Brother Cycles Mr Wooden Frameset - 2026

Mr Wooden is a modern randonneur, a gravel bike, a tourer that isn’t afraid to venture off-road. How you build it – and where you take it – is entirely up to you.

The frameset is designed around 650b quick-release wheels, with clearance for tyres up to 650b x 50, rim brakes and a low-mid trail fork up front. Why rim brakes, you might ask? Some will argue they’re easier to maintain and more reliable than discs; what we know for certain is that they allow us to create a lighter frame that’s super comfortable, flexible and fast – designed for those long days in the saddle when you’re not quite sure where you’ll end up.

As well as the positive effect on ride quality, the decision to stick with rim brakes – along with a threaded bottom bracket, 1 1/8″ headset and quick-release dropouts – also allows for the recycling of classic components that still have plenty of miles left in them. A middle finger to the throwaway culture we live in today. And, as you can see from the build featured above, old and new come together beautifully – a classically styled bike with the benefits of modern technology.

For this latest version we’ve given Mr Wooden a bit of a refresh, with a new metallic brown paintjob, hand-drawn branding and a metal headbadge. Small details that suit Mr Wooden perfectly.

Why is it called Mr Wooden? When we were growing up in America, one of our favourite teachers was called Mr Wooden. He was an old-school outdoorsman and took us on nature hikes whenever the opportunity arose. He wore socks and sandals, knew all the names of the trees and always had a compass hanging around his neck. Our own love for the great outdoors is partly down to him, and we think this frame would be right up his street.

The frame is constructed from double-butted 4130 chromoly steel, a functional tubing that provides the perfect balance of performance and durability, with an ED coating beneath the paint to protect against corrosion. It’s fully equipped for front and rear racks and mudguards, and has three bottle mount positions on all sizes.

Down tube bosses give you the option of fitting cable stops or going fully old school with down tube shifters. The low-mid trail fork is designed to handle weight up front should you wish to run a randonneur-style front bag setup, and can take a porteur-style rack or low rider should you wish.

Features

Frame tubing: 4130 chromoly double-butted main triangle, ED coated
Brake compatibility: cantilever or v-brake
Rear Dropouts: 132.5mm quick release (130mm or 135mm hub compatible)
Seat post diameter: 27.2mm
Headset: 1 1/8" threadless. EC34/28.6 upper, EC34/30 lower (not included)
Front derailleur clamp diameter: 28.6mm
Bottom bracket shell: 68mm bottom bracket, ISO threaded
Maximum tyre clearance: 650b x 50mm
Fork: Lugged flat crown, quick release with mudguard and rack mounts
3 sets bottle cage mounts on all sizes
Rear rack and mudguard mounts
Chainring clearance: up to 50-39-30t triple, 52-36t double, 48t single
Frame weight (medium): 2.0kg
Fork weight (uncut steerer): 1.1kg

GEOMETRY