September 20/06 7:56 am - Dekerf Cycle Innovations Closing Its Doors

Posted by Editoress on 09/20/06
 

Dekerf Cycle Innovations Closing Its Doors
Courtesy Chris Dekerf

After 17 years of building some of the finest handmade bicycles in the world, Dekerf Cycle Innovations will be closing its doors in January of 2007. The company has hand-made well over 5000 bicycle frames during its history and distributed them into 13 different countries worldwide. The company has produced immaculately crafted frames in steel, titanium, and aluminum and for virtually every type of use. Over the years Dekerf bicycle frames have received more than 50 glowing editorial reviews from almost every major bicycle magazine worldwide. Mike Ferrentino once described the Dekerf frame he had just tested as "the best handling bike in the world". Most recently a Dekerf single speed was featured in the June 2006 issue of the Robb Report Collection - Grand Machines. The frames have been raced by countless athletes including Andreas Hestler as Dekerf provided one of his first team sponsorships. The legendary pierced; interlocking wishbone design has become a trademark of all Dekerf frames. And as those who attended will surely attest, Dekerf threw some of biggest and most memorable parties in the bike industry! It marks the end of a very special bicycle company that produced a very special product.

Although the company continues to flourish, Chris Dekerf, the founder and sole owner of the company wishes to close this chapter gracefully and seek other opportunities within the bicycle industry. "After 17 years the time has come for me to try something new. Building Dekerf bicycle frames has been hugely rewarding in so many ways and the decision to wrap up this business has certainly not been easy. But the time has come for me to learn some new things and perhaps try working for, or with, other people. At this time I have no specific plans of what I will be doing next, and am excited about what opportunities may present themselves. I wish to thank all our customers for their support over the years. I wish to thank the many key people that worked with me here at Dekerf, as well as the extremely supportive bicycle media, and suppliers. And of course I would like to thank my family and good friends for all their support as well."

There will still be approximately 50 Dekerf frames built over the next few months before the expected closing date of January 31, 2007. Anyone interested in purchasing one of these truly special frames can contact Dekerf Cycle Innovations. 604-241-1143.