaco, and Wondercross.
A home brand to the Sydney-based show, Bossi is perhaps best known for its Strada SS that merged cast lugs, 3D-printed parts, and hydro-formed tubes to create an aero titanium bike that could be mistaken for carbon. Now, owner James Bossi is working on a new project that blends 3D-printed titanium lugs with carbon tubes. That construction method was first pioneered by the Australian manufacturer Bastion Cycles, and at this year's Spoken show, Curve was also teasing such a project. Like Curve, Bossi aims to have the materials manufactured overseas, with the bonding done in-house. Bossi's supplier for 3D-printed titanium parts clearly knows what it's doing. Bossi's design, while still in prototype form, is likely to use a titanium chainstay assembly – a smart move given the forces and potential impact damage (from the chain) in this area of the bike. The finish quality is great for a first prototype. Another look at that titanium chainstay. This first model (supposedly about six months away) will be a pure road bike. Bossi also sells its own wheels. The company's latest is the Core SL with carbon-bladed spokes. These wheels, claimed to weigh 1,275 grams, offer a 50 mm depth and 23 mm hooked inner width. Bossi assembles them in-house and provides a five-year warranty. The hubs use a non-DT-Swiss star-ratchet that you'll find in use from other hub brands. Ceramic bearings are given as stock in these wheels that are rather well priced at AU$3,200 (approx US$2,090).Mitch Docker of Life in the Peloton was doing interviews throughout the show. Here, Steve from VeloCraft was discussing his specialty in paint. One of the best in the business, VeloCraft, is the go-to painter for Prova Cycles and also for adding the final touches on repairs by carbon expert Raoul Luescher. On display was Steve's new Prova Integrale Ti that he'd painted up with an almost ocean-like fade. Another angle. The trick? Applying paint onto a latex glove and grabbing the frame. Repeat in different colours. The few decades of experience don't hurt either. It was flawless. Steve had also painted his helmet to match. Why not when your business is all about boutique paints?Woods Bicycle Co presented a number of dropbar and MTB bikes. Shown is Woods' El Camino high-pivot enduro bike that's made from 4130 tubing (Tig-welded). This particular bike was built around an Effigear gearbox, but with each one made to order, a traditional derailleur drivetrain can be selected instead. Some nice details are on this one, including an adjustable shock mount and a bracing plate on the swingarm with some branded details.
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The Effigear Mimic offers nine gears.Gussets on gussets. Woods intend this frame to be highly versatile for gravity-type riding, whether that be with a 160 mm single crown fork or a 200 mm dual-crown downhill fork. Woods' bikes feature a brass head tube badge. To me, the most surprising element of this bike was the price, with these customisable Australian-made (near Byron Bay, NSW) frames selling from AU$4,340 (approx US$2.850, not including shock). The pricing is quite competitive against many high-end mass-produced options. Darren Baum and Zac Woods, one with a 32" gravel bike, another with a 26/24" throwback. A couple of bikes that were just begging to be photographed together. The Woods is wild. Named the Barracuda, the design pays homage to the Brooklyn Machine Works Racelink freeride bike. Zac has built this one with modern geometry and fitment standards (Metric rear shock, Boost rear wheel spacing, etc). Plenty of old-school tech and collectible parts on this one, including a floating brake arm and polished Profile racing cranks. Very cool and very heavy. What started as a social ride in Melbourne is now a brand of bike. Wondercross sells well-priced stock geometry titanium frames and complete bikes. Pictured is the Wanderer gravel bike, with clearance for up to 700 x 55 mm tyres. Note the matching titanium fork up front.
