Cycling UK Forum

Hi Folks,

I am currently fettling a rather nice touring bike, probably from the early-mid 1990's ( 9 speed, bar-shifters, 631 fillet-brazed frame). I can't work out the name of the maker as the fancy lettering is ambiguous. It looks a bit like "aralis" or "araus" but Googling turns up nothing. Components are mainly 105 with one Ultegra hub & a Veloce chainset.

Any ideas on the frame maker?

Thanks

ARAVIS?

That's the name! Thanks.

Anyone know anything about Aravis frames/bikes?

Thanks

Aravis bikes were sold by a bike shop in Shelford Road, Clifton, Bedfordshire called Byercycles, which has now closed down as the owner has retired. I believe he used to buy the frames in, badge them and build them up into complete bikes.

I think the frames were made in Taiwan and imported, several bike shops used to badge them up as sell them as their own brand. I’ve heard that the Hewitt Chiltern used the same frame as the Aravis Audax.


viewtopic.php?t=101539

Quite a long thread started by Brucey about these frames, imported by Autostrada and sold under various different names.

viewtopic.php?t=140039

I bought a new extra large size Aravis Tourer frame in 2008 from Byercycles and built it up with non-exotic components. I have used it for Audaxes, mountain bike trails, and club rides.But it really excels in multi-day camping trips. For a cheap bike it has been wonderful.

I hope you get as much fun out of yours as I have mine.

geomannie wrote: ↑11 Jan 2023, 11:06am Hi Folks,

I am currently fettling a rather nice touring bike, probably from the early-mid 1990's ( 9 speed, bar-shifters, 631 fillet-brazed frame).

If as suspected it's an Aravis, it's a bit more recent, I think from 2001 on and TIG welded rather than brazed, though the welding is very neat so easily mistaken.
I parted with my 2004 Hewitt badged version last year and already think I miss it, though in reality it'd hardly been ridden for five years.

PH wrote: ↑16 Jan 2023, 10:19am

geomannie wrote: ↑11 Jan 2023, 11:06am Hi Folks,

I am currently fettling a rather nice touring bike, probably from the early-mid 1990's ( 9 speed, bar-shifters, 631 fillet-brazed frame).

If as suspected it's an Aravis, it's a bit more recent, I think from 2001 on and TIG welded rather than brazed, though the welding is very neat so easily mistaken.
I parted with my 2004 Hewitt badged version last year and already think I miss it, though in reality it'd hardly been ridden for five years.

Aye, I think you are right on all counts. The components made me think it a little earlier but the original owner may have built it from parts he had lying around.They certainly don't match. TIG welding is a distinct possibility but if so it's incredibly neat but the Taiwanese factories are good at that.