Ready to Build Your Own Bike Frame – Online?

UPDATE: Enrollment is open now only until September 1

After over 10 years of teaching frame building in person – and more than 500 students who built their very first frame in our workshop – it’s time for the next step:

We’re launching our first ever Online Framebuilding Course.

But this won’t be just a set of videos.

This will be a shared journey – and an incredible opportunity.

I’m looking for 10 motivated people to join me as founding members. Over the next 6 months, we’ll co-develop this course together. You’ll get direct feedback and personal support from me as we build the structure, content, and rhythm of the course – step by step.

What will you learn?

Everything you need to build your own road or gravel bike frame from scratch.

That includes:

• Geometry, fit, and design

• Materials and tube selection

• Tools, jigs, and workspace setup

• Cutting, mitering, and brazing techniques

• Frame prep and finishing

The course is focused on road and gravel bikes, but much of the content will also apply to hardtail mountain bikes and trekking bikes.

This is your chance to learn directly from someone who’s guided hundreds of complete beginners through the process – even if they had never picked up a torch before.

And I know what it’s like to start from scratch.
When I began building frames, I didn’t have a fancy workshop. I had a few files, a torch, and a lot of determination.
So I’ve learned all the tricks for making things work – even with a simple setup.

When we launch the finished version of the course publicly, it will be priced at around 2,000 Euro.

But for this first group of 10 participants, the price is only 990 Euro – and you’ll get more feedback and guidance than anyone else ever will.

👉 Ready to be part of the founding group?
Sign up here:

Online Frame Building Course: Grunder Edition

Or just write me if you have questions – I’d love to hear from you.

See you in the (online) workshop,
Robert

Update: We’re excited to finally share the full schedule for our brand-new Online Framebuilding Course!

The course consists of 12 modules over 12 weeks, with one clear goal: to guide you step by step from your first design idea to a finished steel frame — all in time for Christmas.

Each week has a specific focus to keep you on track and moving forward. And you won’t be alone — we’ll be with you at every stage to answer your questions, give feedback, and help you get unstuck whenever needed.

Enrollment is open now until September 1. After that, we’ll start together as a group — so don’t miss your chance to join this first cohort and build your dream frame.

Online Framebuilding Course – 12-Week Plan

Week 1 – Tools & Jigs

• Welcome & course overview
• Workshop safety & setup
• Essential hand tools
• Torch, files, saws, calipers, alignment tools
• Jig options (DIY vs. commercial)
• Assignment: tool inventory + jig plan

Week 2 – Geometry & Design Software

• Geometry fundamentals: stack, reach, angles, BB drop, trail
• Translating rider fit into frame geometry
• BikeCAD (or similar) basics
• Assignment: first frame design draft

Week 3 – Tubing, Dropouts, Standards & Forks (NEW)

• Steel tubing: butting profiles, OD/WT choices, stiffness vs. comfort, project-appropriate selections
• Dropouts: road/gravel options, hooded vs. plate, flat mount/post mount compatibility
• Frame standards: BB (BSA, T47), headsets (IS/ZS/EC), axle spacing (QR 135, 12×142, 12×148), brake mounts, seatpost sizes, cable routing (external vs. internal, dynamo)
• Forks: axle-to-crown, rake (offset) & trail implications, steerer types, tire/rotor clearance, eyelets & dynamo routing
• Assignment: finalize tubing & dropout selection; confirm BB/headset/axle/brake standards; choose a fork that matches your geometry and use case

Week 4 – Bottom Bracket & Head Tube

• BB shell prep: cutting, reaming, threading
• Head tube prep: cutting, drilling breather holes
• Assignment: prepare BB + head tube

Week 5 – Cutting & Mitering Main Tubes

• Cutting top tube, down tube, seat tube
• Mitering and test fitting
• Assignment: all three main tubes ready for jig

Week 6 – Jig Setup

• Seat tube angle, head tube angle, BB drop, X/Y positions
• Install BB shell + head tube in jig
• Assignment: jig setup with BB + HT

Week 7 – Chainstay Prep & Dropouts

• Cutting, bending, tire + chainring clearance
• Drilling vent holes & cable holes (if needed)
• Dropout fixture setup + alignment
• Braze chainstays to dropouts
• Miter chainstays to the BB shell
• Assignment: chainstays brazed to dropouts and fitted to BB

Week 8 – Tacking in Jig & Brazing Out of Jig (+ Alignment)

• Fit main triangle (TT, DT, ST) + chainstays into the jig
• Check alignment of tubes and joints
• Tack the complete front triangle and chainstays together in the jig
• Remove the frame from the jig
• Braze the front triangle and chainstays out of the jig (HT joints, BB joints, seat cluster, CS/BB connections)
• Clean, inspect, and perform initial frame alignment on the alignment table
• Assignment: brazed and initially aligned main triangle + chainstays

Week 9 – Seatstay Prep

• Cutting, bending, and slotting seatstays
• Test fit to seat tube and dropouts
• Check tire clearance
• Assignment: seatstays fitted and ready to braze

Week 10 – Seatstay Brazing

• Tack seatstays to the seat tube
• Braze seatstays to the dropouts
• Final brazing at the seat cluster
• Add bridges, eyelets, cable guides, dynamo routing (optional)
• Assignment: complete rear triangle brazed

Week 11 – Finishing Work

• Ream & face seat tube
• Drill/slot for binder bolt
• Final head tube facing
• Begin fillet filing & sanding
• Assignment: frame mechanically complete

Week 12 – Frame Prep & Celebration

• Final fillet filing (8–12 hours spread out)
• Surface prep for painting/coating
• Closing showcase: presentation of frames
• Reflection: lessons learned + next steps

Update: Your Questions Answered 🎥

We’ve had a lot of interest in the new Online Framebuilding Course, and with that also a lot of questions.
To make things easier, I recorded a short video where I go through the main points people keep asking about.

👉 Watch the video here

If you’ve been wondering whether the Online Framebuilding Course is right for you, this video should clear up most of your questions.

👉 Click here to sign up as a Founding Member

Registration is open until September 1st — after that, we kick off the first round together.