Longtermers: CW tech editor Michelle Arthurs-Brennan's custom carbon build

The Cycling Weekly longtermers series lifts the lid off staff members' personal bikes - this month, it's tech editor Michelle's custom carbon Werking

Michelle longtermer
(Image credit: Future)

In hindsight, it’s quite amusing that the frame I had designed as part of a project to investigate female specific geometry is called ‘A-nor-male’. Regardless, my Werking Anormale is a custom frame - the geometry and layup were based upon a detailed bike fit and riding interview, and it’s neither male specific nor female specific - it’s gender neutral. I expect you can anticipate the conclusion of the feature ‘is women’s specific geometry outdated?’

I was fitted for and reviewed the bike back in 2018. At the time I noted that one of the flaws in the philosophy of custom geometry is that a rider’s ideal bike fit changes over time. If everything is going in the right direction, we become stronger and more flexible; sometimes in life we become weaker, more rigid. Right now, what was designed to be my race bike feels more upright than I’d like, but that’s fine, because 2021 me prefers disc brakes for a race now, anyway. This rim-brake Italian beauty has become my 'for everything else' bike. 

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