Knightwood built for versatility
The Knightwood is more than just a bike frame. It was designed to adapt to every kind of ride and rider. Whether you love retro setups with downtube shifters, modern drivetrains, or a mix of both, the Knightwood gives you freedom to build the bike that suits you.
It’s fascinating the way a bike can mould to someone’s personality, and how you can often see the person come through in the way it’s set up or built. That idea is partly why our bikes are so minimal in their design. We like to create something that has the ability to adapt to whoever is going to build and ride it. There’s a fine line between designing something minimal and creating something that simply feels lazy or unresolved. Our aim is for every bike to tell its own story one that feels personal to the person who owns and rides it.
We’ve seen a really good mix of Knightwood builds so far. Some are built purely for comfort, like the easy boy sitting in the corner of your living room, while others are clearly set up for exploring. That balance is exactly what we were aiming for when we designed it. It’s one thing for a bike to look the part when it’s configured in different ways, but it also has to ride well across the board. With its mid-trail geometry, the Knightwood handles just as well as it looks whether that’s bombing down some singletrack, ripping through the forest on a hot lap, or loading up the weekly shop in a front basket.
I personally leaned towards building my Knightwood as a faster-paced bike that still feels comfortable over longer distances. I’m running the same 50 cm-wide Hilt bars as on my Rufus Stone, paired with a stem that’s 10 mm longer, which gives it a slightly more aggressive riding position. It feels pretty spot on, and I could easily load it up for an overnight campout or a short weekend trip without changing at all.
I also have a smaller frame that I’m planning to set up with flat bars and a singlespeed drivetrain. I’m often asked whether sizing up makes more sense when running flat bars, but I actually prefer to size down. I really like the look of a smaller frame with a taller seatpost and bars set a little lower. I can’t fully explain why it just feels cleaner and less like an “old person bike” to me.
I love talking about bikes with people and hearing their ideas, so please keep the DMs and emails coming. If you ever want a second opinion or just want to bounce ideas off someone for a potential build you want to bring to life, we’re always available to chat and would love to hear from you. No question is too crazy, and certainly no bike egos over here, so send them our way.
ashley@runebicycles.com