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Since launching three years ago, the French company Keim-Cycles, led by designer Paule Guerin and woodworker Till Breitfuss, has built a reputation on simple design, elegant lines and high-quality finish. Using white ash as a primary material, finished with weather-resistant marine glazing, Keim's bicycles attain high functionality in a wide range of practical and aesthetic aspects.

We met Keim's designer, Paule Guerin, at Bespoked in Bristol earlier this year and she explained the many-stepped fabrication process. 

Back in 2014 HBG sent a former professional cyclist, Charlie Bee, to a Keim-Cycles media event in Paris, where he rode the Arvak model. Charlie took with him some wood-working artisans who admired the high quality of the bicycle's finish and spoke approvingly of the construction method. Construction of each frame requires about one month and 35-40 hours' work.

Charlie was most impressed by the smooth and silent ride of the Arvak. He spoke of a lively, sporty feel, and gained the impression it could be a very fast bicycle. He thought the Arvak best suited to velodrome riding or maybe a long cycle path where stopping with a foot on the ground is seldom required. The reason for this, he said is the cross bar runs at the same height of the saddle. While this provides an overall frame shape that is beautifully simple, he found it difficult at first to stop as one would do at a traffic light. Paule Guérin seems to have adapted to this issue in riding the Arvak, since she says while the Honza is well suited to coutryside cycling over varied terrain, the Arvak is used more in the city. 

Since the 2014 launch, Keim has introduced the Honza model, which features more prominently in the video. The Honza design is closer to the traditional bicycle frame with a significant vertical gap between the saddle and cross bar. We have not ridden this model.