Taylor Brothers and Boneshaker – a Case Study

FROM THE CLIENT

We've always enjoyed flying by the seat of our pants at Boneshaker. But even we realised that we'd need some expert guidance when it came to printing our first ever issue. 

Born out of a love of freedom, friendship and adventure, the magazine was also inspired by Bristol Bike Project. The BBP was co-founded by James Lucas, who also co-founded Boneshaker, along with his designerly friend, John Coe. They'd made a rough 'n' ready zine together years before (called Gunfight29; they even scored a rare Banksy interview, back in the day). 

But Boneshaker was in a different league in terms of production values. We wanted it to be unlike other bike mags, which were glossy, throwaway, obsessed with kit and performance. We wanted Boneshaker to be more thoughtful, more human, more political and poetic. And we wanted it to be something people would keep, collect and share. Thick, uncoated paper stock, perfect binding, and, later on, fancy foil-blocked covers. We needed professional help.

Getting issue #1 to press was a great feeling. And being able to come into Taylor Brothers print room and watch the pages whirl to life was the icing on the cake. Ian and the team were on hand to answer all our daft questions, to check colour reproduction was spot on, to advise on binding and boxing and all the rest. 

In the 10 years since we began, we've produced 20 issues - all with Taylor Brothers - as well as two  bookish 'best-of' anthologies. 

We've maintained a strong design aesthetic throughout, and been stocked in Tate Modern and the Design Museum in London, and MoMA in New York, alongside a hundred or more bookshops, bike shops and art galleries in 26 countries around the world.  

We’ve celebrated the chrome-shining custom rides of the Sudan, investigated rebel bicycle gangs in LA, hit the dirt roads of New Mexico. Bespoke framebuilders, bike polo champions and bold activists have told us their tales. We’re for roadies, downhillers, fixie fans, bikepackers, couriers, commuters, tourers, BMX bandits and everyone in between.

Making the mag, we've left everything to the last minute, over and over again. Late nights, last-minute changes, little things we should've checked but didn't. The TB team have always had our backs, pulling out the stops to help us get each issue printed on time. 

The magazine's currently on pause while we dream up a new direction for the Boneshaker project. Assuming that our next endeavour will involve print (more than likely!) we'll be back to Taylor Brothers' again before too long...