Europe’s leading handmade bicycle show, BESPOKED, is right around the corner, happening in Dresden, 10–12 October, 2025!
This year, 150+ incredible exhibitors from across the globe will celebrate the very best in handmade bicycles, components, and cycling culture.
Everyone can expect a packed schedule of bikes, talks, films, and community events that make BESPOKED unique. The full programme is here. Advance tickets are available now here.
I'm particularly stoked for the events:
- Friday 10th October – Hill Climb with Brooks England, followed by the awards ceremony and afterparty with Schwalbe.
- Saturday 11th October – Drag Race with Hunt Wheels, followed by the afterparty at Objekt Klein A with DJs supported by Columbus.
- Ride Outs: including social rides with Sour / Hunt Wheels and the Sketch Ride with Quinda Verheul.
- The weekend also includes a full schedule of talks and film screenings, featuring shorts from Felix Kuffner, Milli Cycles, Endless Bikes, and a unique edit of the Unicycling Unicorn documentary, shown exclusively at BESPOKED.
More details in the release below. Hope to see you all there!
Wishing you a great week ahead!
Thank you for reading,
Jon
p.s.
I'll be working on the Gravaa newsletter after this; please do check it out!
October
- 🇳🇱 1 Wheelrunner Wednesday Ride (Weekly at 6:30am)
- 🇳🇱 5 Pathfinder Giro, Eindhoven
- 🇳🇱 9 The Mechanics of Joy Nº49
- 🇳🇱 9 10 Bike Messenger Film Festival at Workspace 6
- 🇩🇪 10-12 BESPOKED Dresden
- 🇳🇱 13-14 International Cargo Bike Festival, Utrecht
- 🇬🇧 21-21 ADE CYCLE | London to Amsterdam
- 🇩🇰 25 Finding Nessie Screening at OMNIUM HQ in Copenhagen
November
- 🇩🇪 3-4 DT Swiss Craft Days w/ Quirk Cycles
- 🇬🇧 13-15 Rouleur Live w/ REMCO Tools & Gravaa
December
- 🇳🇱 12 Twotone 11 Year Party | Food, beverages, tattoos & live music!
Bikes
BESPOKED DRESDEN 2025: Full Programme, Events & Tickets
I'm very stoked for Bespoked! Click through for the scoop of everything happing at the show!
Slo(w)venia - a family bikepacking adventure
Le Pilgrimage Gravel 2025 Recap
Le Pilgrimage
Already in its 3rd year, Le Pilgrimage welcomed 47 adventure cyclists from 13 different nations this year. Read the write-up here.
Ideas
European Sleeper Investment Round | Barcelona & Milan on the map!
How To Pitch A News Story To An Editor
DatchDatchens
Useful tips BUT biggest missing points: 1. do your homework, does the editor even write about themes like you're pitching? 2. Make yourself useful. i.e. share things that help them? Ask what they're working on. Make yourself a resource. 3. Support. Do you subscribe to their publication? Substack or actually keep up & promote their efforts? That counts for a lot!
A Conversation With Seth Godin
Sublime
I've often cited Seth's notion of Permission Marketing over the years. Dunno if I'm surprised that he's into AI but he's for sure missed before. ; ) Either way, convos with Seth are always a good read! p.s. this is actually part of a 'zine that you can purchase here. And also worth a read: The Man Calling Bullshit on the AI Boom "Ed Zitron built a massive following by saying what tech journalists won't: that generative AI is an unsustainable bubble propped up by hype and bad math."
Friends
Wade Wallace on Keeping It Simple with Escape Collective
wadewallace
After 3 years of Escape Collective, Wade reflects on his experience "earned after 15 years in cycling media [...] that keeping it simple and being crystal clear on who your customer is, is the most effective way of growth and survival." Read the article here.
Off The Map Hosts SRAM Rider Hub During UCI Gravel Worlds
Paul Veugen: You Cannot Invest In Marketing Too Early
I've known Paul since his Usabilla & Human days. Though this may be a more SaaS conversation, it is applicable across industries and niches. Waiting until 'product market fit' is a mistake! Watch here.
Radness
Tomii Cycles × SimWorks × Panaracer Faraway Tires
Thank you very much for reading!
Here's to being stoked for BESPOKED this week!