British Titanium and Steel Bicycle Manufacturer Since 2006
At Enigma Bicycle Works, we design and build precision titanium and steel bicycles in Britain.
Founded in Sussex in 2006, Enigma was established on a simple principle: engineering integrity and ride quality should never be compromised by trends.
We are riders first. Engineers always. Craftsmen by conviction.
From our workshop beneath the South Downs, we fabricate UK-built titanium and steel frames for road, gravel, endurance and adventure riding. Every frame reflects deliberate material choice, controlled fabrication and a deep understanding of how a bicycle should perform.
The team
Enigma isn't about one individual; our foundation is built upon a strong team ethic where everyone is a vital link in the chain. Over the years we have assembled a highly skilled and knowledgeable group with decades of experience between them, all working hard and committed to achieving our collective goals and to be the best that we can be.
Jim Walker
Enigma founder and Director Jim is a bicycle trade veteran. He is now well into his fifth decade in the UK bike business and has been a bike rider for more than half a century. Jim has an eye for detail but even after all this time his passion for beautiful metal framed bikes is undimmed and he continues to be amazed and impressed by the skill and exceptional work of the Enigma workshop team.
Although at a more sedate pace these days Jim rides whenever he can and despite modern trends and advances, he still prefers his bike to have rim brakes. A keen time trial racer in his early riding days, he still enjoys bike races although he no longer has any real interest in racing himself, for him simply riding the bike through the Sussex countryside is enough.
Christine Walker
Enigma's financial director and Jim's wife, Christine overseas the day to day financial activities of the company and supplies the team with homemade cakes. A very organised and efficient person she ensures that the appropriate systems and controls are implemented and maintained by the Enigma staff.
Christine has many years' experience in the financial sector and specialises in foreign trade. Formerly the FD of Jim's old company Christine is very experienced in the bike business and has been in charge of the financial side of Enigma since the company was incorporated back in 2006. She is the only member of the Enigma team who doesn't ride a bike, although there has been much talk of an E-bike. An E-Bike???
Matt Walker
Matt is Jim's eldest son and has been with Enigma for 9 years. Formerly the Operations Director at the I-Ride distribution company he has a similar role with Enigma and is responsible for the day to day organisation of the business.
Matt is also a keen photographer and does much of Enigma's photography and social media work. Tasked with ensuring customers receive the highest level of service, Matt works hard to ensure that all the wheels of the business run smoothly and as efficiently as possible. Like every member of the team Matt is not afraid to get his hands dirty and is usually involved in some of the frame preparation. He is also the envy of his work mates when it comes to the commute which includes a ride over the beautiful South Downs.
Chris Sherwood
After 6 years' experience working with the Willier and Whyte brands at ATB Sales Chris joined our sales and bike-fitting team in 2021. A keen road rider he rides as much as possible and, built like a whippet, he likes nothing better than attacking the local hill climbs.
Chris is also a very competent bike mechanic and would like to try his hand at frame building to create a super-lightweight titanium hill climb bike. Although primarily office and sales-based Chris will venture into the workshop at every opportunity to learn more of and understand the many fascinating processes that go into building bespoke handcrafted frames.
Greg Stevens
A qualified mechanical engineer by profession, Greg has been working in the bicycle industry for over 15 years. After a few years with ATB Sales and the Whyte brand, Greg worked with Jim at his distribution company before joining the Enigma team more than 9 years ago. Having previously been in charge of one of the UK service centres he is factory trained by Campagnolo and is also a DT approved wheel builder.
Here at Enigma he is in charge of R & D and product design as well as ensuring all our machinery is maintained and looked after. No one here has seen him on a bike recently but he is insistent that he can remember how it's done!
Joe Walker
A coded welder and Enigma's preeminent frame builder, Joe has been with company for 15 years and is in charge of the workshop and the Enigma frame building team. Although modest about his talent Joe is arguably the best exponent of titanium tig-welding in the UK today and his work is equal to the very best of the best.
Enigma owner Jim Walker's youngest son Joe has instilled his own ethos of hard work and dedication to all the workshop team and is proud of the progress his workmates have made over the years. He rides his bike when he has the time if the sun is shining and also plays a mean electric guitar in his spare time.
Max Norrell
Max is a frame builder and engineer with an attention to detail that borders on the obsessive. Max can braze and weld but his particular talent is making tube mitres that are as fine as can be seen anywhere. His skill at tube cutting and mitring is the perfect complement to Joe Walker's welding skill.
A talented frame builder Max can make almost anything and his engineering skills have proved invaluable to Enigma over the years. Not just a builder of bike frames, he also single handily constructed our fitting room as well as various parts for our jigs and other such tools that have helped to increase the efficiency of our workshop. Although it hasn't happened yet, Max insists that he will return to serious racing soon!
Timeline & Achievements
2023
Launch of Edge, our high-performance titanium gravel bike
2022
New flagship 3AL 2.5V model launch
First dedicated flat-bar model launch
2021
Re-launch of MTB model- Eolus
Signature 'Esker' fast gravel bike launched
Pan Celtic Ultra-Endurance race resumed after break due to Covid
Exhibit at Bespoked Handmade Bike Show after Covid break
2020
Covid strikes and after National lockdown Enigma enjoys record sales year
Development of 3D printed frame parts for Excel model
2019
Exhibit at NAHBS win Columbus award with Elite HSS
Partner with Pan Celtic Race, our first ultra-endurance foray
Exhibit at Bespoked Show and win best Gravel bike (Escape) for second year in a row.
Introduce first Pinion geared bike.
2018
Exhibit at NAHBS win award for best paint and Campagnolo award with our Extensor and Echelon models
Introduce first Enigma Gravel Bike
Exhibit at Bespoked win award for best Gravel bike with Excel GR
2017
Exhibit at NAHBS for the first time. Win Presidents award for Exemplar
Launch C-Six carbon fork range
Build dedicated tube/frame finishing room including shot blasting and polishing facilities
New bike fitting studio opened
2016
We appoint our first US distributor
Exhibit at London Bike Show
Launch Frame Building Academy
Launch limited edition Exemplar bike
2015
Exhibit at Bike Motion Show in Utrecht, Netherlands
Enigma apprenticeship programme begins
Launch 'Signature' series frames
First titanium frames anodized in-house
2014
First Excel 6AL 4V frames produced in-house
2013
Our in-house paint facility opens
Appoint an Australian distributor
2012
Move to Apex Park in Hailsham our current home
Exhibit at London Bike Show
2011
Move to Apex Park in Hailsham our current home
Exhibit at London Bike Show
2010
Exhibit at UK's inaugural Bespoked Handmade Bike Show and win award for best MTB
2009
Move to large premises with workshop.
First titanium frames are built
Exhibit at first EHBE show in Germany
Build first 'smooth' welded titanium Eulogy
2008
First Steel frames are built in house
2007
Eulogy and Effusion titanium/carbon fusion models introduced
2006
Enigma Founded. We exhibit at the National Cycle Show
