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The Bicycle Academy has permanently closed after more than ten years of being a leading name in bike building from its base in Frome, Somerset.<\/p>\n
Kingmakers TBA, whose influence on the UK framebuilder community is hard to overstate, announced today via Instagram<\/a> that it had gone into liquidation on 10th November.<\/p>\n Founder Andrew Denham wrote that it was \u2018the combined impact of Covid, unplanned relocation of the workshop, Brexit, supply chain issues, commodities and energy prices, cost of living increases and inflation\u2019 that created \u2018a perfect storm\u2019, forcing TBA to put an end to the business.<\/p>\n \u2018TBA was about making framebuilding more accessible,\u2019 he wrote. \u2018It\u2019s not easy to build bicycles, but with the right information, education, tools and support, doing it to a high standard is absolutely achieveable.<\/p>\n \u2018We tried to help out wherever we could. Encouraging, supporting and celebrating those who are eagier to try, with optimism. Making distinction between \u201cfit for purpose\u201d and \u201cprobably fine\u201d, whilst imploring everyone to be respectful of their responsibilties as the maker. It\u2019s at the core of what TBA always tried to do, and I hope it\u2019s where we’ve made the biggest impact.\u2019<\/p>\n He concluded, \u2018The TBA workshop has closed its doors for the last time, and we\u2019re all moving on. Things will never be the same, but TBA will always have been what it was. I\u2019m really proud of that.<\/p>\n \u2018Create space in your life to do good things that matter to you. It\u2019s not always easy, but it\u2019s where the magic happens and memories are made.\u2019 Amen.<\/p>\n Among the mass of people who have learnt the craft under the tutelage of The Bicycle Academy is\u00a0Cyclist\u00a0<\/em>editor Pete Muir, who treasures his PM steel bike<\/a> to this day.<\/p>\n Photos: Adam Gasson<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n