My name is Emanuele, and bicycles have been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
Over the years they have taken many forms: rides, photographs, friendships, books, ideas, projects and, eventually, handmade frames.
Kole was born from the desire to bring all these things together in one place.
It is not the result of a business plan or a marketing strategy. It is simply a personal project that I manage on my own, driven by curiosity, creativity and a deep love for cycling culture.
Everything you find here starts with a passion and an idea.
Sometimes that idea becomes a frame.
Sometimes it becomes a story.
Before Kole, there was Kory.
From 2017 to 2024, Kory York was my way of expressing myself through bicycles, design and handmade products. It taught me a lot and allowed me to meet incredible people along the way.
Over time, however, I felt the need to create something more personal.
Something that could represent not only the bicycles I build, but also the people, places and experiences that inspire me.
That is how Kole was born.
Kole comes from “Kory” + “Lele”, the nickname my friends have always called me.
In many ways, Kole is simply an extension of who I am and what I love.
In 2019, another important chapter began with the creation of the Save The Rat Bike community.
What started as a simple passion for old bikes soon became an opportunity to connect with people from all over the world.
Through bicycles I met artists, frame builders, travelers, collectors, commuters and countless passionate riders, each with their own unique perspective and story. The more people I met, the more I realized that what fascinated me most was not only the bicycles themselves, but the lives and experiences behind them.
That is why Kole became more than a frame-building project.
It became a place for stories.
Through interviews, articles and conversations, I try to document the people who inspire me and the cycling cultures that exist beyond trends, racing and the mainstream industry.
At the same time, I continue to design and build handmade steel frames.
To me, these two worlds are deeply connected.
Because a frame is never just a frame. It becomes part of your daily life. It follows you through adventures, discoveries, mistakes, friendships, long journeys and quiet rides close to home. It witnesses moments that no one else sees.
Year after year, it becomes part of your story.
And in return, your story becomes part of it.
That is the idea behind Kole.
Handmade frames.
Real people.
Stories worth sharing.
