Bike Of The Week: Vigo Cycles

The second Bike of the Week of 2012 has been a long time coming.  The bike, a cyclocross model from Vigo Cycles, represents the first in what will certainly be a long line of fine bicycles produced by the hands of NYC Velo customer Troy Selvaratnam.  After years of contemplation, Troy sought the instruction of famed bicycle framebuilder Mike Flanigan of ANT (Alternative Needs Transportation) in Holliston, MA.  Troy fabricated Vigo Cycles frame #1 while studying under Mike last summer. The name “Vigo” comes from one of Troy’s cultural heroes, French film maker Jean Vigo.  As “Vigo” kind of sounds like a German or Russian pronouncing “we go”, it seemed to work as the name of a bike company.

 

 

Troy wanted the first bikes to go to people other than himself, enthusiasts who would ride them and give him feedback uncolored by the proud bias of a parent.  Vigo Cycles #1 is a steel cyclocross model made for a friend, Phil Morgan (co-owner of design firm Hecho Inc and bar/restaurant Building on Bond).  Phil has recently rediscovered bike racing and needed an able cyclocross rig to help him tackle the formidable Northeast ‘cross schedule.

 

With Mike’s help on the stem and fork, Troy welded up frame #1 and has in-house designed headbadges made by fellow cyclist and jewelry designer Thomas Kurilla.  Phil, posessing a great eye for detail, chose the paint scheme to be painted by Noah Rosen of Velocolour in Toronto, and Troy took care of choosing the parts kit. Troy looked to Campagnolo for their new cyclocross-specific kit, and you’ll notice brands like White Industries, 3T, Sapim, and Kinlin represented on the bike as well.

Troy is a busy man with a full-time law practice taking up most of his time these days. He looks forward to setting up a dedicated workshop in the next few months and producing bikes for friends and family.  At this point, if he can subsidize his hobby a bit while producing a product that his customers will like and use, he feels as though that’s OK with him.