Framebuilding 101: Build Your Own Fat Bike!

Framebuilding 101 continues to evolve as a course, so here is the latest news: Enrol in Framebuilding 101 and get FAT!! Yes, I have modified the jigs and fixtures and now you can build your own FAT BIKE. This means using a 100mm bottom bracket and 170mm rear wheel spacing. The first student to build one, Andy, is making one right now…

Several students have also built 650B frames. This seems to be the new norm. I read online that Giant is taking the biggest gamble in their companies' history by switching ALL their MTBs to 650B. No more 29ers!

Our new milling machine is working very well, and the Digital Readout (DRO) makes centering a tube for mitering so much easier! The variable speed option is good too.

UFV now has a very good selection of chainstays for MTBs, and quite a range of dropouts too. (see photos below..) I like giving students a lot of options. We now have bent downtubes for 29ers, and I also got some lengths of 4130 (in 2 diameters) rolled with a gentle curve for a cruiser style top tube. We have 44mm machined head tubes from Paragon Machine too. Students can build almost any style of steel hard tail within reason. That's one of the things I really like about this course; I have no idea what students will want to build next…

Course #024 is happening right now, and the next one is November 18, 2013 . Several students have returned for the one week Alumni course (half price), and built a second frame.

The next Framebuilding 101 Open House is January 8, 2014. I'll put a few postings on Craigslist as we get closer. We'll be heading to NAHBS again in March; this time the location is Charlotte, NC. I'm building a late 1800's Giraffe Bike for that, so come to the Open House to check out my progress on that fun project!

Costs have gone up, so the course will be $2800 next year, no GST. We're still less than UBI  :)  Register this year for next year, and save $300.

Until next time,

Paul Brodie