Why Nic Bought A Stayer
I got my first off road bike for my 30th, in 2019. My Mum, Dad and boyfriend Jay all went in and bought me a second hand Genesis, Crox De Fer. You can see a video of my riding it for the first time, up and down my road, here.
Drop bars, smooth shifting gears and 38 mm tyres were all new to me. I was thrilled with my new bike and felt very lucky I’d been bought it as a gift for a milestone birthday. Thanks again Mum, Dad and Jay, I really appreciate it.
I loved my Croix De Fer. I loved the places it took me, the people I grew to know through riding it in the forest and I loved how it felt. Before my Croix De Fer, I’d only known town bikes. I used to commute in London on a Raleigh Shopper which had a basket, I loved that bike too. Any way…
This was my Raleigh shopper I used to commute in London. Looking at it now, I can see how the Jones bars on my new Stayer are similar to the ones here.
“When so often, brands prioritise ambassadors for new bikes, it was great to see a small business, using their demo fleet to improve access.”
It was a series of events that made me want to buy a Stayer. First up, July 2019 and I was at the Sisters in the Wild festival up in the Lake District.
My mate Katie was there on a borrowed bike, a Stayer. I was like….. Whaaaaa, this bike looks siiiick. Katie had wanted to come to the festival but didn’t have a suitable bike. Taylor from Stayer, had hooked Sisters in the Wild organiser Charlotte up with Stayer. There were 3 demo Stayer bikes at that weekend, all in the hands of people who wanted to come, but needed a bike. When so often, brands prioritise ambassadors for new bikes, it was great to see a small business, using their demo fleet to improve access.
I also got to ride with Judith that weekend, Co Founder of Stayer and Belgian cyclocross enthusiast. An incredibly rad woman, boss and head wheel builder. She first began building wheels ten years ago and officially started up Stayer Cycles in 2013 with her partner framebuilder Sam. She smiled loads and was honest about finding some parts of the route tough. Judith was sound.
You can see clips from that magical day at Sisters in the Wild here.
In May 2021, I saw that Stayer were supporting the Ultra Distance Scholarship. Created to “elevate representation in the discipline of Ultra Distance racing and to amplify conversations around the lack of diversity in the cycling world at large and inspire others in the industry to take initiative” For a small, independent business, providing 3 free bikes to scholarship winners is a real commitment to the cause.
“Twice now, Stayer had landed on my radar. Not because some ambassador who got given a free bike was tagging them on their insta, or because they had spent loads on adverts. But because they were showing up, in good spaces, and committing resources to bringing about much needed change and diversity in the cycling world. ”
Fast forward to September 2020. I was half way up the penultimate climb on the Torino Nice Rally, the one after Limone Piemonte. I’d ridden 270 miles, climbed 7 alpine passes and I was on the phone to my boyfriend Jay. “If I finish* this ride, as a reward, I’m getting myself a new bike”.
I knew what bike I wanted. A Stayer. There was a particular descent on the TNR that I loved. Technical, gnarly and with breathtaking views, Strada Dei Canonni, on the way back down from the Sampyere climb. My 38mm tyres made it a tense descent. Someone had told me at the start of the TNR that I’d “brought a knife to a gun fight” On that descent, I knew what they meant.
This was me, 6:00am in the morning up Strada Dei Canonni. 📸 Tamara
So new bike, bigger tyres (my genesis couldn’t fit anything more than 38mm tyres on 700c wheels) and a Stayer. That was pretty much the remit, so I could go back and ride the Torino Nice route, on a bike that would make it feel like a completely different ride.
It’s worth saying at this point that whilst I was ‘under biking’ on my Croix De Fer, I still finished the route. Not only did I finish the route, but I had loads of fun on my bike. After the 400 miles route and going over 10 alpine passes, I’d honed my understanding of what I wanted in a new bike and finishing the route gave me just cause to treat myself to summin’ special.
This is a photo from the first climb of the TNR. Tyre wise, I took a knife to a gun fight.
📸 @bicycle_factory
I got home, emailed Stayer, and started the process to get a new bike. I sent an email that outlined a couple of key details of how I’d like to proceed.
This bike is going to be a big investment for me. I want to LOVE it and be involved in the process.
I've never done this before, and I'm a bit nervy of all the technical terms I should know in order to get exactly what I want. A heads up that I will need to be handheld through this process. Please forgive me if the answers to the questions I ask are on your website.
I spoke with Holly for the duration of the process. Holly rung me when I needed to understand more about a certain question before answering which was not only really helpful but made me enjoy the wait ya know? I imagined the Stayer workshop in Leytonstone, Sam brazing my frame and Holly ordering the components we’d agreed on. Hand made, built with care and attention, in a workshop I’d been able to visit.
My ‘shake down’ ride on the South Downs Way. The forks have loads of space for the fork cages and the handle bars mean that I can carry a tent up front, no problemo. The slacker geometry of the frame also means I have loads of space for the seat pack with no fear of it rubbing on the back tyre.
You can see my exact bike spec here.
I said to Holly that I wanted a bike that was fun and playful. It needed to make me feel confident on rocky downhills and I enjoy being upright (ish). It needed to be a rad colour and it needed to be suitable for long, multi day adventures. After a month of riding my new bike, I can honestly say I got exactly what I wanted. It feels super cruisey and casual but then bam, on a downhill I’m off, more confident than ever on my 2.1 inch tyres. The Jones bars give me so much real estate up top to pack things and the colour, a blue, subtle fade situation called “chillymanilly”. I mean…
I’m really proud that I own a Stayer. I’m proud I’ve been able to invest in an independent business that are doing things right. I think hand made things are special and I like spending money on things that bring me joy and that will last a lifetime.
Me, collecting my new bike from Sam, the excellent man who built it.
If you’re thinking about getting a new bike and want to buy it from an independent business, I’ve got three suggestions.
Have a browser of the Stayer insta and see if there is anything you fancy.
Email Holly and start the conversation. There are no stupid questions and they’ll hold your hand every step of the way.
Me, excited to be with my new bike at the beginning of the Montanas Vacias, a week after I’d collected it from the workshop in Leytonstone.
📸 Rue Kaladyte
“Change happens when we choose to support brands and people that align with our values.”
Everyone has a sphere of influence. By being conscious about our purchasing decisions and understanding the massive opportunity we have in this space to promote brands that are doing things right, we can set a new standard for how we expect the bike industry to behave.
Change happens when we choose to support brands and people that align with our values. Whilst I realise there can be financial barriers to being able to support certain businesses, especially independents that don’t have the economies of scale, as consumers, we have power.
A note to say that consciously choosing not to consume more by buying used or using what you have already is as powerful a gesture as conscientious purchasing.
Huge thank you to Holly, Sam and team Stayer for making the experience so much fun. I look forward to many happy decades with a bike that will serve as a reminder that I can indeed, do hard things.
You’ll find me, proudly riding my Stayer on New Forest Off Road Club group rides. If you’re interested in riding it and seeing how it feels, PLEASE say and I can arrange to bring another bike for me to ride whilst you ride mine. I wouldn’t have known how dreamy 2.1 tyres and the slack OG frame felt without giving it a go first.
Footnote,
1) My Croix de Fer is still much loved ❤️
2) This is not a sponsored or supported piece. I paid for my new Stayer in full, without any discount.
3) NFORC is dedicated to supporting women led businesses and using our small platform to champion brands that are disrupting the industry.
