REDCHILLI Bikes

REDCHILLI™ Bikes is a new British bike brand, based in Axminster in Devon. The business was originally set up in 2010 but traded under a different name. In 2014 the company registered the trademark and REDCHILL Bikes was born. The company develops custom, performance Road and TT (Time Trial) bikes that are both eye-catching and design to offer superb value. When we say custom, we mean it. REDCHILLI pride themselves on the fact that their bikes are built to order and designed to meet the exact specification of the customer. The current range consists of 3 High-Modulus Carbon framesets.

KEY PRODUCTS

REDCHILLI FR1 - Aero

REDCHILLI-FR4 Super Light

REDCHILLI-SE1 TT Frameset

The beautiful race-bred FR1 - Aero frame - £995.00 - is the company's flagship frameset. It features FTC (Full Carbon Technology), Tapered Head Tube and Internal Cable Routing, allowing riders the choice of mechanical and electronic gears. It is also the frame used by all of REDCHILLI's supported riders and teams.The REDCHILLI FR4 - Super Light - £945.00 - is a lightweight racing frame, weighing a around 820g. REDCHILLI tell us that it is designed to be responsive, quick and agile on climbs.Lastly there is the Special Edition TT frame - £745.00. This is a limited edition, matte finish frameset made from T700 Toray carbon fibre and the price includes frame, fork, carbon seat post, seat post clamp and headset.To complement their custom bikes, REDCHILLI use a number of top brands for the components and finishing kit  including Shimano, Deda, Fulcrum and Equinox Wheels.REDCHILLI Bikes not only build custom bikes for cycling enthusiasts - they also support a number of elite riders. All of whom currently ride the FR1 Aero frame:Genevieve Whitson - (Brand Ambassador) riding for Isorex Ladies Team, BelgiumAnna Marie-Hughes - riding for TWC de Kempen, NetherlandsJo Smith - riding for Adalta CC Women's Race Team, UKRowan Ellis - riding for 1st Chard Wheelers, UKand teams:1st Chard Wheelers - (A team based in Somerset UK) - are a company sponsored teamTeam Rytger - (Women's Team based in Denmark) are currently riding the 2015 R8 bikes but REDCHILLI Bikes tell us the aim to supply the FR1 bikes later in the year.Team Clean Power - (International Team based in Reno, Nevada, USA) have 3 riders using FR1 bikes with exclusive Team Edition frames.Fusion RT Fierlan - (Women's Team based in Abergavenny, South Wales). This is a new partnership.

BEHIND THE BRAND

We wanted to find out a bit more about REDCHILLI™ Bikes - so asked the man behind the brand, David Darby a few questions about his company:REDCHILLI Bikes is an interesting brand name, where did it come from?The idea behind REDCHILLI was to create a brand that was different a little quirky maybe, but above all, memorable. Cycling is something of a hot sport at the moment, hot is red, and the scotch bonnet is one of the hottest chillies there is. So the Countdown Conundrum came up with REDCHILLI.What made/why did you decide to start building bikes?Bikes are my passion and so I wanted to create and develop a brand that is synonymous with quality and value. Every REDCHILLI bike is custom built using top quality, branded components and so it is this attention to the smaller details that really set REDCHILLI bikes apart. This is just one aspect where REDCHILLI customers really start to benefit from our custom bike build.Do you remember the first bike you built?Back in the day when I started racing, dare I say in the late 80’s, I built a Tommy Godwin Reynolds 531c kitted out with Ultegra 6400 and Mavic Open 4 CD Rims.Why road/TT bikes & any plans for other disciplines in the future?REDCHILLI Bikes was born on the road and this is where its roots will always be, though there will be a Track frame in due course to rip up the boards and a Cyclo-Cross frame for those that like the muddy stuff. Other frames include the FR8 - a general all-round use, road race frameset. We also plan to launch the SR8 & SR8D which will be a Sportive frameset available for use with standard caliper brakes or disc brakes (SR8D). The range will be completed with the TR3 Track frame and the REDCHILLI TTR3 Time Trial frame.Do you cycle now - if so, what is your current bike?Time is my enemy at the moment, though I do still try and get out as and when I can. I currently ride a REDCHILLI FR1 with Dura Ace 9000 and Equinox Typhoon-X45 wheels and the winter bike is a REDCHILLI R5 with 105 5800 and Fulcrum Racing 5’s. However, down in Devon the roads do tend to point upwards quite a lot, so I am trying to convince myself that I also need a bike for days in the hills. This would be taken care of by a REDCHILLI FR4 Super Light. Watch this space….What do you feel is the company’s biggest achievement to date?We are fortunate to be working with some great people (riders and teams) that are currently riding REDCHILLI Bikes, but one standout rider is Ex. US National Champion Frank Kratzer. Given his position in the sport and all that he has achieved, it is a huge compliment for us that Frank now rides a REDCHILLI FR1. We do keep in touch with Frank and he tells us often that he loves his FR1 which makes this even more pleasing.What next - future aspirations?Plenty of plans and aspirations though to be as succinct as possible: develop the brand based upon the ethos on which it was created, continue to support/sponsor/partner individual riders and teams, eventually develop a dealer network and (just maybe) one day, see a Pro team riding REDCHILLI.One piece of advice for a new business.Believe in your product or service and value your customers.I'd like to thank David for taking time out to speak to AATR. Personally speaking - I think these bikes look great and the FR1 would look at home on the Pro-Tour calendar.If you would like more information on REDCHILLI Bikes or fancy a custom bike for the new season - check out http://www.redchilli-bikes.co.uk/