After several years of designing the logos, graphics and soft-goods for Starling Cycles our art guy John decided it was time to get his very own Starling.
Here’s the story behind his new Stainless Murmur.
Words and photos by John Lambert:
Back in early 2016, I was in the early stages of setting up my freelance design business, so I had a little bit of time on my hands.
As many mountain bikers do, I was scrolling through the Singletrack World forum and came across a post on steel full-suspension bikes. I’ve always been a steel fan, with my first ‘proper’ mtb being an Orange P7 back in 2006, so I was intrigued to find out more about this unknown-to-me brand.
There was no website at the time, which prompted me to jump onto the Starling Facebook page, where I found a post offering some free handlebars or a frame discount in exchange for a logo design. The logo had to work vertically, and horizontally and look good as a head badge.
I played around with a few ideas and sent them to Joe and got a good response but there were also some other ideas he liked. I then sent an email suggesting that he may want to consider who his customers were likely to be and how the Starling logo design could appeal to and resonate with them.
Joe’s response was: “What would it cost me to sit down with you for a day, we can throw some ideas around and then you could take those away to produce a final polished logo.”
Since then, I have had the privilege of contributing to the brand’s growth from a small workshop in a shed, to a global brand with several full-time staff.
Along the way there have been multiple model logos, website front page videos, the odd photo shoot and many other interactions.
Since launching the merchandise shop, I’ve looked like Starling’s biggest fanboy and despite having the opportunity to ride most of the different bikes, I’ve never owned one myself.
I really like the UK-made frames and have huge respect for Geoff and Ollie in the workshop, but I was drawn to the finish of one of the early stainless frames while taking some photos back in 2019.
When Joe announced that there was a limited number of frames left and that there were no immediate plans for another batch, as well as a planned trip to Ard Rock and the Alps in the summer it was time for my own Starling to take flight.
As is probably typical for most designers, mine is an understated but well-thought-out Murmur Stainless ‘trail’ build. As far as component choice, I went for something a bit more ‘trail orientated’ but I love seeing the different directions that Starling owners take their builds in.
I started with some tried and trusted quality parts and touchpoints: Middleburn cranks, Magura Trail SL brakes, BikeYoke dropper, Chris King headset, Fabric saddle, ESI grips.
Wheels were built locally by Sam at Amped (who also provided the One Up carbon bars) using the new Hope Pro5s, DT Swiss XM481 and Comp butted spokes with brass Squorx prolock nipples.
Bouncy bits are taken care of by Rockshox, including a custom TFTuned rear shock.
Finally, I took a bit of a gamble ordering a DH Sign stem from Italy, but the stainless faceplate and matte anodised stem match the aesthetics of the frame perfectly.
Already the bike feels perfectly at home on my local trails in the South West of the UK; fast and confidence-inspiring on the downs and light and snappy enough on the climbs to pick up some Strava top 10s.
I’m looking forward to fine-tuning it and properly putting it through its paces this summer.
Full(ish) spec list:
