Why?

I don't and I won't own that bike because time moves on and with that, bicycle evolution. It's not available in that form anymore, but the seed was sown.

Choices, choices.

I won't lie, I wanted an an Enigma but it wasn't no matter what. These are rich times for hand-built anything in cycling, with new companies popping up left right and center. Disgruntled employee frame builders strike out on their own creating 'boutique' (I don't like connotations of the word, but it's a best fit) brands with sometimes not so subtle ethos and design ideas. There is literally something for everyone out there. Happy days.

Having had cycle fits in the past on different bikes and having kept the written down results, it is easy to see what had to be changed on each bike to converge on a reasonably consistent set of measurements provided by my own ample dimensions. Relate that to what you did or didn't like about what you were left with and you have picture of what you are aiming for. When tools like geometrygeeks.bike are now available, it's even easier to see what makes it onto the short list.

And I really took my time narrowing it down. A few reputable manufacturers were ruled out for simply not looking the way I wanted - I don't like my bikes with foot high logos screaming 'look wot I spent!' Subtle and understated rules in my eyes and whilst this may seem counter-intuitive in the light of the previous paragraph a) there's still a lot to select from even if your subjective likes are the polar opposite of mine and b) a bike has to tempt you to get back on just for the hell of it, even if your legs are shot from a ride just completed.

There was a primary constraint, because my pockets are not bottomless. My current bike was to be the donor for the entire groupset (Shimano Ultegra 6870 Di2 Hydraulic) and Hunt Aero Wide 34 disc wheelset. The groupset isn't the latest, but it's still one heck of a groupset, even to this Campag fanboy. The wheels are under 1000 miles old.

Di2 compatibility also rather narrows the field of frames if you like your wires on the inside and I do. It has to be as clean as possible.

Emails were fired off because by June of 2020, it was possible to test ride again with suitable social distancing measures employed. We in construction had been hung out to dry for the sake of the economy from day one, but now the rest of the world was returning for the sake of jobs and the need for other people to pay tax, for those that weren't allowed back yet. Only one email received a near instantaneous response in the form of an actual phone call and god bless 'em, it was Enigma. A.N. Other came back about two weeks later and a third never replied.

Enigma had three demo bikes in my frame size (54-57cm depending upon geometry), but essentially 56cm in Enigmas case including the Excel in its by now disc incarnation, the Etape; a more upright sportive/long day in the saddle type bike with lugs for mudguards, etc and the Evoke which roughly splits the difference and described as a fast road focused bike.

Test Day.

One sunny morning in late June we (my partner Kay is not one to be left behind when it comes to bikes) roll up at Enigma Cycleworks HQ on the outskirts of Hailsham in Sussex. Picture a bit of the country that is as far from a motorway as is possible and not Norfolk and that's Hailsham.

I'm being honest with myself at this point and the Excel is just too low for my bones. I'm sure it would be lovely to have a ride, but what's the point of a road bike where you'll never reach the drops for long enough to matter? It's the Evoke and Etape that are my focus.

We arrive just in time to see the MD putting in a full day by going out for an hour plus ride on his Campag clad Extensor. I would if I were in his position.

Richard is our man for the process and it all starts CV-19 style with lots of gel, standing unnaturally far apart, epicly failing not to stroke bikes (in my case) and looking like we are quacking at each other in duck like pleated masks. Necessary of course, as was the reasonably swift transition to talking about things in the open air of the car park without masks. Good job too, because any more time in that showroom was going to get spendy.

Having brought my KTM along for dimensional comparison, it's pedals were nicked along with the saddle to pedal height and an Evoke was ready to roll. I returned exactly thirty seconds later to add 1cm to the seat height and then off we went for as long as we wanted with instructions on where to head, Fortunately Kay was listening and we found our way.

If I'm being honest, the Etape was also now out of the running about ten pedal turns in.

Despite the fairly vanilla aluminium stem and bar, the Evoke felt like I'd ridden it for years, unlike the bike I had ridden for years. Everything just fell to hand with no effort or stretch. The drops, although quite deep were accessible because they were closer and the front felt planted in a way the KTM never quite did. I felt confident on it, even barrelling down hills I'd never seen that would normally have had me dragging the brakes to stay in a comfortable fear zone. This may cause trouble in the long run...

But all that is true of Kay's Roubaix at half the price of what this build would cost, so the real factor here is titanium and why I'd spend to get it?

The first thing that will hit you if you've never ridden metal is how quiet they are compared to carbon or even aluminium, which resonates and amplifies everything. Many people like that, but if you're riding metal (my skinny tubed Raleigh 531c even more so) then all you can hear is the background buzz and rattles of the carbon bikes around you masking the noise of the world. Powerboat v sail boat? Not quite that extreme, but you hear the world on metal.

Then there's the ride quality. In essence, carbon has a huge stiffness and power transfer advantage over the steel bikes of the era they replaced. For no compromise pro racing it was a no brainer and the mass market full of non-racers followed because that's how bikes sell - If its good for the goose it must be good for the gander. Then you look at carbon evolution. As much time and effort and money has been spent in getting back that naturally damped, smooth, non fatiguing ride quality that steel has, as it has been in making them 5% more aero at a 20deg yaw angle. You know; the stuff they quote to make last years bike sound dated.

When I ride the Raleigh (and bear in mind its riding position is more Excel than Evoke) I'm always surprised how fresh I feel at the end of a long ride - It has done hundred milers with ease, or rather my ease. What it does not do is hustle. It rewards smooth power and unhurried progress. It's happy at any speed, but it will get there in it's own time. Spin up hills rather than stand up and grind. Push hard from the saddle to accelerate, rather than stand up and sprint. It's early 90s steel. Good steel, but it is 26 years old.

The thing is steel and titanium (which occupied a brief place in pro peloton history) have evolved massively in the intervening years, but carbon has become so pre-eminent, so universal, so cheap, it is seldom questioned as the go-to choice. In the sub £3k complete bike market, I probably wouldn't question that. There are frames delivering in basic performance and comfort terms all you ever need and probably more than a few people can actually tax the limits of, if we're honest.

Above this point and in the hands of specialist builders with modern tube sets, it is possible to get that metal ride quality, the carbon stiffness, low (enough) weight and something I haven't mentioned and discovered I really, really wanted on the Evoke test ride and it's not really quantifiable.

There is an organic, alive feeling to metal that carbon either doesn't, or can't deliver at the same price. Think Alfa Guilia Quadrifoglio versus BMW M3, or somesuch. Character versus efficiency would do Ti a disservice, but you see where I'm coming from. They're within a gnats whisker of each other, but it's about enjoying the ride as opposed to the enjoying the success of the ride in examining Strava splits at the end. You follow?

We are talking minutiae but it is perceivable from the seat and I was sold. I didn't bother riding the Etape. The Evoke fitted and its clean lines unfettered by bolt holes and additional lugs I won't use would be staring at me. I do use mudguards because I do ride in winter, but my set of SKS Raceblades more than suffice on that front. Being all electronic and hydraulic, my bike is as winterproof as any and better bolted on mudguards don't really save the drivetrain from winter crud.

The Sell.

Or rather the mostly down-sell.

I'd come prepared to go Excel plus as much as it took on forks, but having basically sold myself on the Evoke (What else is the point of a test ride other than to make up your mind?) I was looking to maximise the released capital where it counted. And there was a pleasant surprise.

Having thrown my hat into the Evoke ring, Richard offered up a customer return frame. The courier had lost a frame (SRAM eTap specific) en route and another had been dispatched in its stead. The original frame had then turned up weeks later and was returned untouched. There it was, absolutely immaculate in its wrapping with a modest discount available and the three wiring holes eTap does not require could be drilled there and then. I commited to buy, so the downtube Di2 hole could be placed on the right side to match the run of the rear brake cable around the right hand side of the head tube. Most Di2 holes are on the left to match where the rest of the world likes rear brake on the right. I'm a cable dressing whore and love this custom ability on the spot. Derailleur holes are the same everywhere, so Enigma know best on that one.

A few more quids in, I pushed the boat out on a Chris King Headset, but on to the fork. The Enigma opinion was that they would be happy to take my money for an ENVE fork (cafe kudos assured) but since Mavic ownership and the shift of manufacture out of America, the in-house C-Six fork was better value and basically as good. As logic goes it's pretty incontrovertible, so I spent some more of the saving on a titanium seat clamp that offers zero performance upgrade but is, um? Sexy.

The biggy was that having arrived expecting a 6-8 week build wait, everything was now in the back of my car for about £300 less than I had expected. This build was also going to happen a lot sooner than expected. Great because it's sooner. Meh! Because I thought I'd have another month of two of CV-19 savings under my belt.

Ultimately, my experience of visiting a manufacturer direct was this. They can do things even a good LBS can't, because they actually build the bikes and it's their warranty. They have a lot more personally invested in the success of their bikes, as opposed to the sales of bikes in general. The chaps that piled out of the workshop to eat their lunch in the late spring sun were absolutely enthused by their bikes, their work in them and your enjoyment of it. We felt like we were impinging on their break, but they were absolutely happy have the craic. You could feel the pride in what the paintshop chap (I'm sorry, I've forgotten his name) was accomplishing with that stunning fork - Check Enigmas Facebook page the red ice crackle fade paint job.

It leaves you feeling you just bought into someone's life, not just their work. It's a confidence inspiring connection.

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