Hans-Martin’s XCR: A Dream in Stainless Steel

In March 2025, Hans-Martin came to Potsdam to finally make something he’d been thinking about for years:
his own custom bicycle frame.

Over five days at Big Forest Frameworks, he built a Columbus XCR stainless steel gravel frame — built up with a SRAM Mullet AXS, fully integrated cables, ENVE cockpit, Hope RX24 wheels, Tune seatpost, Wolf Tooth headset. A fast, modern, beautifully thought-out bike that fit him perfectly.

We spent a great week with him.
Hans-Martin was focused, curious, warm, and completely absorbed in the process of creating something with his own hands. You could see how much joy it brought him.

When the course ended, he took the raw frame home to finish the final prep work. After that, we were supposed to assemble the complete bike for him.

But he never got the chance.

Shortly after his 45th birthday, Hans-Martin passed away unexpectedly.

His wife knew how much this project meant to him. And together we decided:
this bike needed to be finished.
As a tribute. As a memory. As something that reflects who he was.

In His Wife’s Words

With passion and love you fulfilled your dream: to build your own stainless steel bicycle frame.

In March 2025, you enjoyed a creative break from everyday life at Big Forest Frameworks.
You were so happy, content, and grateful to braze your frame yourself and create something with your own hands. You felt completely at home at Big Forest Frameworks and loved your time in Potsdam.

Unexpectedly, in May, shortly after your 45th birthday, you passed away.

Now your bicycle has been completed exactly as you planned it — a true one-off, just like you.

You were warm-hearted, kind, and determined — always planning tours and mapping out life itself. This bike will stay with us as a symbol of your enthusiasm, your way of traveling light, your dreams and ours, your passion and your love.

If you knew your bike was standing here today, your eyes would be shining — and you’d raise a whisky to it.

Hans-Martin’s Bike at BESPOKED 2025

Last month, we brought his fully assembled bike to BESPOKED 2025 in Dresden — Europe’s biggest handmade bicycle show.

It ended up being the first bike most visitors saw at our stand.

People stopped.
They asked questions.
They wanted to hear the story.
Many were visibly moved.

And everyone admired what Hans-Martin had built in just five days —
a clean, modern, technically ambitious stainless steel frame that stood proudly next to some of the best bikes in the room.

For us, showing his bike there felt meaningful.
It felt right.
And it felt important.

And we’re sure of one thing:
He would have been proud.