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Pictures of our customers builds are worth a hundred words, but words of thanks tell a story too.
I thought I’d drop you a quick line to say how I’m getting on with the Stooshie (black, with silver lettering, if you recall). I’ve now done about 500km on it, and I am really happy with it. One thing I didn’t really anticipate but really appreciate is how clean it stays. Not having lube attracting grot in the moving parts and on the lower parts of the frame really makes a difference. The ratios are just what I wanted – a bit easier than before at the bottom, I am finding the riding position very comfortable and have not had any further issues with the numb hand we discussed that I was getting with my previous bike. It also seems to be more stable in wind than I am used to, which has been a real bonus over the last few weeks. I used to be a bit timid about windy weather, especially when going over the more barren parts of the Peak District where there is little cover, and I am now going out on days that previously I would have wimped out on.
One of the reviewers I read before buying described his Stoater as the most expensive, best value bike he’d ever bought, and I feel the same about my Stooshie. I’m a very happy customer.
All the best,
It has been a really wonderful experience buying a bike from you. Although it was a ‘ready to go’ bike with few decisions to be made I felt fully engaged in the process. Brad, your communications are superb. As a customer it was brilliant to feel ‘valued’ – hearing about your world champion escapades and puppy was just uplifting. Sorry not to be able to come down to fetch the bike to thank you all in person but hopefully for the next one 🤔🤣.Take good care of each otherHappy cycling
‘Dear Brad, Russell and the rest of the team, I just wanted to send you a note to say thanks. My Stooshie arrived on Friday and not only does it look spectacular, it rides beautifully. The whole process of buying was a pleasure, from my initial visit to the workshop through to design and conversations about the paint job. It’s a special bike and I’m going to enjoy it for a long time, Thanks
My new Shug arrived today, it’s bloody awesome! This finish is perfection. It had a bunch of aircraft engineers quivering at the knees today at work. So much so I’ve been asked to take it to work again tomorrow for further analysis! Nerds.Thanks to you all at Shand for keeping me informed, keeping it real through covid and of course the hot tubes of steel!
Greetings team Shand. I just wanted to let you know that yesterday my Stoater arrived safe & sound. After putting everything together and having a little 60km test ride, I’m amazed beyond words. The frame is so beautifully welded, it almost looks like one piece of steel and the stunning paint job adds the final touch. Looking at the bike is pure joy, however actually riding the bike is where true beauty begins. The sizing feels perfect (compared to my other bike) and overall it just feels so good to ride – stiff, agile, fast and versatile. You really create extraordinary pieces of craftsmanship and I love your attention to details (e.g helitape on the fork to prevent the cable from scratching the paintwork). I’m so very happy with my Stoater and I’m really looking forward to all the rides we’ll go through and the places it will take me. Thank you for building my dream bike for me, you simply nailed it! Keep up that fine work lads! Best wishes and regards from a happy customer.
Took the bike out for a longer spin today for about an hour, and my initial impressions are that this is just a wonderful bike to ride! It feels like a road bike on the flat, and it handled the gravelly horse riding trails that I took today really well too. I had a blast! I am not sure if it is due to “new bike euphoria”, but I feel like the belt drive is not only very quiet, but you also really feel smoothly connected to the bike, especially when accelerating. There isn’t any real “give” when you push down on the pedals, and the bike seems just that little bit more responsive for it. I’ll be in touch. Best regards Gareth
Just wanted to say thank you for the brilliant bike you have made for me. Steven, the wait was worth it for such a responsive and stable ride I have never ridden a bike as good as this. Russell the paint job is excellent and even impressed my wife which is really saying something. Fraser the build is perfect 3 rides in a week and no niggles. Thanks once again and keep doing what you all love doing.
I just wanted to drop you a quick mail to say my bike arrived back in July and I am absolutely delighted with it. Sorry for the delay in thanking you but I literally went away on holiday for three weeks the day after it turned up. The holiday included a couple of good cycle rides in the in the hills around Girona in Spain – sadly I hired a Cannondale rather than take the Stoater down. Coming back from riding a carbon fibered Cannondale, getting onboard the Stoater was a revelation. It is a fantastic bike, light, comfortable, more rigid than I had expected and the attention to detail in the finish is incredible. For me it was a bit of a leap of faith going to a steel bike but I am delighted with it. It just feels so well made. Thanks again, it was a long wait but well worth it. I wish you continued success over the coming years. One day I’ll be back for a Skinnymalinky!
I would like to just thank you all so very much. This weekend I took delivery of what I can only say is a ‘dream’ of a bike. I am so impressed. The quality of the build and the finish and colour make this a very beautiful and classic machine. I cannot tell you how much my heart leapt to see it unwrap from the box. I was almost too scared to take it out for a ride, but that would have been silly. So off I went. The ride is smooth, responsive and above all a blast of fun. I am so happy with the Salsa handlebars, thank you Steven and Fraser for getting that one right. In fact I went out the very next day too and challenged one of my training rides. P.B. on the flat. The brakes and the handling are such that I was just not conscious of the crap roads and small tight lanes down here… we just curled round all the corners and flew over the potholes. We will make a very happy team heading out to Iceland. The local bike shop were in awe and admired the use of the latest disc brake technology and fellow cyclist stopped mid-sprint to come back and take a look… what can I say… I was grinning. Shand Cycles… you have made my day. Thank you specifically to Steven for the design… it is so comfortable and fits like a glove, and to Russell for bringing this colour to my bike. You were right, it’s a keeper!
Well, a few weeks in and a few miles under the wheels I thought I’d let you know how I’m getting on with the bike. You’ve probably seen some of my forum posts already so will have a fair idea how it’s going for me. It’s magic. Even better than I had hoped for. It does everything just that bit better than anything I’ve had before. It’s just great fun, especially pointing downhill, but it climbs steeps well too with the steeper seat. I was a bit concerned about flex with the plates on the chainstays but the whole thing is rock solid. Thanks for sticking with it!! I may well be in touch about a 29+ at some point. Cheers!
My bike arrived yesterday and it is fantastic! Many thanks. Really solid to ride – shot up through Buttermere last night then up to Whinlatter today. Still need to tweak & bed into place but am so pleased with it and the finish is stunning – looks amazing. I can understand why you questioned the little brake levers – I should have listened! I’m sure I’ll be able to ditch them very soon. Many thanks for your superb craftsmanship and giving me an amazing bike for life.
Just a quick note to let you know the bike arrived safe and sound on Friday. I took it for a couple of short rides over the weekend to bed it in and I have to say it lives up to all my expectations. It looks fab and rides really well, a very relaxed, easy ride. I am extremely pleased. Thank you all very much indeed!
Just to let you know I received my bike yesterday and it’s absolutely beautiful. It is everything I hoped for and more, if not a tad later than expected. I can now cycle into my dotage in style. Many thanks to you both and all your work staff. Keep creating wonderful bikes.
The frame itself gives me so much comfort that I also can go with a higher pressure in the tires than I used to (at least in dry conditions when the traction is good.) Gravel roads and “technically easy” forest trails with some small hills and sharp turns on the way seems to be the place where the SS Stooshie really belong. Comfort without losing “quickness”. This proves you have built a cross-frame the right way! I am also attaching some pictures from my Sunday afternoon ride this past weekend. On the way I got a reminder of times when making things out of iron had other purposes than building bikes. But of course the Vikings would have loved a bike of Steel made by men from Scotland 🙂 Cheers!
Firstly, cheers again for producing my dream bike! She had her first proper run out earlier taking in a few of my favourite climbs in a 36-mile loop. We spoke about the amount of flex in the frame of my last bike and this in nonexistent in my Skinny. I always thought the wheels were a bit soft but it was frame bending after all. The plus point of this for me is that all the power now goes to the drive and I am much faster both on the flat and climbing! Can’t wait to get the Skinny back to Provence and up Le Mont Ventoux – hopefully now I can give The GoatBoy (my brother) a proper run for his money this time!
Just taken delivery of my frame, effing hell am I one happy bunny! What a great way to start the New Year.
The bike turned up this morning. Nice bit of packing. When I first saw the tiny box I thought half of must have been missing. Not a mark on it so all is well. Blown away by the quality of the workmanship. I’ve put some pedals on, a saddle and fitted my Garmin and I’m off for a short shake down ride (supposed to be working, but can’t resist). I’ll probably ride it into London later this week so I’ll let you know how I get on.
The Stoater arrived and it’s truly beautiful. Difficult to explain just how happy it makes me. Brilliant job!
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It is an absolutely brilliant bike, the kind that you have a big smile across your face when you’re out on it. So comfortable, but also really nippy. Very responsive on the climb – it flew up the Seat – and just a total joy to ride. Big thank you and big props to everyone at Shand for building such fantastic bikes. Also to Euan for that gorgeous paint job!