A Double Dose of Drust Cycles at 2025 Bespoked Manchester

Based in Berlin, Germany, Konstantin Drust is back at Bespoked Manchester with some exciting builds. Though one is technically a personal bike with some special plans, Konstantin was kind enough to let me shoot it, inspiring some unique insights and ideas that ultimately led to it being awarded “Most Innovative” at Bespoked 2025 by yours truly. However, let’s start with Konstantin’s other award winning-bike; initially teased on Lucas’s shop visit back in 2021, the “Tandemic” has finally risen from the ashes of a global pandemic and the fires of procrastination. Featuring S&S couplers, a new planetary hub-style drivetrain, and 20″ inch wheels, Konstantin’s latest creation is truly something to behold.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

When asked why he built this mini-wheeled tandem tourer, Konstantin simply said, “God, I don’t know man.” Laughing off the question, he soon retorted, “Well, the wheel size is because I designed it around putting dogs on the front and the back.” Intent on a bikepacking trip from the Balkan states back to Germany, Konstantin and a friend are looking to go full-on dogpacking with this portable tandem. “I’ve had the parts sitting in my shop since 2020, you know, ‘Tandemic!'” his blue eyes peering into mine, waiting for a laugh. “And so the smaller wheelsize will obviously bring the center of gravity lower.”

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Riding it around moments before I shot it felt surreal. The lack of ground clearance, the planetary hub drivetrain, the buzz of the overbuilt steel tubing—it was all the work befitting of the lovable oddball that is Konstantin. Eventually, we spoke about the bike and the nature of its portability. “The turquoise frame outlines how small it can get. It has two S&S couplers and a collapsable rear end.”

When asked about the beefy yet asymmetric nature of the tubing profile, he said, “You can see I used very thick tubing at the down tube, and the one that connects the rear is extra thick. I decided to keep the front end a bit smaller, though. The 20″ wheel puts less stress on the front than a traditionally sized tandem might, so I think it’s fine. The force of braking should not affect it.” He sounded more sure than I could be. “And yes, this 3×3 drivetrain can take up to 250 pounds of torque. That’s a lot.”

• 
• 

• 
• 

The 3×3 planetary hub system from NINE seemed to fit the bill for this kooky project from Konstantin. As I wrote at the top, the “Tandemic” won an award. Selected as “Best In Show” by last year’s winner, Konstantin’s craftsmanship impressed on the first day of the show and will sit proudly as the decorated bike it so deservedly is. However, what intrigued me even more than the tandem was Konstantin’s personal bike, which takes a unique approach to a modern gravel bike.

Drust Cycles Heckmeck

For those of us who don’t speak German, “heckmeck” loosely translates to “trouble.” As Konstantin put it, “You know, when there is a kid running about, you might say, ‘Hey, stop with the heckmeck.’ That’s what this bike is to me—a bit of trouble.” Conceived of as a potential production model, the Heckmeck is, in his own words, “Nothing special. I gave it to Petor (Georgallou) and he said, ‘Oh, I’m not sure quite get what it is. I can’t really tell.’ I loved this.” Konstantin’s eyes lit up. “This is exactly what I wanted.”

• 
• 
• 

Part of what blew me away about Konstantin’s Heckmeck was both the nature of it—I do love a fat tire gravel bike—but also the approach. As best he could, Konstantin explained that the bike wasn’t designed to be anything groundbreaking. “Yes, it’s a good bike that works well, but it’s nothing special. I don’t want it to be too aggressive or too anything. I just want it to be a ‘good’ bike. That is the point.” In a world of bike press releases engineered to make you think you should sacrifice a body part to have one in your life, Konstantin’s approach to creating a standard frame bike was refreshing. He wasn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. He’s simply trying to make something that’s good for the sake of allowing the customer to experience something. To ascribe their own meaning and purpose, as opposed to have it ascribed onto them.

In the time I’ve been documenting bikes, it’s become clear that a lot of bike design and custom manufacturing is wrapped up in ego. It’s not something I intend to ascribe in a derogatory fashion, but rather, it seems some try to create something masterful for the sake of standing out. At Bespoked, there are many fantastic builders pushing limits and doing incredible things for good reasons. But, to hear someone who sounds a bit jaded still pursue the nature of creating a bike for what’s ultimately the sole purpose of a bike—to be ridden—is somehow eye-opening. So many in this space get tunnel vision and focus on doing something new for the sake of doing so. Part of that’s because they’re on a journey. Perhaps they’re new to the space and are filled with fantastic ideas. Maybe they need to break out of a rut. But, in the case of Drust, it takes a seasoned hand to refuse that urge and do something simple but quite well. It’s harder than it sounds and demands a level of experience, but it’s unique and necessary.

• 
• 

• 
• 

That said, Konstantin isn’t interested in creating a typical production bike for mass consumption. These bikes will still be made by hand in his small workshop in Berlin. However, the standardization of the sizing allows for greater efficiency, and efficiency allows for lower prices. “These are luxury objects. I want to make that available to as many people as I can while still paying myself what makes sense.” He spoke with the candor of someone who was annoyed with the faff. Of the endless gesticulating about what something costs and why.

In my conversations with Konstantin, it became clear that he’s a builder interested in simplicity—making products for people to use. In a time of endless complexity, marginal gains and minor “improvements,” inaccessibility and rising costs, Konstantin is cutting through the noise and doing something that’s both fun and interesting while also simple and well-executed. It’s a hard balance to strike, but one that he nails with exacting precision.

For more on Drust Cycles, visit DrustCycles.com.

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...