CyclistMeet the Maker: Chris Yeomans and The Flying GateThe ride feel is what gets most people, says Chris Yeomans, current steward of the iconic Flying Gate marque. I often get comments along the lines of, I feel like I am being pushed uphill, or, Its like the wind is always behind me.Yeomans is fresh back from touring the east coast of Ireland with his wife, Dawn. For the trip, they each rode slightly different versions of what some might say is one of British cyclings great engineering curiosities.Juan Trujillo Andrades / CyclistConceived in the 1930s an era when time-trialling dominated the domestic racing scene the Flying Gate was originally known by its creators as the VS37 and commercially as the International TT. Its unconventional frame, with its cut-off seat tube, double sets of seatstays and additional vertical tube, created a gate-like silhouette, while its short wheelbase and stiffness made it ride like a spooked cat. It didnt take long for its nickname to eclipse the official title, and it has stuck ever since.Yeomans is the latest in a succession of custodians who, over the decades, have committed themselves to keeping the Flying Gate from drifting into obscurity. Originally designed and built by Bill and Reg Baines of the Baines Company in Bradford, the Gate went out of production in 1954 and remained in a state of dormancy until it was resurrected by framebuilder Trevor Jarvis of TJ Cycles in 1979.Chris Yeomans took over the responsibility for building a quirky bike that was originally designed for time-trialling in the 1930s. Having initially said no, he was swayed by the bikes loyal and enthusiastic fans. Juan Trujillo Andrades / CyclistOver the course of 35 years, Jarviss Flying Gates became known for their intricate lugwork and attention to detail qualities that have helped make many of his iterations highly sought-after collectors items. But he couldnt do it forever, and having entered his eighties he began looking for someone to take the reins.Initially I said no as I wanted to focus on my own brand, Smithy Frameworks, Yeomans says. Then I went to one of the Flying Gate Weekends. Its an annual gathering of enthusiasts that has been taking place for almost 30 years. Its a unique event, more of a family gathering than anything. I saw Trevor had created something quite special and I was hooked. He asked me again and I said yes. I still meet up with him regularly. Hell be 93 this year.Flying out of the gateA blacksmith by trade and professional framebuilder for the past two decades, Yeomans enjoys the process of building the Flying Gates unique frame.Creating things in metal has always been a real passion. The end result often felt more important than the financial benefit something Im sure many artists can relate to. Flying Gate frames are slightly more challenging to make than conventional frames so I guess I find them more rewarding.Juan Trujillo Andrades / CyclistThe bike he has just toured the Irish coast on isnt your run-of-the-mill Flying Gate (if there is such a thing). It comes fresh off the back of an award-winning appearance at Bespoked, where it took the Peoples Choice Award thanks to its striking mix of handcrafted beauty, elaborate detail and, lets be honest, sheer geometrical oddness.The componentry is quite a mix, says Yeomans. Hope hubs in silver bomb-proof for the Welsh roads and weather; Pacenti rims, silver obviously and durable too; Sugino Super Maxi 165mm cranks off Ebay square taper still has its place if youre not shy on maintenance, and I wanted to experiment with loose-ball bottom brackets to see if they could still hold their own, so I bought a Sugino one on eBay for 5 and a packet of loose ball bearings. It runs as sweet as any other bottom bracket I have used and was a doddle to set up.Theres some nice colour-matching too. The gold Connex chain, for example, perfectly complements the lug detailing and stem spacer.Obviously not essential, Yeomans admits, but it ties everything together.Elsewhere, the build is kept utilitarian and classic with a Brooks saddle, Cinelli bars, Grepp cloth bar tape and TRP levers. Theres also some rather pleasing period cabling for the brakes courtesy of Sim Works.Juan Trujillo Andrades / CyclistAs brilliantly curated as the componentry is, its the finer points of the frame that really make Yeomanss Gate sing. The stem is a prime example, crafted using his blacksmithing skills to match the lugwork and pick up on the box-lining from the top tube. Meanwhile the colouring has been achieved using a patination fluid to help highlight the lines.Then there are the lugs.Trevor has gradually been emptying his old workshop and passing relevant stuff onto me, Yeomans explains. Among which was a box of assorted old lugs. Hunting through them, I came up with a set, quite possibly Nervex, which I tweaked a bit and filed to what you see on the bike.Colour work and graphics are courtesy of Lee Morgan Artworx.I think the box-lining may have made him cry a bit, but he didnt let on, Yeomans says.Like what you see? Yeomans says a similar frameset to this one works out at around 2,500, with a lead time of approximately four to six months.The post Meet the Maker: Chris Yeomans and The Flying Gate appeared first on Cyclist.