Building this bike has been the type of custom project that Dead Rats Cycles relish – a creative & challenging collaborative effort on a unique …

Here’s Joao’s frame & forks immediately after sandblasting, which has removed all the rust and what was left of the original paint but exposed numerous …

Is there a more pleasant way to spend an afternoon than breaking out the old imperial spanners to fettle a lovely British bicycle into shape? …

Dead Rats Cycles is very proud to present this lovely little French late-’80s thoroughbred for sale after a complete stripdown & rebuild in my workshop. …

A few treasured snaps from the family album…

Earlier today I was chatting to a customer about the pros & cons of Raleigh’s high-tensile carbon steel frames of the 1980s when all of …

May I present Bob’s Norco Threshold?  Ridden hard for 30+ miles a day for two years on a variety of road & trails and a …

As it sat idly in my workshop awaiting its turn over the last couple of weeks, Brian’s bike has attracted enthusiastic comments from nearly all …

Now Rita’s been completely stripped and things are starting get more interesting… Before the frame & forks are resprayed I’ve removed the old decals – …

Joao’s vintage Sangal has arrived at my workshop and after much discussion and research I’m finally about to embark on a full nut & bolt …

Ed’s De Rosa on test after a much-needed shot of Dead Rats’ love potion numero nove.  The svelte Italian – all 8kg of it – …

Charles’ beloved and battered Trek on test after a big/full service in my workshop this week.  A high mileage serious rider, Charles has taken his …

Adventure road bikes with wider tyres and 1x drivetrains are all the rage nowadays – indeed another of this week’s jobs involves a Pinnacle Arkrose …

Joan’s nice mid-’80s British 10 speed was supplied by its owner with a simple brief – and suitably modest budget – to get it working …

Kate’s lovely and largely original 1976 Holdsworth Equipe on test after a few hours of TLC in my workshop.  The Equipe was Holdsworth’s entry level …

Circa 1976 Holdsworth Equipe (pictured as supplied by Kate) that has “drifted into the arena of the unwell”. I’m really looking forward to bringing it …

Welcoming a new long term restoration project, pictured here in its owner Joao’s garage.  It’s his Portugese father’s old racing bike, dating from circa 1982/3, …

Presenting the 1985 Record 3-speed Roadster. No, I’d never heard of Record either. Anyway, Simon found this on Gumtree for a nice price and one …

Noel’s summer climbing bike, ready for the hills after a complete rebuild with weight-weenie upgrades… Frame: Trek Emonda ALR300 (aluminium) Fork: Trek (full carbon) Groupset: …

You may remember my first post about the Cotic Escapade back in October 2015, at which point I’d just bought the frame & forks, built …

Vintage Cinelli Unicantor saddle, recovered by my own fair hand, using reclaimed leather.  This is going to be fitted to a 1973 Mondia Super which …

I’ve finished recovering Adrian’s beloved Selle Italia SLK saddle in leather, which I sourced from a pair of trousers in a local charity shop. This …

All photos © Tom Baker For more information click here    

Presenting a vintage British ladies town bike custom/restoration project I’ve been working on for a while. Suitable for taller female riders (5’6″ and above) due …

Noel’s brand new Cannondale CAAD12 105 on test, now race-ready after a few hours of workshop time with yours truly. The bike’s been upgraded in …

“Raw Power” is a stunning unique custom bike, handbuilt by Dead Rats Cycles and based around a vintage steel road frame fitted with carefully selected …

Another vintage British thoroughbred, from the late steel era, which I’m proud to present for sale after a complete strip and rebuild in my workshop. …

So excited about my latest project, a 531 beauty from 1990 (doesn’t the paintwork give this away!?) in stunning original condition. Showing all the hallmarks …

Andrew’s Peugeot out on test after my conversion from single to 14 speed.  I hit my budget to the pound on this job, and I …

Andrew’s 1980s Peugeot Ventoux singlespeed as delivered to my workshop, my role being to add 13 more gears on a strict budget.  And convince the …

I’ve almost finished an enjoyable stripdown & rebuild of Neal’s almost all original Grand Prix – Carlton’s entry level 10 speed in 1980 – on …

Now ready for its forthcoming Himalayan foothills adventure is this custom Van Nicolas, shown here on a test ride today. The build process saw experienced …

Took new customer James’ custom Giant hardtail XC MTB out for a blast today. The bike was brought to me already powdercoated – as something …

It would be an understatement to say I’m rather excited about assembling Ivan’s new bike…

SOLD… and now named ‘Nancy’ I’m proud to unveil a retro-modern custom build I’ve been working on for the best part of six months, that …

Another retro-modern machine built to my regular customer Harris’s specification & budget and utitising the leftovers from his previous vintage Peugeot HLE, which was wrecked …