- FINAL 50 -

Over the last few months, I have been thinking a lot about the future of Feather Cycles.

It has never been an easy ride, and it has become increasingly difficult over the past couple of years. It is the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. Coming to terms with the fact I will no longer do something I love to make a living is terrifying, but for my own wellbeing and for that of those around me, I have had to make a life changing decision.

Making a living building custom bikes is tough, and it’s even tougher when you are as obsessive as I am.

It was impossible to say everything I wanted to say in the video, I wouldn’t want to bore you all to tears, equally, I wasn’t about to make this a pity party. I know full well there are people who have things far tougher than I do and with this, I sympathise with them.

This said, Feather Cycles doesn’t feel like what it once was. My passion for building bikes is as great as ever, but my energy for running a small business is burning out. Already small margins seem to be getting even smaller. Getting work is increasingly more difficult and time consuming. I am always happy to put in work and never take it for granted that I will get the job, but it has become far more common place to be led down the garden path to find no fruit tree at the end of it.

I must soon legally register for VAT, meaning I have no choice but to add 20% to the cost of my frames at a time when so many want so much for so little, nor do they want to wait in a queue.

All I want is to make a living, but once a business gets to a certain size, the system just doesn’t lean in your favour. As a craftsman, you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. There is no room for expansion, it isn’t scalable, no one else can build a Feather. I wouldn’t want them to, but also, if they’re close to being capable, they’re already giving it a go themselves.

I could write a book on all of the reasons it’s difficult to operate a small business.

Please watch my video, and if you have ever thought about having your own Feather build, now is your chance and you can place a deposit for one of my FINAL 50 build slots in our online store.

All deposits placed will be for a complete bike build and the overall price of builds will be between £11,000 and £16,000 depending on frame materials, frame design features, custom paint options and component extras such as power meters.