New project: building a handmade dirt jump bike with Opozit

A new project for En Roue Libre

Video in French.

Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of the creation of a unique dirt jump bike made by French craftsman Pierre Gouret of Opozit!

Why choose a handmade bike?
How did a steel frame transform my mountain biking?
I answer all these questions and much more.

A video in three parts:

📌 Part 1: I reveal the details of the project, from the choice of frame to the selection of components, including the inspiration behind the build.

📌 Part 2: I take you around Pierre Gouret’s workshop in Plédéliac, Brittany, where you’ll discover every step in making a handmade steel frame.

📌 Part 3: I share my impressions after 2 months of riding: the profound changes in my riding and how this bike helped me get my mojo back at 42.

✨ A big thank you to:
Pierre Gouret (Opozit)
Laurent Le Corre (Hope France)
Stéphane Guillaume (SR Suntour)
Thomas Manfé (Vee Tire)
Nell Le Corre (NLC PROD) for the footage

🔗 Useful links:
Opozit’s website: https://Opozit.bike
Hope’s website: https://hopefrance.com/
SR Suntour: https://www.srsuntour.com/home/
Vee Tires: https://veetireco.com/

The Association des Artisans du Cycle (French framebuilders’ association): https://www.associationartisansducycle.com/les-artisans

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Why this build?

The idea for this project came to me when I got back into dirt jumping after several years away.

After rediscovering my passion at my local spot, I quickly realised that my old bike no longer met my current needs.

I decided to work with Pierre Gouret, a French framebuilder whose Roublard frame immediately won me over with its compact, radical style.

The heart of the project

The heart of the project was to create an exceptional dirt jump bike, specifically in steel for comfort and durability.

I wanted a French framebuilder to make this frame.

My inspiration came from the legendary Blackmarket Mob frame, simple but radical, made by the BMX brand S&M and developed by Carter Holland.

Knowing exactly what I wanted but needing expert advice, I asked the En Roue Libre community on Instagram to recommend the best dirt jump frames made in France.

Among many excellent suggestions, Pierre Gouret’s Roublard frame immediately caught my eye with its compact style, its steeply sloping top tube and its down tube reminiscent of the Pivot Phoenix.

After discussing my project and my colour inspirations with Pierre, he guided me step by step to achieve exactly the result I had in mind.

To complete the build, I chose specific components, working in particular with Stéphane Guillaume of SR Suntour for a customised Durolux Enduro fork, Laurent Le Corre of Hope France for colour-matched components, and Thomas Manfé of Vee Tire for tyres derived from BMX racing, perfect for the pump track.

The build

To complete the build, I chose specific components, working in particular with Stéphane Guillaume of SR Suntour for a customised Durolux Enduro fork, Laurent Le Corre of Hope France for colour-matched components, and Thomas Manfé of Vee Tire for tyres derived from BMX racing, perfect for the pump track.

The components

For the components, Laurent Le Corre of Hope France quickly agreed to join the project, as Hope regularly works with framebuilders and offers a wide range of colours ideal for custom builds. We matched the components perfectly with the frame colour.

The fork

The choice of fork was obvious. Having previously recorded a podcast episode with Stéphane Guillaume of SR Suntour, he offered me a customised Durolux Enduro fork, reduced from 160 mm to 100 mm of travel with a specific hydraulic tune usually reserved for sponsored riders.

The tyres

The tyres come from Thomas Manfé at Vee Tire, derived from BMX race tyres – incredible on the pump track.

The debrief after 2 months of riding this bike

A lot has happened since I started riding this bike.

After two months, the results have far exceeded my expectations. Not only have I got back to my former level, but I’ve also rediscovered a deep motivation to progress and ride more often.

This bike really gave me my “mojo” back. It rekindled my passion, motivating me to ride more, challenge myself and progress significantly.

I’m happy riding this beautiful, perfectly suited bike – even feeling a bit silly for not having switched sooner.

With pleasure and motivation restored, I’ve not only regained my former level but also pushed my limits at 42. I’ve made remarkable progress in endurance and confidence.

Conclusion

Of course, you don’t need a custom bike to love riding, nor do you necessarily need to change bikes.

However, this experience shows that changing frames or building a custom bike suited to your specific needs can profoundly improve your experience.

This experience highlights the value of a custom or handmade bike, capable of significantly transforming your riding and your enjoyment on the bike.

While the big brands do incredible work for the general public, framebuilders like Pierre offer the opportunity to get precise geometry that meets your personal needs exactly.

So consider a handmade frame – it could profoundly transform your riding.

If you’re curious about other craftsmen, visit the Association des Artisans du Cycle to discover all the French framebuilders.

Thank-yous

A huge thank you to Pierre Gouret of Opozit, Laurent of Hope France, Stéphane of SR Suntour and Thomas of Vee Tire for their support and trust in this unique project.

I hope this story inspires you to explore building your own bike.
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