Some time ago I was looking for a new bicycle but couldn't find what I wanted.  I was looking for something along the lines of the 10 speed racers I owned as a youth back in the sixties.  I wanted a made to measure frame constructed from the highest quality tubing fitted with the best modern equipment available, preferably Campagnolo.  To me this would make a stunning mode of transport and something of beauty to own and use yet I searched in vain.  I figured that if I wanted one then other people would too and decided that if no one else would build them, I would.

I know about metal, I've been working with it all my life.  I was born with a spanner in my hand and served my apprenticeship working on Bentleys, Aston Martins, Ferraris and Jaguars.  I went from there to work in Motor Racing - engineering's in my blood.

Bikes have always been my first love though and when I learned that Ron Cooper, one of the last of the great Master Framebuilders lived only a short distance from me I looked him up.  Although retired he still builds the odd frame, mainly for the American market.  He quickly  recognised how much I wanted to do this and offered to teach me. Over many weeks he taught me how to measure, cut and bend tubes then braze them together to perfect accuracy along with many other tricks and techniques learnt over nearly 60 years and thousands of frames.  To further broaden my knowledge I then went on Dave Yates' superb framebuilding course and another learning how to build wheels.

Since then I have built many frame and bicycles for discerning touring cyclists.  Each frame is built to exactly match the customer's body and preferred riding position.  During the planning stages you can specify options such as hand cut lug work, number of racks, frame colour or even chrome plating or polished stainless steel.  All of these options and more are available so please feel free to ask me for a quotation on anything you want.  There's no obligation and you may be pleasantly surprised by the price.

Of course that doesn't mean I'll leave you on your own with a sheet of paper and pencil, help and advice is always only a phone call or email away.  The other side of course is that if you do know exactly what you want down to frame geometry and dropout design then all you have to do is tell me and I'll build it for you.

Making people feel part of the build process is an important part of the Villiers-Velo experience.  To that end I take photographs of each bicycle at different stages of the build so you can see how it's progressing.  I want buying a Villiers-Velo to be memorable and enjoyable in the same way getting your first bike was.

If you are looking for a bicycle with the construction standards of the great Constructeurs combined with 21st Century components then look no further.  One day I even hope to find the time to build one for myself...