About me

I obtained a master’s degree in mathematical physics and a Ph.D. in the physics of structural design from The University of Nottingham (UK). While studying for my degree, I also worked as a motorcycle mechanic. After my Ph.D., I spent 6 years working as a research physicist at various European universities designing lightweight, stiff, and strong structures. My research spanned from biomimetic designs, to origami, from structures made of DNA to space frames for astronomical explorations. I published in prestigious journals, obtained research grants and prizes, and presented at numerous international conferences. I enjoyed my research career very much, and my work even appeared on the US sitcom “The Big Bang Theory”. My real passion, though, is the world of bicycles.

In 2018, I decided to leave the world of academia and start designing and making bicycles and cargo bikes. I built my first touring bike in that year and my first cargo bike the year after. I have made more prototype cargo bikes than I care to admit. I have now lived without a car for the last five years, and I use my cargo bike almost every day. I am a keen cycle tourist, gravel bike enthusiast, and I am the joint unofficial record holder of the world’s largest GPS drawing done by bike. To date, I have done well over 25,000 km by cargo bike and many many more by bike; I have no intention of ever stopping cycling.

I make practical bikes that are designed to get used. I primarily make cargo, touring, gravel, and commuting bikes. I also make racks, forks, stems, stem caps, small bike accessories, and wheels. My academic knowledge of structures, combined with my practical experience and meticulous attention to detail makes me the perfect person to make your next bike/cargo bike.

My philosophy

Bikes should be for everyday use. They should be comfortable, reliable, and fun to ride. A bike should be fairly lightweight but robust enough to deal with some loving misuse. Bikes should be able to carry a bit of luggage, at very least the essentials. I love the progress in bicycle technology that makes bikes more usable and more reliable. My general preference is for function and simplicity. I think bikes should have mudguards and dynamo lights, but we can disagree on that.

Bike fit is important. It’s not just for high performance, but also for injury prevention and enjoyment of cycling. All my bikes are made in custom sizes – pretending that four sizes will fit everyone is madness.

I believe that the key to a great bicycle lies in the details. Internal dynamo-cable routing is high up on my list of must-haves. Some little touches can remind you that the bike was made for you: Maybe that is a custom braze-on, a porteur handle, perhaps it’s a rack onto which your camera bag fits perfectly. The design of your bike will determine its use: You should be part of the design process.

Most my custom bikes derive from a set of well-considered starting points. You want to go for an off-road tour? Probably you’ll want a robust frame with lots of mounting points and space for wide tyres; probably you’ll want mountain bike standards for axles and bottom brackets. But maybe not! We start with a sensible guess for what might make sense, and then we can deviate from that to your heart’s content.

All d.r.k. bikes are made my me, Daniel Rayneau-Kirkhope. Each one is assembled by me. I work in a small workshop in northern Italy. I personally pay attention to every detail of the design and fabrication of your bike. You will know exactly who made your bike and where it was made, and that it was made just for you.

I really love bikes. I think that choosing to use a bicycle is one of the most liberating choices that one can make. I believe in the power of cycling to improve lives: It makes you healthier, it makes you fitter, it makes you more sane, it saves you money, and it saves the environment. I believe all of this so much that I cycled a 7000+ km route across Europe that “drew” a massive bicycle frame on the map. I’m not quite sure what I expected to achieve, but it certainly demonstrates my belief in bicycles. I currently live without a car and cycle thousands of kilometres each year, most of them on my cargo bike.

I believe a well-designed (cargo) bike can make the world of difference in your life. And that is why I’m doing this.