Nadine – Frame Building Course Q & A

Nadine was with us in the frame building course in 2020 and built a lugged frame and fork with disc brakes. The complete bike has turned out great! We asked Nadine a few questions.

How did you come up with the idea of building your own frame?
I do a lot with my hands and build many useful and beautiful things out of wood. I have also worked for several years in a bike shop and learned the craft of bicycle mechanics. At home, I have a “bike cellar” next to my small wood workshop, where I have lovingly assembled bicycles for many years. It usually starts with a frame, and in the end, I enjoy countless stylish bikes rolling through Magdeburg. When I saw you a few years ago at the BFS, the desire to build my own bike frame with you immediately arose. Once I set my mind to something, I stick to it. So it was settled; this year it was finally time. Classic lugged, suitable for touring, and stylish.

Why did you choose this frame? What do you plan to do with it?
I previously had a touring bike with a steel frame, so I know that steel is much nicer and more flexible than aluminum. Since I love old lugged racing bikes, the choice was easy. Classic lugged, with the advantages of modern mounting options. Columbus tubes for stability and the necessary flex, stylish lugs, internally routed cables, and disc brake mounts + all the eyelets for racks and fenders. It’s perfect that there are no limits with you, and I was able to decide on the time component despite your concerns. I’m still so happy that the fork was able to be finished.

I ride the bike to work daily. I participate in a small girls’ group riding about 50 km twice a week, and at least once a year, there’s a multi-day tour of about 600 km with luggage. My wish for the future: I want to ride around the Baltic Sea and next year to the Spanish coast.

What is special to you about your self-built frame?
I built it!!! It is my own frame. I realized my wishes. It is 100% tailored to me. I wouldn’t be able to buy something like this ready-made, and it’s an indescribable feeling to ride on your own bicycle frame. This week with you was a lifelong dream! And now I have something of it every day, and I love it so much! Being able to use things that you create with your own hands in everyday life… that is priceless.

How was your time in the frame building course?
The week with you was perfect for me and the best gift I could give to myself. A whole week in your workshop, patiently building my dream, simply amazing. You welcomed me wonderfully. I am usually very impatient, but you radiated such calmness from the beginning, and I was able to embrace that well. It was incredibly strenuous, and by the end of the day, I was exhausted, but it felt good. At the beginning, I had to decide between “internally routed cables” or “building a fork.” In the end, there was enough time for both. That was actually the best part of all—that I could take home both things, which made it perfect. I still laugh about how many times you said… more propane, more oxygen, less oxygen, more silver!

How does your finished bike ride?
As I said, it fits 100% to me. I got along great with it from the first minute. And after the first few kilometers, it was clear… it’s perfect!

How did you find me, and how did you hear about the frame building courses?
As mentioned above, I met you at the Berlin Bike Show. You had your bikes on display, and during those days, I told you that I would like to build a frame with you. I really liked your smart style and your experience, and the fact that you offer it as a course was a good prerequisite for me. I believe that was about 3 years ago.

I have no more questions 🙂 You’ve already answered everything.

Thank you for being you and thank you for this fantastic opportunity to fulfill this lifelong dream. I can recommend it to anyone who is into biking and wants to treat themselves to something really good. Craft skills or a bit of dexterity are advantageous, but I believe you can also manage with completely inexperienced experts;-).

P.S. Your way of making coffee is legendary, and I enjoy my beautiful mug with the tree and my very own brass patch @blomster_unique every day.

Best regards from Magdeburg,
Nadine