There鈥檚 a purpose-built bike for just about every type of riding. From snowbound fat聽bikes to continent-crossing touring machines, it鈥檚 easy to rack up a hefty stable of two-wheeled steeds. Now聽aspiring trail-to-table chefs have a new bike to lust after: the Forager, built as a collaboration between a custom-frame designer and one of the UK鈥檚 leading food advocates.
When 聽founder Darron Sven Coppin fired off an email with his foraging-bike idea to his neighbors at River Cottage, he didn鈥檛 expect a reply. After all, , which started as a television show, is a world-renowned culinary school, farm, and study in all things local eating. It鈥檚 also home to celebrity chef, television host, and England鈥檚 most vocal localvore, . A business like that wouldn鈥檛 have time for a small British company building handmade bikes, Coppin thought. So he was shocked when, a few days later, he met with Fearnley-Whittingstall and River Cottage鈥檚 executive chef, Gill Meller, to design the ultimate food-focused foraging bike for the English countryside.
Inspired by the rugged, decidedly British aesthetic of the original Land Rovers, the trio set to work on making the bike as comfortable and capable as possible. Most noticeably, the front wheel features shock-absorbing technology from Nottinghamshire鈥檚 Loopwheels. Made in England, the Kickstarter-backed design comes equipped with integrated suspension for a more comfortable ride. Meanwhile, a dynamo hub powers lights and includes a USB-charging port, so your devices will be juiced up as long as you鈥檙e riding. An internal hub with disc聽brakes makes for a reliable, smooth, maintenance-free ride even in the mud.
Of course, it鈥檚 principally a foraging rig, so聽Coppin and the River Cottage crew took extra care to outfit the bike with locally produced, bespoke cooking gear. Leeds-based bag and accessories maker produced a custom set of frame packs. Upcycled pots and pans nestle securely into the bags, along with a fire pit, recycled cutlery, and a particularly handsome cutting board fashioned from a boat deck.
And it wouldn鈥檛 be an English bike without a leather .
High British country living doesn鈥檛 come cheap. The impeccably styled and fully聽equipped Forager clocks in at $5,670. You can check out the Forager bike in person at the starting April 15 or see it on Channel 4鈥檚 River Cottage.