From Kraków to Kyrgyzstan With His Own Frame

One of a Kind – From Kraków to Kyrgyzstan with the frame he built himself

Some people build a frame to chase a dream. Others do it to solve a problem.
For Zbigniew from Kraków, it was a bit of both.

“I needed more tyre clearance than my last bike offered.
I was impressed by how light and elegant my friends’ steel bikes were.
And the idea of building something one-of-a-kind? That sealed it.”

Zbigniew is 42 and works as a payroll manager at an international company.
His job isn’t bad, as he says – but it’s a long way from brazing torches and tube miters.

“I wasn’t trying to escape the office.
I just felt the urge to make something. Something real.”

A frame made for how he rides

When it came to design, Tomasz was clear from the start:
He wanted capability, stability – and geometry that simply didn’t exist off the shelf.

His goals were precise:

• Clearance for XC tyres

• A more progressive head tube angle

• Mounting points that actually made sense for his needs

The result? A mix between the geometry of his old Specialized Diverge and a Santa Cruz Stigmata – but entirely tailored to him.

“I didn’t know it was possible to redo a weld”

Tomasz came into the course with just a bit of DIY background.
No real experience in metalwork – but plenty of curiosity.

There was one moment that stood out:

“I wasn’t happy with how I brazed one of the seatstays.
You showed me how to remove it and redo it.
I had no idea the process could be so forgiving.”

That mix of technical know-how and freedom to make mistakes was part of what made the week so memorable.

Riding it? So far: local loops. Soon: Kyrgyzstan.

Tomasz has only taken the bike on smaller local trips so far, but a real adventure is coming:

“This summer I’m taking it to Kyrgyzstan to ride the Tian Shan Traverse.”

A truly wild destination for a truly one-of-a-kind bike.

Would he build another?

“I think probably yes.”

And how does it feel to ride a bike you built yourself?

“It brings me joy. I like unique things.
And I’m a bike aficionado – so it’s the perfect combination.”

The spark that started it all?

A mention of the course on bikepacking.com planted the seed.
But what set everything in motion?

“My partner made the down payment a gift.
That’s what really kicked it off.”

Sometimes, all it takes is a small push in the right direction – and a willingness to build something by hand.

Ready to build something one-of-a-kind?

If you’re dreaming of a bike that fits you, your rides, and your ideas — I’d love to help you build it.

Whether you already have a design in mind or just a feeling that your next bike should be something special:

👉 Book a free frame design session here
or
👉 Sign up for our newsletter and start learning about geometry, fit, and what makes a truly great frame.

It might just be the spark that sets everything in motion.