Think the industry has completely moved on to discs? Firefly’s latest custom titanium build brings electronic shifting and huge tire clearance back to the rim brake.
(Photo: Firefly Bicycles)
Published September 25, 2026 11:59AM
“No one was asking us for a new rim brake model in 2026. But we still believe in the value of the simplicity of rim brakes…” And that was it, the start of a new build from Firefly Bicycles and Josh Ogle Design. What if rim brakes never died but modern bikes kept progressing?
As explained by Josh Ogle, Firefly has been a partner for the last eight years. The partnership has included “machined parts, 3D printed titanium parts, forks, and even a suspension bike or two,” but it’s also always been about the latest technology. Then the team at Firefly saw a beautiful set of silver, retro Mavic Ksyrium wheels and wondered: What if? A conversation began about what a fully modernized rim-brake bike would look like if built today.
The idea is simple enough, but as with everything Firefly does, the beauty is in the details. The difficulty is also in those details. You can’t build a modern all-road bike around tiny 23mm tires. This bike clears a 40mm tire, which meant rethinking every part of the chassis. The first challenge is simply getting a brake to fit, and for that, the team used a custom, traditional cable-pull variation of the Cane Creek eeBrakes originally designed for a Brompton. That doesn’t solve all the challenges, though.
While the brake system fits around the wheel and tire, how many forks exist for a 40mm wheel package and rim brakes? To make that geometry work, Firefly skipped carbon entirely at the front end, opting instead for a custom titanium all-road fork. The fork features a 3D-printed crown, and for riders who want extra utility, it can be built with rack or cargo mounts. At the rear, the frame utilizes 3D-printed chainstay yokes and seat tube knuckles to accommodate the wide rubber without compromising the drivetrain. Firefly also integrated 3D-printed wishbone seat stays, which the brand admits is a purely aesthetic choice designed to mirror the shape of the brake caliper, though traditional seat stays remain available.
Still looking for modernity within the framework of history, Ogle and Firefly next addressed the wheel attachment itself. This being a rim-brake bike, a quick-release system might have worked here, but the world has moved on. High-quality quick releases are increasingly rare and often incompatible with titanium fork designs, so this bike doesn’t use them. Instead, the frame utilizes a new 3D-printed through-bolt dropout system. Paired with custom brass fittings, this through-bolt design is lighter, stiffer, and vastly more secure than traditional plate dropouts.
Building a rim-brake frame doesn’t mean settling for outdated drivetrains, either. The bike is fully compatible with modern shifting systems. Riders can build it up with Shimano Di2 or Campagnolo mechanical components. If you prefer wireless shifting, the frame accommodates SRAM AXS by utilizing Growtac Control brake levers.
So is this a turnaround for Firefly and the end of disc brakes? No, definitely not. This collaboration isn’t trying to pretend that disc brakes don’t exist, nor is it meant to replace Firefly’s existing lineup. Instead, this is the best kind of functional art: a highly capable execution built on a what if question.
Pricing and availability
If you want to make your own statement about the viability of rim brakes in 2026, Firefly is selling this build. The frame and fork are priced at $7,200, with complete custom bikes in the 10,000–14,000 range. For more information, visit the Firefly website.
