Spencer Harding drops in on Darren Larkin of Larkin Cycles in his new home in Nutmeg Country, Connecticut. After years of sharing shop space, Darren finally has his own personal space and he seems to be settling in nicely into a rural Northeastern lifestyle. Check out Larkin Cycles HQ and a mini retrospective of his work below…

You have probably seen a bike built by Darren Larkin without knowing it. Up until recently, Darren wasn’t keen on putting his name on frames. Though unassuming, Darren has had a large influence in our corner of the bike world. Darren has been the “numbers guy” behind Crust Bikes since its early days. He reinterpreted the Crust Evasion with his own take, The Dreamer, which has been featured many times here on the site.

Darren also designed the Clydesdale cargo fork, my favorite bike accessory, and beloved by all who have one. Darren produced a batch of road frames for Beach Club when he was still living in LA, as well as doing small runs of MUSA stems and bars for Crust. Darren’s work is all over the place if you have an eye keen enough to spot it.

I first met Darren on the inaugural DFL the Divide trip from Banff to Missoula. Darren was living in LA at the time, finishing up a degree in cartography, rolling around on a custom diesel-powered motorcycle. After that trip, he was able to connect with some buds of mine and find his way to a shared shop space that would house his operation until he moved to Deep River, CT. I don’t know what ever became of that cartography degree, but I distinctly remember Darren showing up at the beginning of the Baja Divide Grand Depart with printed, custom-made maps of the route.

Larkin Cycles is located in a business park that splits the distance between Troy’s Nutmeg Cycling Museum and Ron’s barn. I could get more detailed, but those were my only waypoints in Nutmeg Country. The space is unassuming and practical. Darren mentioned that he learned to wire the shop himself to save money. Larkin possesses a classic DIY ethos.

I spied a twin of Ron’s Warthog Wash Wiper, which was one of the most ridiculous bikes I’ve ever ridden. That frame was prophetic in terms of geometry, but too silly to survive. Darren offered to sell me the frame, and honestly, I was tempted…

I also saw a run of rim brake road bikes commissioned by Ron and his acolytes to take advantage of the heavenly paved rolling hills of the surrounding area. It seems after all the years of off-road and fat tire riding, we have come full circle to Roadie Ronnie. Those frames were on their way to get painted Ferrari Red (to no one’s surprise). Troy sent over a few photos of his personal steed, all built up, below.

If you have been dreaming of a Dreamer of your own, something fully custom, or a small run of MUSA frames, holler at Darren, I bet you’ll be happy you did.