Meet the Maker
with Pi Manson of Clandestine Bikes
Saturday 18 April 2026, 11am - 1pm
FREE, drop-in
Venue: MAKE Southwest, Jubilee Gallery
Suitable for: All
To celebrate the closing day of our KINETIC exhibition, we’re delighted to welcome local maker and exhibitor Pi Manson who will be joining us for the morning!
Pi will be available to chat with visitors about the craft of frame building and making custom-built bicycles. With very few frame builders remaining in the UK, this traditional skill is now listed as endangered by the Heritage Crafts Association. Through his work with Clandestine, Pi continues to strengthen the vital link between cycling’s rich heritage and its modern evolution.
His approach centres on what he calls “beautiful utilitarianism” — designing bicycles that are not only practical and durable, but also elegant in form. Driven by a belief in the transformative power of cycling, Pi creates bikes built to last, with a strong respect for traditional craftsmanship.
Pi specialises in both on- and off-road touring bicycles and is particularly renowned for his expertly crafted luggage racks and cargo bikes.
Come along to meet the maker, learn about this rare craft, and discover the story behind beautifully built bicycles.
Pi is exhibiting in our exciting exhibition KINETIC - Where craft meets engineering; a large-scale exhibition showing the possibilities of movement and making, on show in our Jubilee Gallery 24 January - 18 April.
About Clandestine Bikes
My name is Pi Manson.
I build bikes and components from steel.
Clandestine is about fun and durable bikes, built with beautiful utilitarianism at their heart. The idea of ‘truth to materials’ is the core of my outlook, visible in each raw joint: a craft-based approach with one eye on cycling's history, the other scanning the horizon down the trail.
Bikes for throwing in the dirt, for loading up for the long haul.For life.