It was a privilege to be able to visit Tom Donhou in his workshop earlier this year on a holiday that coincided with the 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart. Tom allowed me to photograph a project that he’d been working on, but these official photos give a much more accurate representation of just how superb the Donhou Bicycles Signature Steel frame really is.

From the press release: “As you may be aware, award winning Donhou Bicycles has been producing some of the most beautiful custom steel frames and bicycles right here in the UK — by hand, one at a time. We love building custom frames and realising peoples dream bikes for them, but there has always been something else we’ve wanted to do, something that is Donhou through and through, something that is our truly our own. That something has taken form as the ‘Signature Steel’ series.

About ‘Signature Steel’

“‘Signature Steel’ is an exciting new series of Donhou designed and built bicycles, offered in stock sizes, paint and geometry to accompany our custom builds. TIG welded as opposed to the fillet brazing of the custom builds, the ‘Signature Steel’ frames are built with the same precision and passion as the custom builds and wear the ‘Signature Steel’ badge.

If a long wait on a custom frame doesn’t work for you, then ‘Signature Steel’ is a more accessible way to own a handcrafted Donhou bicycle with all the love, care and quality of craftsmanship that Donhou is known for.

About the DSS1 — Performance Disc Road

The DSS1 is handcrafted performance steel at its finest. A few years ago we were ahead of the curve when we introduced disc brakes onto one of the Rapha Continental builds, and all that we’ve learnt from that project and the many disc road builds we’ve built since feeds into this.

Built for the purpose of all day road riding, this bike is comfortable and forgiving but very importantly remains a lot of fun to ride. It’s quick yet stable, comfortable yet punchy, it will take the edge off that punishing climb and will blow your mind coming down… All the important factors that add up to an amazing ride.

The bike is disc equipped for comfortable all day, all season braking. Disc’s add another dimension to riding, they make slowing down predictable and controllable, it’s a lot of fun braking into a turn on a descent knowing exactly what power you have there.

The frame is built from oversized Reynolds 853 Pro Team tubing. Reynolds 853 Pro Team is Reynolds highest quality, highest strength seamless air hardening steel, drawn to give an incredible ride while keeping minimal weight.

Its heat treatment increases fatigue resistance, making it incredibly strong and impact resistant. We have custom selected the tube diameters, butt profiles and wall thicknesses to give the incredible ride of the DSS1.

The DSS1 is TIG welded and coupled with the excellent light weight and confidence inspiring ENVE Disc Road carbon fork. It is available in 54, 56 and 58cm sizes and includes a Chris King Inset 8 headset. There are options for Di2 cable routing and the frame will accept both cable and hydro discs.

Finished in deep granite grey with a striking pink to lime pearl fade, applied right here in our in house spray shop, it flies the ‘Signature Steel’ head badge, featuring the Donhou twin Swallows, symbols of speed and safe travel…

Contact Tom at Donhou Cycles for more information.