Marilyn's Custom Brother Cycle Mehteh

New Year. New Bike.

After many faithful years touring on a 26” MTB named Gert, Marilyn was ready for a new chapter. Gert had done the miles, carried the bags, and earned its place in history, but Tour Aotearoa calls for something purpose-built.

The brief for this custom build was clear: a bike for Tour Aotearoa, then a bike for everything that comes after. Comfortable enough for back-to-back centuries. Durable enough for chipseal, gravel, and long remote stretches. Built to last.

We started with a Brother Cycles Mehteh frame, modern steel, stable under load, and perfectly suited to long-haul riding. From there, it became a carefully considered touring machine. Wheelworks built a set of OG Bikepacking Carbon rims, reinforced for durability and laced to Hope Pro 5 hubs for reliability you can trust in the middle of nowhere. Shimano XT 12-speed keeps shifting crisp and simple. Maxxis Ikon tyres roll fast while still offering confidence off the seal.

Up front, Velo Orange Crazy Bars provide multiple hand positions for long days in the saddle. A Redshift suspension seatpost softens the endless chipseal. Ergon grips keep hands happy when the kilometres stack up. What rolled out of the workshop is exactly what Marilyn asked for, a Tour Aotearoa machine that seamlessly becomes her forever bike once the finish line is crossed.

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