Chapter 2 bikes is a relative new comer to the realm of boutique race bikes. But the founder Michael Pryde in not new to the world of bike design. He was instrumental in the addition of Neil Pryde bikes to his fathers company back in 2008. A former architect he is no stranger to the design world, conceptualizing and creating products is what he has always done. This added skillset comes out in the amazing designs put forth by him and his team.
“At the heart of CHAPTER2, we find the extraordinary and diverse nature of New Zealand sculpted in each frame design. This earth is inhabited by 1,000 years of Māori heritage known for its legendary warrior spirit which is our soul, our inspiration, our why.”
When I first spoke to Michael his passion for riding and bikes was front and centre. But as he says passion is not enough to survive in the bike business, you need a smart head on your shoulders as well. He learned a lot at Neil Pryde Bikes when he introduced high end Road Bikes to his fathers company. Some mistakes were made and many successes were had as well with the sponsorship of UHC in the Pro ranks. From the knowledge gained in this first chapter of his bike life he went onto start Chapter 2, wiser but still passionate about designing and riding some of the coolest bikes out there. One of the big lessons he learned was that selling complete bikes was hard in regards to relying on so many vendors , but also the amount of dollars tied up in inventory. So with Chapter 2 he decided on offering only Frame sets. This allowed him to stock many sizes and react quickly to orders. Basically offering a bespoke frame without the 12 month wait. This focus on just frames also allows them to launch limited run paint jobs that are absolutely stunning. Again giving our clients a truly unique build that stands out from the big brands.
The bike market is crowded and coming up with ways to stand out and offer something that is truly unique is a challenge. I feel what Michael is doing is setting his brand apart and his attention to detail combined with his personalized service is a key to his success. I will always support the little brands out there and his frame only philosophy is the ideal fit for PRW. We are proud to be Alberta’s exclusive Chapter 2 dealer . The Frames can be custom assembled to your needs with Campagnolo, SRAM or Shimano.
Look through the gallery to see some of our favourite Chapter 2 builds, or visit them here to start thinking about one of your own. All our current stock of bikes and frames can be viewed here .
