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The new Glenmorangie Original; a wooden bike built from whisky barrels!

Renovo Glenmorangie wooden bike whisky scotch
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Based out of Portland, OR, wooden bike builder Renovo was recently tasked with a slightly different project; building a bike from barrel staves. But not just any barrels mind you, but barrels that once contained Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Last year Glenmorangie started an initiative called Beyond the Cask where they use decommissioned whisky barrels as the raw material for collaborative projects. The Renovo Glenmorangie Original is the second collaboration in the series, after the renown craftsmen at Finlay and Co. built eyeglasses from the same American White Oak barrel staves the bike is also made from.

Renovo Glenmorangie wooden bike whisky scotch distillery spirits

Not wanting to sacrifice the natural curvature the staves had from their previous life, Renovo integrated curving seatstays and a curving downtube into the Original. The bikes will be built using Renovo’s proprietary hollow frame technology, with each frame using about 15 individual barrel staves.

Renovo Glenmorangie wooden bike whisky scotch

Available in two guises, the Launch Edition seen here, or the higher-end Prestige Edition. The Launch Edition bikes will feature Shimano 6800 Ultegra drivetrains, while Prestige Editions will receive Dura Ace 9170 Di2 kits. All bikes will use FSA cockpits (alloy on the Launch and Carbon on the Prestige) which will steer aptly-spec’d *Whisky* forks. The whole ensemble rolls on custom built 28h Velocity Aileron wheels. Stock builds will come with 28mm Vittoria or Schwalbe rubber, but tire clearance is quoted at 700x40c, transforming the Glenmorangie cruiser into a gravel-ready adventure mobile.

Renovo Glenmorangie chainstay wooden bike whisky scotch

Each Renovo Glenmorangie Original is an original, with every bike being made-to-order. The Launch Edition Ultegra bike will set you back $6,950 (€5,800) and the Prestige will command a daunting $11,450 (€9,600).  A $1000 down payment will let you choose from small(52cm), medium(55cm), or large(58cm) sizes and Ultegra or Dura Aces parts kits. Each frame will feature flat mounts, thru axles, a tapered headtube and a PF30 bottom bracket, and will be compatible with a rear rack and fenders. For those wanting to combine a passion for spirits and a love of bicycles, Renovo finally has the answer.

The Glenmorangie Original bicycles by Renovo – Facts and Figures

  • Trapezoidal curved downtube and toptube recall the shape of Oak staves from Glenmorangie casks
  • Flat+Wide “Longbow” seat stays engineered to optimize vibration damping and stiffness
  • Lightweight, hollow chain stays
  • 27.2mm seatpost for maximal compliance
  • Long wheelbase enhances stability and vertical compliance
  • Tapered headtube, PF30 bottom bracket, front and rear thru-axles all increase stiffness under power
  • Disc brakes offer superior stopping power on long descents
  • Full carbon, tapered steerer tube fork with fender mounts
  • Frame is Fender and rack compatible (management use requires adapter)
  • 28-40mm tire compatibility
  • Delivered fully tuned and 98% assembled in custom presentation packaging, ready to ride in 15 minutes or less.
  • Includes assembly tools and mini-pump
  • Available in Small, Medium and Large sizes

Launch Edition Specifications:

  • The Glenmorangie Original Frame by Renovo, White Oak and Sapele Woods
  • Shimano Ultegra 6800 Shifting and Braking Systems
  • Custom 28 spoke Velocity Aileron Comp Wheels
  • FSA Energy Handlebar, Stem and Seatpost
  • Vittoria Rubino Pro 700x28mm tires
  • Selle Italia XR Gel Flow Saddle
  • Lizard Skins DSP Bar Tape
  • MSRP: $6950
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17 Comments
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Marin
Marin
6 years ago

So many ridiculously overpriced fancy bike but no attempts at low priced quality cf bike…

Shame…

Other Aaron
Other Aaron
6 years ago
Reply to  Marin

You should take a look at the big names like Specialized, Giant, Cannondale, etc if you want low priced high quality bikes. Custom bikes will always be expensive, and they generate far more attention the the small revisions that the big names make.

In my personal experience, the CAAD 10 (now 12) is one of the best riding and handling bikes i’ve ridden, despite it being aluminum.

Marin
Marin
6 years ago
Reply to  Other Aaron

Those brands are very expensive too.
Framesets are quite pricey compared to manufacturing cost, 10x markup…

JBikes
JBikes
6 years ago
Reply to  Marin

Because it’s called a high quality aluminum frame. Maybe it’ll change, but I’ve always found top spec Al to ride better and be cheaper than bottom spec CF.

Luke
6 years ago

No whisky bottle holder and Glencairn cup holder? Obviously not designed by a whisky drinker. No thanks I’ll pass.

Jonathon
Jonathon
6 years ago

There is a local ride who purchased a Renovo years ago, and is still waiting for delivery.. Over promised, paid in full, and no delivery. Buyer beware!

Renovo Bikes
6 years ago
Reply to  Jonathon

Hi Jonathon,
We do not have any customers waiting for frames on standard order. We DO have a couple customers who graciously assisted in funding a project a few years ago- one of whom we have designed an entirely new frame for based on his exceptional height, and another who opted to wait until our new John Day model was developed, and is now waiting for Shimano to deliver R8070 shifters…
Anyway, we are only taking orders for either (1) our in-stock, pre-built frames/ completes or (2) a limited run of Glenmorangie Originals, which will be delivered in (1) 1-3 weeks or (2) 6 weeks or less.
We admit we had issues with delivery times in the past, which is why we have since turned our back on the traditional “build queue” model relied on by most small framebuilders.

Dave
Dave
6 years ago

Another “fool and his money…” item. I wonder if they will give credit to the brand of Bourbon that was originally aged in those casks.

Deboat
Deboat
6 years ago

I think this is a piece of art. Very nice fabrication!
To say something negative about this type of bike clearly shows that person only has a little passion for riding and no passion for the bike that they sit on. (deleted)
To the guy that builds these bikes… Keep them coming and thanks for inspiration.

Scott
Scott
6 years ago

There are Glenmorangie labels all over the bike, what more credit do you want for the original “Whisky”

someguyinpdx
someguyinpdx
6 years ago
Reply to  Scott

He’s just showing off his “knowledge” https://www.beveragemedia.com/2015/10/02/scotchs-deep-secret/

Dave
Dave
6 years ago

“To say something negative about this type of bike clearly shows that person only has a little passion for riding and no passion for the bike that they sit on.”

That’s absurd. You can have a lot of passion for riding and for the bike(s) you have purchased without being suckered into this overpriced and impractical “piece of art”.

QuickGeezer
QuickGeezer
6 years ago

I’m amazed to be the first one to mention that the article doesn’t give any weights for these bikes.

Phanuel
Phanuel
6 years ago

@ Renovo Bikes, I love the frame a lot! Nevertheless, instead of having a “less expensive” and a “more expensive” version, I would likely recommend to offer a “Beautiful” edition and a “Bicycle nerd awful brand decals” edition.

I understand that some riders want the best performance at any cost, but assembling off-the-shelf Shimano and FSA branded parts on such a beauty is close to criminal. Look at what is done in motorcycles and car industry, you will never see ugly assemblies like this (again – the frame is a jewel). I’d be happy to pull additional 500gr uphill for nice Campy groupset with full black alloy components and a Berthoud seat, because if I’d run for performance I would definitely never go for a single barrel frame anyway…

Send me a frame and a budget, I’ll build a bike for you that you can show, auction or whatever (you can pay me with a few bottles of Single Malt – serious offer 😉 )

Cryogenii
Cryogenii
6 years ago

Whatever, I like it!

Smelltheroses
Smelltheroses
6 years ago

If you clear coat this, then don’t tell me what you fabricated it out of. Otherwise it could have been made out of a latrine. If that’s the case, I’m not putting a water bottle cage on it…
🙂

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