Brother Cycles: The Guide
November 10 2023 – Brixton Cycles
Vintage inspired with all the performance and capabilities of modern bikes, we’re very proud to say that we’re now stocking Brother Cycles (and we’ve been gawping at them ever since they arrived). We’re going to give you the low-down on the brand and run through their range, so keep reading!
About Brother
Started in London back in 2010, Brother Cycles make some of the classiest bikes in the business (in our humble opinion). Family run, Brother HQ is now based in the Kent countryside, home to their studio, workshop and warehouse. And yes, the founders are actually brothers!
Brother Cycles was born out of their own desire to create a product that was not readily available at the time, something they wanted to own and ride themselves. While they might not have had grand ambitions to build their own bicycle company at the time, that project has now blossomed into a fully-fledged forward-thinking brand with a passion for creating high-quality bikes and a strong community around them.
With a full range of steel-framed bikes, their designs are all done in-house and err towards adventure whether it’s on- or off-road. Meticulously researched and tested, we can attest to the fact that each model looks and feels great to ride. Curious about the range? Let’s take a closer look:
The Range
Stroma
The Stroma is Brother Cycles’ all-road answer to the do-it-all road bike. Crafted from Reynolds 725 steel, this all-season frame is ideal for year-round cycling adventures across our ever-shifting terrain and weather. Agile performance and inherently fun to ride, the Stroma is designed to accommodate larger volume road tyres up to 35mm, eliminating the need for a separate bike for each season, and you can even venture off-road!
Kepler
The Kepler has been a part of the Brother Cycles collection for a solid 8 years now – and for good reason. Designed with versatility in mind, the Kepler stands as a gravel grinder, a super-commuter, and a full-blown tourer. You name it, the Kepler can do it! Crafted from double-butted 4130 chromoly steel, the frame combines comfort and durability and boasts the flexibility to accommodate both 700c and 650b wheels (up to 700cx45 or 650bx48 tyres). Adorned with triple cage mounts on its unicrown steel fork, there’s no hiding the fact that this machine is ready for an adventure!
Big Bro
Designed for off-road exploration, the Big Bro is up for pretty much anything, from bikepacking adventures to fully-loaded cross-continental tours, or simply thrashing the trails. Built with their trusty 4130 double-butted chromoly tubing, the frame is paired with a 100mm suspension-corrected fork. Clearance comes in abundance with the Big Bro – plus the added bonus of Boost spacing means you can easily switch between 650b and 29er setups (up to 27.5 x 3″ or 29 x 2.6″). It doesn’t end there: stealth dropper routing, mounts everywhere, and heck, you can even opt for geared or singlespeed thanks to the S-bend chainstays with replaceable alloy thru axle sliding dropouts!
Mehteh
As their dedicated gravel bike, this machine is engineered for enduring long days on a variety of terrains. Constructed with the ever-reliable Reynolds 725 steel tubing, the Meteh boasts tyre clearances beyond your everyday gravel bike (650b x 2.2" or 700c x 50, to be precise!), allowing for more off-road exploration, be it a quick post-work gravel dash or a multi-day bikepacking journey. Complete with Brother’s carbon gravel fork with mudguard mounts, triple cage mounts on each fork blade and even dynamo routing, the Mehteh offers versatility without compromise.
Mr Wooden
Brother Cycles say that Mr. Wooden can be whatever you want it to be: it’s a modern randonneur, a gravel bike, a tourer which isn’t afraid to venture off-road. In an ever-advancing industry, this is a freshing take – a classic bike with modern capabilities. The 4130 chromoly steel frameset is designed around a 650b quick-release wheelset (up to 650bx50 tyres) with rim brakes (yep, you heard us right!) and a low-mid trail fork up. Rim brakes in 2023 might seem strange, but hear us out. Easy maintenance and part availability is part of the equation, plus combined with design choices like a threaded bottom bracket, 1 1/8″ headset and quick release dropouts means you can give those classic components components you’ve had lying around in your parts bin a new lease of life (you can even throw on downtube shifters!). Complete with all the mounting points you’d expect (mudguards, racks, bottles etc.), Mr Wooden might not be for everyone, but we love it!
The Allday
Simple, but effective, the Allday is single-speed/fixed gear commuter that doesn’t shy away from the rough stuff. There’s nothing too technical about this bike, and that’s what makes it so great: S-shaped chainstays allow the Allday to accommodate up to 35c tyres, plus you’ve got the option of cantilever, v-brake or standard calipers thanks to the removable canti bosses. The double-butted 4130 chromoly steel makes another appearance with the Allday, and that’s a good thing – comfortable and durable, plus mounts for bottles, mudguards and racks whether it’s a reliable commuter, single-speed cross bike, or a workhorse winter bike you’re looking for, the Allday could be the perfect option.
