Simon Mottram, founder of Rapha, has been announced as a lead investor in the latest funding round of Quirk Cycles, a London-based maker of high-end titanium and steel framesets.
Quirk is looking to raise £500,000 to fund a scaling up of its production and the launch of new models in early 2026.
The objective is to transform Quirk from a bespoke workshop to a global boutique brand.
According to Mottram: “What drew me to Quirk Cycles is their absolute authenticity – the same spirit that drives every great cycling brand. Rob and his team are building something truly special: a brand rooted in craftsmanship and rider obsession, with the ambition to set a new benchmark in performance and design.
“Quirk isn’t following trends; it’s defining what’s next for boutique performance cycling, and I’m excited to help him scale this vision into a modern, globally respected performance brand.”
Quirk Cycles’ owner, Rob Quirk, declined to say how much Mottram, who has had a lower profile since stepping down as CEO of Rapha in 2021, has invested. He told BikeRadar: "As we’re currently in the middle of the round, we’re not sharing specific amounts from any investor yet.
"What we can say is that Simon Mottram is playing an important role in this stage of our growth. His involvement at this stage is a huge vote of confidence in Quirk Cycles’ vision and strategy."
Quirk's other investors remain private.
Quirk says high-end bike brands such as his are weathering the current storm in the cycle market better than more mainstream manufacturers.
He claims that’s down to Quirk standing “at the intersection of innovation and authenticity – two qualities increasingly absent in mass-market offerings” and that “the brand’s commitment to individuality and technical excellence positions it to capture a growing audience of riders seeking connection and meaning in performance cycling”.
Quirk’s current output spans the road, gravel and MTB markets, as well as the fashionable all-road genre. Its titanium Titan road frameset, for example, is priced at £6,500 and its 2.3in-clearance Supra Chub steel gravel bike frameset at £4,500.
It’s planning to add new road, all-road and gravel framesets to its range following the current fundraising, including the Durmitor performance road bike shown above.
