Stefan – Frame Building Course Q & A

How did you come up with the idea of building your own frame?
For years, I have been riding my old racing bike from the 80s, which I love, but it has certainly seen better days. Additionally, I wanted to make a few small changes to my bike and have more than just 12 gears. With my specific ideas in mind, I set out to find a new bike but struggled to make a decision amid the overwhelming choices. That’s when the idea came to me to build a frame myself. I thought it would be a good project to undertake during the difficult times of Corona.

Why did you choose this frame? What do you plan to do with it?
I live relatively centrally in Zurich and can reach most of my travel destinations within 45-60 minutes. Since I don’t own a car, my only mode of transportation is the racing bike. My vision for my new bike was essentially a racing bike that resembled the shape of my old one. I wanted to combine a fitting color with modern components. The visual aspect was very important to me; after all, the eye also enjoys the ride.

What is special to you about your self-built frame?
Everything! After all, it’s the frame that has come to existence through my hands. I know every detail and every little flaw. I could choose the geometry, the color, all the components, and even the frame number myself. A frame in this form is unique; it only exists once, making it a one-of-a-kind. All these factors make it special and give me pride.

How was your time in the frame building course?
The frame building course was a new, exciting, very educational, challenging, creative, and simultaneously entertaining experience for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the five days with Robert because I never felt left alone. Nevertheless, I was able to complete all tasks largely independently and had the freedom to use all the tools. Robert was always by my side during questions and critical moments and was able to provide me with valuable advice. In the end, my own frame was created, assembled exactly to my specifications.

How does your finished bike ride?
I must say, it is indescribable to ride my own bike. My expectations regarding the riding characteristics have even been exceeded. Of course, it will take some time before everything is ultimately set up correctly. But the effort was worth it. I would repeat the course with Robert anytime.

How did you find me, and how did you hear about the frame building courses?
When searching for a frame building course, it was important to me that my wishes would be considered and that I could do as much as possible myself. For example, I didn’t want the tubes to be cut or the fork to be bent beforehand. Since it was my first time doing something like this, many questions remained, and I needed advice and support. Moreover, I didn’t want to take the course at home but somewhere I could focus entirely on the frame for a week. I then came across Robert via Google and YouTube. It was the right decision to take the course in Potsdam. Therefore, I can recommend the course at Big Forest Frameworks to anyone who wants to take on such a project.