We’ve just spotted a very intriguing Instagram from Hope that suggests it could be moving into frame manufacturing.

Hope posted the following Instagram with the caption “What do we have here then..”. There’s no telling what exactly the frame will be but the commenters on Instagram seem pretty keen that Hope makes a 26 inch wheeled throw back. All we can tell is that it looks to be an attractively curvaceous beast.

This is the second time the Barnoldswick-based components company has teased a carbon frame with the first coming two weeks ago when it posted: “Manufacturing Monday…. What are we up to?!?!”, along with the hashtags #carbon #prototype, and a picture of what looks to be the bottom bracket shell of a carbon fibre frame.

Given the quality of Hope’s components it’s safe to say we’d be pretty excited if this was confirmed to be a frame – you can guarantee it would be specced well if nothing else!

At the moment we can only speculate what we’re looking at, and we’ve no idea when it would be released or how much it would cost, but it is worth noting that this isn’t the first time Hope has made a frame.

Check out Hope’s 2016 range, including orange annodisation

Back in 1998 it made a one-off kids’ frame for the son of its co-owner Ian. Unfortunately the bike was never ridden as his son grew out of it before it was finished, but Hope did say in late 2015: “We still have a belief that kids should ride good bikes…. #hopeforkids coming soon…”

Only time will tell what this illusive picture really turns out to be but you can be sure we’ll keep you updated with any news as we get it.