Boutique Bicycle Manufacturers – The Ultimate List (G-H)
Here is the list of the boutique* bicycle manufacturers, ordered by their name (starting with G and H). If you want to find a unique bike that fits your personality, review this list.
The list is probably not complete, so if you want to contribute, please leave a comment below.
The brand was founded by Jeremy Shlachter in 2009. It is currently located in Denver, Colorado, United States.
“While costing more than some foreign assembled frames, we believe the quality, fit and one-of-a-kind nature of our frames more than offset any added expense. Every effort is made to source materials domestically, thereby minimizing environmental impact and promoting U.S. products, in contrast to foreign frames and bicycles transported from half a world away.” –Jeremy Shlachter
Gallus track bike. All frames are custom, so every detail can be tailored to your needs. To make the choice easier, track frames are usually built around a traditional geometry or as an urban fixed gear. Both frame styles have a high bottom bracket for pedaling through corners. Traditional track frames tend to have a steeper head tube and seat tube angles, short chain stays and fork length. This creates a stiff speed machine, perfect for the track or those double express cross-town deliveries. The urban fixed gear has a slightly slacker head tube, longer stays, and fork. It’s still plenty fast but would ride more like a road bike than a track frame. That said, the very nature of being a custom frame builder, enables us to apply the simple elegance of a track/fixed/single speed to the geometry that suits you, your style, and desired comfort.
The company is located in Nahant, Massachusetts, United States. They build aluminum road and cyclo-x bikes.
Gaulzetti road bike. “The design elements of each Gaulzetti are based upon traditional Italian racing geometry with regard to fit and function, but updated for the rigors of modern racing conditions as well as for the ergonomic demands of contemporary components. Gaulzetti Cicli produces a nimble, fast and balanced bicycle. The frames are designed to excel under all potential race conditions, especially technical courses where constant hard cornering and rapid changes in tempo are encountered. Years of experience on the Belgian Kermesse circuit and a history of training and racing on the poor roads of northern Europe and New England influence each detail. The Gaulzetti Cicli geometry may not be ideal for every cyclist, but an athlete seeking a pure race bike need look no further for the ideal bicycle. Sizes highlighted in bold script offer a lower and longer geometric option for clients requiring additional reach or drop.”
Geekhouse was established in 2002 by Marty Walsh. The company is located in New England, United States. Geekhouse specializes in custom-fit premium Steel and Titanium hand-built bicycles.
The company is very open to communications: “We like to spend the time to get to know everyone that reaches out to us. We’re available to chat over email, phone, skype. Go ahead, get in touch. We’ll discuss, brainstorm, dream, and together we will create the perfect bike for you.”
Geekhouse Hilldale – made from US Steel or Titanium (True Temper OX Plat or US 3Al-2.5V Titanium). Drop-outs and BB’s are domestically machined by Paragon Machine Works. Fork: carbon.
GIOS is a legendary Italian brand, founded by Alfredo GIOS in 1972. One of the best cycling teams of the 1970s, Brooklyn was the first big team using Gios bikes. The star of the team, Roger De Vlaeminck (born 24 August 1947) was described by another Belgian legend Rik Van Looy as “The most talented and the only real classics rider of his generation”. Nicknamed “The Gypsy” because he was born into a family of traveling clothiers, he is known for exploits in the cobbled classic Paris–Roubaix race, but his performances in other “Monument” races gave him a record that few can match. His record in Paris–Roubaix earned him another nickname, “Monsieur Paris–Roubaix” (English: “Mr. Paris–Roubaix”).
In the 1990s, another big team Kelme used Gios bikes.
In 1991, Stephen Roche chose GIOS bikes for his victories of that season.
Lots of victories won under one single color, the “GIOS blue”. Alfredo GIOS looked for a special color which fitted perfectly with the “stars & stripes”, the design of the Brooklyn team jersey. After some tests, he chose the blue, because of its brilliant, electric, eye-catching and surrealist tone. Its originality spread quickly in the cycling context, becoming a milestone of the history of professional cycling. Even today, after many years, the distinctive “GIOS blue”color continues being the main sign of the brand’s visual identity.
Nowadays, the GIOS company takes part in every international bike show and its worldwide sales team and customer service are today managed by two branches: GIOS ASIA/PACIFIC based in Hong Kong and GIOS EUROAMERICA with offices in Alicante (Spain), headed by Luca Tolmino GIOS, Alfredo’s son.
In 2016, GIOS has become the official technical supplier of the Colombian team “Manzana Postobon”.
GIOS Vintage Veloce 2017. 4130 Cr-Mo Special Tubing For GIOS, GIOS Original Cr-Mo Fork 1” JIS, Campagnolo Veloce groupset, Alex R-380 32H rims with Novatec hubs, GIOS Selle Italia SL saddle, Pacera 700×25C tires.
The brand is located in Wooster, Ohio, United States. They offer designs for the road, mountain, or playing together on a tandem, all frames are available in Steel, Titanium, or Aluminum.
Guerciotti is a historical company in the cycling business. It was founded in 1964 by Italo and Paolo Guergiotti brothers in Milan. Now Guerciotti is a very known brand all over the world.
Guerciotti Eureka SHM50 CCC Polsat Edition. Frame: Eureka SHM50 990 grams. Group: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2. Fork: Monocoque. BB Shell: Pressfit. Pedals: Look Keo Blade 2 Cr. Saddle: Selle Italia Flite. Seatpost: Dedaelementi Superzero. Stem: Dedaelementi 35. Handlebar: Dedaelementi 35 Alloy. Wheels: Ursus T47 Team. Tires: Tubolari Vittoria Evo cx. Bottlecage: Elite. Brakes: Tektro. “The model Eureka SHM50 has realized with a composition of carbon material composed by 75% 30tons High Modulus IMS60 carbon pre-peg + 20% 46tons Ultra High Modulus HS40 Carbon Pre-Peg+ 5% 60Tons Super High Modulus XN-60 Carbon Pre-Peg. The material system applied includes an high performance composite materials technology and special graphite fiber and epoxy resin. The same system is commonly used in aeronautics, aerospace and automobile industry. Eureka SHM50 is realized with an innovative process Advanced VaBm+EPU who ensures a kind of high-level molding process, thanks to a unique technology who ensures essential feature like lightweight and extremely high values of STW (Stiffness To Weight). The system Advanced VaBm (bladder molding process under vacuum control) is a process where the air inside the carbon layers will be pumped out during the molding process. The stiffness and strength of carbon frame with VaBm increases around 3% compared with the regular bladder molding without vacuum control. Appling the system EPU (Expanded PU Shell) inside the lugs such as bottom bracket, a headset tube, seat lug, it will increase the strength of the carbon frame around 3-5%. The result of these working systems brings to a superior impact absorption of the frame for comfort riding, keeping at the same time a very good response and acceleration from the bike. This is the frame used by Team CCC Sprandi in the most important RCS races in the 2015: Giro d’Italia, Milano Sanremo, Il Lombardia and Dubai Tour.”
Hampsten Cycles, LLC, founded in 1999 by Andy and Steve Hampsten, and building all frames in-house in Seattle, WA. They offer unique line of custom road frames and whole bikes.
Andrew (Andy) Hampsten (born April 7, 1962, in Columbus, Ohio) is an American former professional road bicycle racer who won the 1988 Giro d’Italia and the Alpe d’Huez stage of the 1992 Tour de France. Especially, his Passo di Gavia ride at the 1988 Giro d’Italia was sensational. He remains the only American winner of the Giro d’Italia.
Hampsten Maglia Rosa Il Carbonario. The bike is named after Andy Hampsten’s 1988 Giro d’Italia victory. It is made from Columbus Tubi’s Genius carbon. “From Columbus Tubi and ADK Technolgy comes the Columbus Genius carbon frame which we sprinkle with magic Maglia ROSA dust, add an Enve 1.0 tapered fork, sexy-up with our own paint and decals and, voila! – Il Carbonario. No, we didn’t make it ourselves and yes, it comes from a country where one might have noodles-not-pasta for lunch but we’re impressed with the quality of the frames we’ve seen from ADK and the fit, design, and geometry of this frame is right on the money – thanks, Columbus! If you’re looking for a light/strong/comfortable carbon race bike that won’t break the bank but will provide a good alternative to all the GianTrekalized bikes out there we think you should be on this.”
Based in San Diego, California, United States, Holland cycles was founded in 1986 by Bill Holland.
“Bill and his staff, who share over one hundred years of experience between them, build titanium, carbon and ExoGrid® (combinations of the two materials) frames of the highest quality and most distinctive forms. Holland’s ExoGrid® design is a combination of US-milled aerospace grade titanium, laser cut into a lattice and reinforced with a tube of custom-laid high-modulus carbon.”
Holland Signature HC Bicycle. Only 42 items will be built, since Bill Holland is commemorating his 42nd anniversary in the bicycle business with his first Limited Edition SIGNATURE frame release. Each frame will receive special graphic treatments, signatures of each artisan and truly represent the history and the uniqueness of its builder.
Based in Davenport, California, United States, Hunter Cycles was founded by Rick Hunter in 1993. They offer TIG-welded and fillet brazed steel frames for everything from racing to hauling cargo, in addition to handmade forks and stems. They also offer complete bikes and wheel builds.
* According to the Wikipedia, “boutique manufacturing is a method used for the custom production of certain products in limited quantities by hand or with a restricted level of automation.”. (Boutique manufacturing on Wikipedia)
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