From Rider to Builder

Build your own bike frame — from your own workshop, step by step, without getting lost in technical overwhelm.

Most people who join have never held a torch before.

They start with an idea.

And end up with something that’s truly theirs.

👉 Join the Free Workshop
→ Learn how it works before you commit

Why Isabell Decided to Build Her Own Steel Frame

From hospital shifts to exhaustion

Isabell loves her job – but she loves road cycling even more.

She’s 37, a doctor. Dedicated, precise, compassionate.
She’s never treated her profession as just a job – it has always been a calling.

But even callings can wear you down.

Shifts. Weekends. Decisions by the minute.
She kept going – professionally, reliably.

But inside, something was getting quieter.

Even on her days off, her mind stayed loud.
Her phone always within reach. Sleep shallow.

And with each day, she felt a little less connected to what once gave her purpose.

What she needed was space.

Not for others.

For herself.

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Escape, one hour at a time

On the bike, things were different.

Long climbs. Early mornings.
The quiet rhythm of breathing and effort.

When Isabell rides – her long blonde braid tied back, leaning over the bars, relaxed, in the flow – that’s when she’s fully herself.

Effortless. Fast. Grounded.

She doesn’t ride to prove anything.

She rides because the bike takes her away – from work, from pressure, from noise.

Sometimes just for an hour.

But that hour is hers.

She’s finished the Maratona dles Dolomites, the Ötztaler Radmarathon, and the brutal Race Across the Alps.

She lives for long climbs, tired legs, and that one moment at the top when it’s just her and the sky.

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A perfect bike – but not her bike

Right now, she rides a carbon Wilier with Di2.

It’s stunning. Fast. Technically flawless.
That first ride? Pure magic.

But over time, something shifted.

A quiet thought she didn’t really want to admit:

“It’s not really my bike.”

Sometimes she even feels awkward about how much she paid for it.

Because the truth is – anyone can buy it.

What it lacked was connection. Meaning. Pride.

And maybe she felt that way because she remembered what real steel feels like.

Her first road bike was a Koga Miyata, a gift from her father.

A classic steel frame – simple, honest, beautiful.

She still remembers the hum of the tubes.
The calm confidence. The quiet strength of that ride.

The Wilier was perfect.

But the Koga – that was hers.

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The moment everything changed

Then came the 2024 Spreewald Marathon.

200 km. Cold. Rainy.

Many riders didn’t even start – and Isabell almost didn’t either.

But she wanted to finish this year.

She knew her legs could carry her to the line.
And once she was rolling, she was glad she had started.

50 kilometers to go.
The hardest part behind her.

Her rhythm steady. Her mind clear.

And then—at kilometer 156—

the battery was dead.

No shifting. No adapting.

The ultra-modern bike? Useless.

She stepped off. Wet. Cold. Exhausted.
Looking at the bike she once adored.

And suddenly, she knew:

“Never again a bike that tells me when I’m done.”

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The decision to build something of her own

She didn’t want a product.

She wanted a bike she understood.

Steel. Mechanical shifting. No hidden systems. No excuses.

Just something honest.

And hers.

And one step further:

Not buying it.

Building it.

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A different kind of workshop

But this time, it didn’t mean taking a week off and going somewhere.

She would build it at home.

In her own space.

On her own schedule.

—

Still, she knew she didn’t want to do it alone.

Not with something like this.

So she joined the online framebuilding course.

Not to disappear into endless videos.

But to follow a clear path.

To have guidance when things got unclear.

And to be part of a group of people working toward the same goal.

People in different places, different lives, different professions.

All starting from different points.

But sharing the same idea:

To stop thinking about building a frame one day—

and actually begin.

—

So while Isabell worked from home, she was never really doing it alone.

There were others, spread across countries and time zones, moving through the same process.

Sharing progress. Asking questions. Getting stuck. Figuring things out.

And taking the next step.

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Step by step

At the beginning, it still felt unfamiliar.

She had never held a torch in her hands before.

Never brazed a joint.
Never looked at a set of tubes and thought:

I know how this becomes a frame.

—

But that was the point.

Not knowing.

And starting anyway.

—

Step by step, it came together.

First the understanding.
Then the preparation.
Then the first cuts.
The first filing.

Moments of hesitation.

And then the first joint.

Careful at first.
Uncertain.

Then steadier.

More confident.

—

She learned how brass begins to move when the heat is right.

How much attention the work demands.

And how quiet the mind becomes when your hands are fully in it.

—

No hospital.

No constant noise.

No switching between things.

Just her, the material—and the work in front of her.

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A frame that will never let her down

Over time, the separate pieces became something whole.

Tube by tube.
Joint by joint.

Until one day, she was no longer imagining her frame.

She was holding it.

Her own frame.

Not perfect.

But real.

Not made for anyone else.

Just for her.

---

These days, Isabell still rides after work.

Not because she needs an escape—

but because she can.

And every time she gets on the bike, she thinks:

“This one won’t let me down.”

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Looking back – and ahead

Sometimes her thoughts drift back.

Not to a place.

But to the process.

To those moments of focus.

To the first joint.

To the people she built alongside—even if they were far away.

—

And she knows:

It was more than just building a bike.

It was a step back to herself.

—

Next year, she’ll ride the Haute Route.

On her own steel frame.

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And like Isabell, most people who start this journey don’t begin with experience.

They begin with an idea.

A quiet thought that building something with their own hands might mean more than buying the next bike.

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You don’t need to know everything before you start.

You just need a clear path.

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👉 That’s exactly what this course is built to give you.

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What this course actually is

This is an online framebuilding course that guides you from the first idea to your finished steel frame.

You work from your own space.

At your own pace.

But you’re not doing it alone.

You’re part of a group of people around the world building their frames alongside you.

Following the same process.

Solving the same problems.

Taking the next step.

This course is for you if:

• You’ve thought about building your own frame for years, but never knew where to start
• You enjoy working with your hands and want to create something real
• You don’t want another product — you want something that’s yours
• You’re willing to learn step by step

You don’t need:

• Prior experience with metalwork
• A background in engineering
• To figure everything out on your own

Most people start exactly where you are now.

You don’t need:

• Prior experience with metalwork
• A background in engineering
• To figure everything out on your own

Most people start exactly where you are now.

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Stay in the loop

The online framebuilding course runs in small groups.

It’s not always open for enrollment.

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If this is something you’re thinking about, the best next step is simple:

👉 Stay in the loop

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I’ll send you:

• updates on the next course start
• behind-the-scenes insights
• stories from people building their own frames
• and a closer look at how the process works

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👉 Keep me in the loop

[Button: Keep me in the loop]

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Be the first to hear when the next group opens.

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From Rider to Builder

Build your own bike frame — from your own workshop, step by step, without getting lost in technical overwhelm.

Most people who join have never held a torch before.

They start with an idea.

And end up with something that’s truly theirs.

👉 Join the Free Workshop
→ Learn how it works before you commit

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.