… or at least how Raleigh’s were made in England in 1945. This short documentary from the British Council is an amazing period piece. The film’s War-era government propaganda style is entertaining. The footage and explanation of 1940s bike manufacturing is fascinating. I’m especially impressed that the factory is nearly self-sufficient, making all the tubing, lugs, bottom bracket shells, and components needed for bike building. Enjoy.
My First Bike explores the origins of professional frame builders by going back to the start and looking at the first bike they ever built. Today’s My First Bike features Jeremy Shlachter, the builder behind Gallus Cycles in Fort Worth, Texas.
Give me the short rundown of your first frame: when was it built, where, materials, any special details about it, etc?
My first frame was a track frame built under the guidance and watchful eye of Koichi Yamaguchi at his frame building class in Rifle, CO in December 2006. It was made out of True Temper tubing that Koichi had designed many years before, along with Long Shen lugs, fork crown, bottom bracket shell, and Henry James Dropouts.
As far as lugged track frames went, it was pretty standard with steep head tube and seat tube angles, high bottom bracket, and short chain stays. I went for a wishbone seat stay attachment, but other than that kept it straightforward as I was mainly trying to get my head around basic techniques of brazing and filing.
My First Bike explores the origins of professional frame builders by going back to the start and looking at the first bike they ever built. Today’s My First Bike features Eric Estlund, the man behind Springfield, OR’s Winter Bicycles.Â
Give me the short rundown of your first frame: when was it built, where, materials, any special details about it, etc.
The first bike I built was a grass track fame built under the eye of Ron and Gary at United Bicycle Institute. It is made from Kaisei tubing with Paragon drops and one of Andy Newland’s wishbone rear castings. The fork crown is a Long Shen unit I still use. Nothing terribly notable about the design—I wanted to build something fairly simple the first round to learn about the process without getting bogged down in the minutia. I appropriately guessed I would have my hands and head full. Once I left UBI this was also the first frame I personally powder coated and has the first stem I built independently.
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We’re launching a new feature today on The Bicycle Story called My First Bike. My First Bike explores the origins of professional frame builders by going back to the start and looking at the first bike they ever built. The inaugural My First Bike features Tony Pereira—Portland, OR-based frame builder, multi-time North American Handmade Bicycle Show prize winner, and master egg-poacher.
Give me the short rundown of your first bike: when was it built, where, materials, any special details about it, etc.
I built my first bike in 2003. At the time I was working in a bike shop in Salt Lake City and we were selling a fair number of 29ers. I liked the idea, but thought I could make some improvements, so my first bike was a 29er. I had been singlespeeding for a little while, so I made it a singlespeed too. The materials and construction were the same as what I use today: fillet brazed steel.
Bina and Stephen Bilenky. Photo from Embrocation Magazine.
Bina Bilenky is a busy woman. She helps run the family business (Bina is the daughter of noted framebuilder Stephen Bilenky), writes a column for Embrocation Magazine, is the co-founder and organizer of the Philly Bike Expo, founder and organizer of the Heartland Velo Show, and helps organize the San Diego Custom Bike Show. We talked about her experience growing up with an important framebuilder for a father, her work at Bilenky, and her notable attraction to bike shows.