In this special “lost episode,” I sit down with Sam Alison, the founder of Singular Cycles — a UK-based brand that’s been quietly ahead of the curve since 2006.
Sam shares how his journey from Australian shop rat to UK-based frame designer was shaped by a lifelong love of bikes, and how his early experiments with 29ers and drop bars paved the way for what we now call gravel bikes. We talk about his iconic models like the Swift, Peregrine, and Griffin, the rebirth of Singular with titanium offerings, and his philosophy on timeless design, frame material, and rider-first geometry. Whether you’ve seen a Singular bike roll by and thought “what is that,” or you’re just curious about the origins of modern gravel geometry, this conversation is well worth the listen.
🔧 Topics we cover:
- Sam’s early days in Australia and the 90s MTB boom
- What inspired the first Singular frame Drop bars on MTBs and the road to 29ers
- Why steel (and now titanium) still matters
- Designing for versatility without compromise
- Thoughts on “gravel” as a category — and where we go from here
🚲 Learn more about Singular: https://singularcycles.com
📸 Follow on Instagram: @singularcycles
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