Passion and curiosity for Mountain Biking

John Watson @theradavist took some gorgeous photos at the Bespoked 2025 Manchester show. He also wrote some words that nicely explain the origins of Auckland Cycle Works.

29th April, 2025

Around 2002, Gary Ewing was riding around the Peak District on a full-suspension bike with Mike Hall, known to many for his legendary status as a Tour Divide and ultra-distance racer (ride in peace, Mike). Gary mused that the dominant theory for calculating anti-squat forces in the rear triangle assumed the swingarm and chain formed a triangle, but the vertical height of the cassette meant it couldn’t be a triangle, it had to be a parallelogram. Mike commented to Gary that the answer for this could be building a bike with suspension which, in Mike’s words, was “kind of like a rearward pivot.” The idea stuck in Gary’s mind.

Auckland Cycle Works Marra head badge, paint by Stuart at Black Cat Custom Paint
Marra proto V 2.2. KOLARP suspension in profile. Photo by John Watson, The Radavist, Bespoked Manchester 2025.
Marra proto V 2.2. with KOLARP suspension. Photo by John Watson, The Radavist, Bespoked Manchester 2025.

After Mike’s untimely death in 2017, Gary was mostly riding around Hamsterley Forest, on a nicely balanced 4-bar Horst Link full sus, near his Inspiral Cycles bike shop in Bishop Auckland, Northeast England. Gary was pondering questions about braking anti-rise when he realized he could test the rearward pivot idea, challenge the existing theory, and pay homage to his friend Mike at the same time. Auckland Cycle Works was born… but it took a while to refine.

The first prototype was very rough test mule that proved there were opportunities to make improvements over existing conventional designs. Gary’s Eureka moment came in 2021 and he named his KOLARP (Kind Of Like A Rearward Pivot) suspension platform after Mike’s cryptic comment. The first Marra and Reiver bikes were awarded the Mike Burrows’ Award for Innovation at Bespoked in London 2022.

Branded as Auckland Cycle Works, after the original 1890’s cycle factory in his home town, Gary and his wife Fiona have brought more refined, tried and tested bikes to Bespoked in Dresden and Manchester. The Marra pictured here is version 2.3. Now, v2.4 is ready for bespoke custom orders.

Auckland Cycle Works Marra, paint by Stuart at Black Cat Custom Paint.
Gary Ewing with Marra proto V 2.2. Photo by John Watson, The Radavist, Bespoked Manchester 2025.
Gary and Fiona with Marra proto V 2.2. Bespoked Dresden 2024.
Gary Ewing and Celyn Mitchell at Danny Hart's Descend Bike Park, at the NDH DH race 2024

Team

Core Team:

  • Gary Ewing

  • Fiona Ewing

  • Celyn Mitchell

With massive thanks to:

  • Frank Derer

  • Bespoked Handmade Bike Show

  • Stuart @ Black Cat Custom Paint

  • Gavin @ Coal Bikes

  • James @ Creature

  • Hope Technology

  • Schwalbe Tyres UK

  • SQ Labs

  • Graham & Nathan for getting me started

  • And all the friends that keep it real

Gav @ COALBIKES, laying down some beads
Stu @ Black Cat Custom Paint, holding a beautifully painted Auckland Cycle Works Marra front triangle.