Bicycles & Tandems by Design, since 1981.
Discover a world where ideas, services, and quality products converge to help you find the perfect bicycle tailored precisely to your needs.
Since 1981, Peter Bird (founder and owner of Bicycles & Tandems by Design) has been crafting bespoke steel frames tailor-made for a variety of clients. From 2009, his expertise has expanded to designing products in various materials and collaborating with top European manufacturers.
Over the years, the business has grown steadily with the introduction of several home-grown brands, including Swallow, Ironbridge, and Landescape.
Bicycles & Tandems by Design also curate a selection of high-quality, niche brands from Europe and America, including Co-Motion and Duratec.
Weβre no fluff, no exaggeration, just genuine, well-designed products and honest advice.
Introducing Peter & his team.
Peter Bird is the founder and owner of Bicycles & Tandems by Design.
Since 1981, Pete has been crafting bespoke steel frames tailor-made for a variety of clients. Since 2009, his expertise has expanded to designing products in various materials and collaborating with top European manufacturers.
The team at Bicycles & Tandems by Design are passionate about creating high-quality, handmade bicycles that meet the unique needs of each rider. With decades of combined experience in frame-building, engineering, and cycle fitting, we ensure every bike is designed for performance, comfort, and longevity.
What we do.
We donβt just sell bikes; we design and build them too.
Ensuring your bike fits perfectly, feels right, and performs to your expectations is at the heart of what we do. Every detail, from sizing to the final touch of handlebar tape, receives our full attention and care.
From the beginning, we discuss your needs to create a bike that mirrors your lifestyle. Weβll guide you through all the options available to you in clear and understandable language so you know exactly what youβre spending your money on.
This personalised service comes at no extra cost. Itβs simply the way we believe in doing things. We want to spread our love of bikes to others in the hopes that you too will find the joy in cycling that we do.
What our customers say about us...
Our history
First frame built.
Peter Bird designs and builds his first frame while in his final year as an apprentice goldsmith in Hatton Garden, buying the tubes from Grant and Monty Young at Condor Cycles. Peter also designs a βmodernβ tandem inspired by pioneering American builders to be built by Chas Roberts.
First tandem event organised.
Peter organises the first ever British tandem event for the Tandem Club, βTandem β80β in Essex.
Swallow is established.
Swallow frames is born, in a shed (like all great things) at Peterβs parentsβ house in Hutton, Essex.
Prototype brakes developed.
Prototype tandem hubs and air β cooled hub β brake are developed.
Opened bicycle shop.
Swallow tandem hubs and brakes are tested during LEJOG. Hubs, brakes and frames perform faultlessly. Peter moves from the garden shed to a new workshop and retail unit in Laindon, Essex: opening βSwallow Frames & Cyclesβ. Peter becomes a βReynolds 753β approved frame-builder, the youngest in the world at that time.
Swallow tandem hubs and brakes go into production. The βExpaβ tandem frame is introduced using a unique mix of oval and round tubes to improve stiffness and allow longer top tubes for rear rider comfort.
Custom 'bar ends'.
Handlebar stems, stoke-a-rests and reinforced brake hangers are added to Swallow components alongside the Hubs and brakes. Custom-made tandem bottom bracket shells are made enabling oversized down tubes to be used and increasing frame stiffness. The βToucanβ tandem is introduced β built as a made-to-measure frame in the βdirect lateralβ design and set componentry. First Swallow mountain bike made from Reynolds 531 ATB tubing: one option includes an elliptical top tube to gain extra stiffness. A pair of custom ATB handlebars were made with what was later known as βbar endsβ, which were integrally brazed to the bars so that a customer who could not hold straight bars was able to ride an ATB. The brakes and shifters were mounted on the upper end of the βbar endβ. About 6 months later, Onza launched the bolt-on βBar endβ. Damn! Too young and knew nothing of patents.
Peter takes part in the first UK mountain bike championships in Telford Town Park. Swallow System87 clothing starts development. Oversized bottom brackets featuring needle-thrust bearings for smooth running and longevity are added to the Swallow component range for ATBs and tandems. (Heard a few years back that one customer had clocked up over 40,000 miles on one of these bbs!)
Cycle clothing launched.
Swallow βSystem β87β cycle clothing is launched. Itβs revolutionary use of polycotton Lycra, synthetic chamois for short inserts, synthetic leather for gloves, welded neoprene for overshoes, fleece for warmth and Goretex in waterproofs, engages a small and dedicated following of customers, but maybe was a just bit ahead of its time as mainstream companies didnβt introduce these types of products for at least another 3 or 4 years. Pete is among a very small number of frame builders in the world that Reynolds will guarantee their frames are built βlug-lessβ in 753 tubing using silver solder. Also invited by Reynolds with 4 other frame builders to review Reynolds products for small builders. We win the best British component award for Swallow Tandem Hubs and Brakes at the International Cyclex Exhibition, London.
First Columbus MAX-tubed bike.
Introduction of Swallow Chome-moly internal lug-less lugs enables 753 and other lighter and stiffer tubes to be used in tandems while retaining the flexibility of lug-less design and the beauty of fillet brazing. Built two of the first Columbus MAX-tubed bikes in the UK. MAX tubing was revolutionary in that all the tubes were shaped to provide maximum rigidity under the torsional loading of riding a bike. Tubes were oversized and had very thin walls (0.8 and 0.5mm), there were no lugs available at the time, so we built lug-less, and added some wacky paint jobs.
The next two years are spent consolidating and improving products and services as competition strengthened from more affordable aluminium frames and larger manufacturers.
Although the shop adapted to sell more bikes from key brands, orders for Swallow frames show signs of slowing up for the first time in 9 years.
Move to Lake Vyrnwy.
Pete moves the manufacturing of Swallow to Lake Vyrnwy, Mid Wales. He begins the unique βTry Before You Buyβ concept for Tandem customers and develops tandem training to allow couples to enhance their riding skills. He also started Bicycle Hire Around the Lake, which continues today.
Tandemania event founded.
Peter created βTandemaniaβ, an annual event that runs for 5 years and includes led and self-led rides, a time β trial and the first tandem road race around Lake Vyrnwy. Attended by 100βs of people from all over the World.
Frame-building courses started.
Swallow moves to Llangedwyn Mill, in the Tanat Valley and Peter opens the UKβs first Tandem-only shop selling Santana, Burley, Co-Motion, Ibis, KHS, Cannondale, Dawes and Tandem Twosday. Also starts Frame-building courses and Masterclasses in mechanics for both bicycles and tandems.
Move to Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant.
The business moves to Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant and the Tandem Shop opens in The Old Bakery in the High Street.
βWhyBikesβ are developed.
WhyBikes are launched.
βWhyBikesβ are launched, a women β specific bicycle range applying Swallowβs past experience of sizing female customers for tandems.
Tandem events merge.
The Bishops Castle Tandem Triathlon is incorporated into Tandemania just for two years (as the event was not able to run due to the swimming pool closing for refurbishment).
Tandem tours abroad.
Pete & Sarah lead Tandem holidays in France and Ireland.
Swallow stops production.
Swallow's finishes manufacturing.
Pete works for renowned UK & US bicycle companies as a consultant improving and developing their tandem range.
Pete continues to work as a consultant improving and developing the tandem range.
Tandem Experience is setup.
Pete sets up The Tandem Experience with 7 locations around the UK supplying tandems, training and knowledge. People can book online for a day of training and riding on quality Tandems. JD Cycles (Ilkley) now JD Tandems, MSG Bikes (Lancing) and Warlands Cycles (Oxford) are all locations for The Tandem Experience.
Landescape tandems are developed.
Peter begins developing the Landescape tandem range, using a frame made in the Far East (to keep costs down) that can accommodate a range of different uses in one frame. A unique design feature is the ability of the frame to accept both 26β & 700c wheels using either V or disc brakes (or a mixture of the two) and to fit a wide range of riders.
Tandem Experience holidays.
Tandem Experience develops and launches led holidays in France beginning with the Loire and Languedoc areas.
Landescape Tandems are launched into the UK via a dealer network including: JD Cycles, MSG Bicycles, Bicycle Doctor, Warlands Cycles and The Tandem Shop in Ironbridge.
Move to Jackfield.
The Tandem Experience Festival joins the Bishop Castle Tandem Triathlon as one of the UKβs most popular tandem events. In December, The Tandem Shop and The Tandem Experience move to FUSION, Jackfield and The Bicycle Hub opens. Masterclasses for bicycle and tandem maintenance begin again. Work starts on the new Landescape tandem range with Duratec in the Czech Republic.
Landescape launch new range.
Pete & Sarah continue the Tandem Experience Tours to France & Germany. Launch of the new Landescape tandem range of handmade frames made in Europe.
The Bicycle Hub, The Tandem Shop and The Tandem Experience continue to grow.
Charity bike events.
Peter begins to organise yearly Charity bike events for the Severn Hospice.
The Bicycle Hub in Jackfield, Ironbridge Gorge develops as a bicycle shop for all.
Re-birth of Swallow.
After a patient and sometimes nail-biting wait, the Swallow trade mark is returned to its rightful owner and Pete goes about planning the re-birth of the brand.
Swallow frames built for bespoke.
The first tube is cut for the first Swallow frame to be made in 12 years. Two new frames are built and one old one restored for the Bespoked Bristol show. Customers start placing orders for new frames. The Bicycle Hub moves to a new location in Telford Town Park Visitor Centre in April and Bicycles by Design begins its life in Jackfield.
Best road bike awarded.
At Bespoked Bristol, Swallow is awarded the prize for Best Road Bike of the show β a Reynolds 953 stainless steel bike. Landescape launched a handmade carbon fibre tandem frame made by Cyfac in France.
Move to Coalport.
Bicycles by Design, The Tandem Shop and the Tandem Experience move across the river to the very light and sunny John Rose Building in Coalport.
Many early Swallow customers have their βoldβ frames refurbished. Frame building courses soar, as waiting list grows to a years wait.
Lady Velo awarded.
Win the βLady Veloβ award at Bespoked Bristol.
Launched the full Duratec bicycle line including their much-awaited βPhantomβ carbon fibre frame β all made in Europe. Ironbridge Bicycles launched handbuilt steel bicycles.
Launched the Duratec Bicycle website.
Pinion Bicycles and Tandems began to be developed alongside Gates Belt drive.
Neodrive-assist Bicycles and Tandems join our offerings and bring us into the 'e-world'.
Launched our Ironbridge Pinion Bicycles and offered them as assistant-ready for future-proofing.
Launched our Landescape Neodrive-Assist Tandems.
Launched our Landescape Bicycles, manufactured in Germany and available also in Neodrive-Assist.
Celebrate 20 years in the Gorge.
The development of the business continues, renaming the trading names of Bicycles by Design, Tandeming and The Tandem Shop to simply Bicycles and Tandems by Design. Celebrated in December 20 years in the Gorge along with customers, friends and family. A great day was had by all.
The journey continues.
Await some exciting news throughout this year.
