SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Top of the mornin’ to yah! Grab your coffee and check out this classy “lug of the Irish” build from Shamrock Cycles as a St. Patrick’s Day treat.
Tim O’Donnell, the owner and framebuilder of Indianapolis, Indiana’s Shamrock Cycles, brought a colorful and clover-ful gravel rig to Salt Lake City for this year’s NAHBS. O’Donnell has been honing his craft since 2007, working primarily with steel of varying thicknesses, depending on the rider and intended usage. “Most tubes used in Shamrock frames have about a half millimeter tube wall thickness,” according to the Shamrock Cycles website.
This particular rig was created for Cooper “Coop” Ambjorn. At 5’3” and with a 32” inseam, Coop needed a custom frame to go out and crush the rapidly expanding Ohio Valley Cyclocross Series scene. She also wanted the perfect cockpit to address any potential pain or stiffness after suffering two back injuries.
O’Donnell noted that integrating the Rotor Bike Components Uno drivetrain was a challenge. Rotor teamed up with Magura on the hydraulic brake design for Uno. Check out the review we did of this system last year.
O’Donnell used Milan’s Columbus steel for the frame tubing, and didn’t hold back on the gorgeous accents. He reliably gives the attention to detail that NAHBS aficionados crave, from the clever housing port…
The clover leaf housing port for Coop’s Rotor Uno components is a beautiful touch. © C. Fegan-Kim Cyclocross Magazine
…to the downtube name plate…
A personalized name badge on the down tube is a sweet and thoughtful touch. © C. Fegan-Kim Cyclocross Magazine
…to the lacey dropouts.
The chainstay taper to the lacey dropout is another beautiful element. © C. Fegan-Kim Cyclocross Magazine
O’Donnell’s booth has been a popular one for years because of this attention to tasteful detail. This year was no exception.
Check out our past coverage for more examples of his fine work, such as his Viking-themed bike from 2014, or his Mondrian-inspired Best Finish Award-winning bike of 2015.
Last we heard, the lead time for a Shamrock is approximately seven months. These fully-individualized frames start at $2950, and complete builds typically range from $6000-$8000.
O’Donnell also won the award for Best City Bike/Utility Bike.
Without further ado…let’s peek further into this pot o’ gold. And be sure to check out our growing coverage of cyclocross and gravel bikes from the 2017 NAHBS here.
Cooper Ambjorn’s Shamrock Cycles ‘Cross Bike Gallery:
Heritage pride. The contrast on the headbadge is striking. © C. Fegan-Kim Cyclocross Magazine
