For 99 years Skeppshult has been building bicycles in the town of Skeppshult in southern Sweden. This year sees the introduction of several new models and we will be adding them to the bike page shortly but for the moment here is a sneak peak

We will order the STC Steel on demand and it can either come as a 18 or 9 speed or the very practical 8 speed internal hub. 18 Speed is $2690, 9 Speed is $2290 and the 8 Speed is $2490. Colours are Black or Snow White Metallic

For over 10 years Swedish designer Björn Dahlström has been working together with Skeppshult and the result so far is 3 landmark bicycles. In recognition of this partnership Skeppshult has released the Z27, Soft and V Bike in a special Midnight Blue colour. As you walk around the bicycle the colour swings between jet black to a deep metallic blue.

Christmas 2005 Julia and I visited her parents in Sweden and while we were there she test rode a Skeppshult Soft in the slush of Gothenburg. The Soft was released the previous year and was awarded The Bicycle of the Year in Sweden. This was the second bike designed by Björn Dahlström and it shows. The top tube is one piece of tubing which curves hark back to generations ago but at the same time looks completely modern. She came back from that test ride with the widest smile.

The Soft is probably the most comfortable bicycle that Skeppshult produces and this is due to many factors, one of which is that it comes with the fattest Schwalbe Big Apple tyres you can get. At 60mm wide they produce a extremely Soft ride but at the same time they roll so effortlessly.

Finally Julia has her Soft and it's in the very special Midnight Blue colour. Her smile is almost as big as the first time she rode one.

In August 2009 we celebrated the milestone of reaching 100 Skeppshult bicycles sold in Australia and New Zealand.

Kjell Sture who is Co-Owner of Skeppshult said "We are very proud to reach 100 bicycles in Australia. Everyone here at Skeppshult strives to make bicycles that are above all else, enjoyed and ridden.The joy you get from owning a Skeppshult bicycle is just as important as the enjoyment you get from actually riding it.

Here at Skeppshult we say "Småländskt konsthantverk när det är som bäst", in other words, we value local craftmanship and we focus on quality. We are sure that many more riders in Australia will appreciate the design and quality that is handmade here in our little factory in Skeppshult. Cykla Lugnt."

Fittingly the 100th bicycle was a Pearl White Nova Comfort Automat, a bicycle we believe is indicative of Skeppshults philosophies. Building bicycles that are practicle, comfortable and using modern technology while at the same time taking full advantage of Skeppshults 98 years of designing and building bicycles.

To help raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation Skeppshult has produced a Limited Edition Pink V Bike.

Only 8 pink V Bikes have been made especially for Australia and are available nowhere else in the world. Four of these special bicycles are individually signed by Fifi Box, Deborah Hutton, Lizzy Lovette and Adam Spencer and will be available by auction only which starts on the 26th May. 100% of the profits will be donated to the Breast Cancer Foundation.

For more information on the pink V Bike visit www.vbike.com.au/pink-v-bike.html

(L to R, Gregg Franz from Cykla, Mike Perso from Vega, Ross Greenaway from Balgownie Estate)

12/05/2009 - If you were listening to Vega 91.5fm in Melbourne today you may have heard Mike Perso talking about the Pink V Bike auction for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Vega visited Balgownie Estate which is a wonderful winery and spa resort in the Yarra Valley just outside of Melbourne as part of Mike Perso's workplace visits. If you would have seen Mike today you would have thought he had one of the best jobs in the world. Tucked in a corner of Rae's Restaurant Mike occasionally would speak into the microphone and the rest of the time he would sit and take in the view and think about which wine to try. He made it look easy and it was lots of fun.