2011 Texas Custom Bicycle Show

Builder of the Week: Dimitri Harris of Meech Custom Bicycles

2010-09-21T13:52:00.000-07:00

Dimitri Harris is the man and builder behind Meech Custom Bicycles. Originally from Arkansas, Dimitri started studying and practicing frame building about 3 years ago. At that time, he headed out to Rifle, Colorado and studied with Koichi Yamaguchi, who Dimitri claims to be one of the most interesting people he has ever met. Cyclocross frames are his favorite frame/specialty because of their versatility; however, Dimitri is not a one-stop shop, he also builds road, mountain, and single-speed custom frames. Dimitri is a very humble and grateful person, always wishing thanks to everyone who has helped him build his business including family, builders, customers, machinists, painters, etc.

Featured Builder of the Week: Koh Annoura of Samurai Cycle Works

2010-09-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

Meet frame builder, Koh Annoura, bike enthusiast and former professional cyclist on Japan’s national cycling team. Based now in Houston, TX, Koh meshes his extensive knowledge in bicycle dynamics with the art of creating a beautiful hand-made frame. He brings to his craft 25 years of racing stories, of which 17 years was spent as a professional KEIRIN racer in Japan. Having ordered over 60 steel frame NJS race bikes over his racing career, he knows exactly what makes a high quality, smooth riding, well-designed frame. Koh’s unique techniques include secrets and skills taught to him by master frame builders in Japan. Enjoy the ride of an ANNOURA bicycle, made in Texas by a cyclist who KNOWS bicycles.

5 Reasons to Buy a Custom Built Bicycle…

2010-09-06T13:18:00.000-07:00

1. Simply put, custom bicycles represent a fine handcrafted product, not a mass produced bike from a warehouse in China. These custom frame builders toil over your custom hand-made bicycle for days, whereas machines stamp out hundreds of cookie cutter bikes from factories a day.

2. Fit. Period. Nothing is more important to the performance and enjoyment of a quality bicycle than fit. Much like a custom made suit, custom bicycle frames are designed and built around your unique body proportions. The materials and frame geometry are ‘reverse engineered’ around you. This produces a unique bicycle that puts you in the most comfortable position possible.

3. Beyond fit, a custom bicycle is built with your riding style in mind. Whether you leisurely ride or race, if you stand or sit when you climb, your riding posture – all these characteristics that define your riding style are considered in the building process of a custom built bicycle. The result? A bike that knows you and works with you so you can ride with total control and ease.

4. Style. With a custom built bicycle you have a certain amount of say in the whole design of the bicycle. Do you have a favorite color? Want a specific logo on your bicycle seat? When it’s custom – you decide.

5. Finally, choosing a custom built bicycle is making a choice to have a talented, devoted artist design and build your dream bicycle. You are making the choice to build not only a bicycle, but a relationship. You are choosing to engage in a community that places a high value on quality and truly is passionate about their handiwork.

Featured Builder of the Week: Eric Doswell of Edoz Bicycles

2010-09-01T09:50:00.000-07:00

Influenced by classic mountain bike builders like Ritchey and Mountain Goat, career metal fabricator and lifelong cyclist Eric Doswell builds Edoz Bicycles in a (not so) secret underground facility in Tulsa, OK. Drawing from his experience building equipment for the oil and aerospace industries, Eric blends the high tech steels and techniques of today with the craftsmanship of years past.

Fillet brazed and bi-laminate mountain, road and cyclocross frames that ride smooth, fit perfectly, and will kick up dust and move the spirit for years to come. Handcrafted in Oklahoma by Eric, ridden everywhere by you.

Featured Builder of the Week: Jeremy Shlachter of Gallus Cycles

2010-08-27T12:48:00.000-07:00

Gallus Cycles prides itself in creating timeless designs for the discerning cyclist. Each frame is hand-made by Jeremy Shlachter, one at a time in his Fort Worth, Texas workshop.
Attention to detail, the customer’s optimal fit and intended purpose as well as the traditions of custom-frame building are paramount. Each frame is crafted from steel tubing and joined with silver-brazed lugs or lugless fillet brazing.
Don’t let the style and class of these custom beauties fool you. They’re made to be ridden, not just drooled over. The bikes are built to handle any road, hill, gritty city, velodrome or dirt track, with pleasure and grace. Dream big, ride fast.

Published in CX Magazine

2010-08-17T15:54:00.000-07:00

Cyclocross Magazine featured an article announcing plans of the 2011 North American Handmade Bicycle Show. The show is scheduled to be held in Austin, TX February 25 - 27, 2011. The article mentions the cooperation of local bicycle shops and the current cooperation and support of the community revolving around the Texas Custom Bicycle Show. It is an honor to be mentioned in such a large publication and among the likes of Mellow Johnny's and the NAHBS! We are certainly looking forward to the North American Handmade Bicycle Show next year, as well as our third annual Texas Custom Bicycle Show featuring the best frame builders from the Lone Star State and beyond displaying their bicycles built from steel, titanium, and carbon fiber.

2010 Texas Custom Bicycle Show, Oct 16-17

2010-07-04T05:14:00.000-07:00

www.TexasCustomBicycleShow.com

2010 Texas Custom Bicycle Show, Oct 16-17

Pictures from Day 3 of the Texas Custom Bicycle Show

2009-10-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

The Texas Custom Bicycle Show is now a wrap for 2009. Thanks to all the volunteers and builders who made this show such a success.

Show attendee Cory Swartz took some pictures of the show from Sunday in Dripping Springs and posted to his Flickr account here.

Image Courtesy of Cory Swartz.

The 2010 Texas Custom Bicycle Show is already in the works. Stay tuned for more info soon.

Pictures from Day 1 of the Texas Custom Bicycle Show

2009-10-23T22:13:00.000-07:00

Marcus from Austin on Two Wheels stopped by the Texas Custom Bicycle Show today and posted these pictures.

If you haven't made it down, you can still catch this free show as part of the LiveStrong Challenge Expo on Saturday, 9 AM- 1 PM at the Austin Convention Center and Sunday 8:30 AM- 5 PM at the LiveStrong Challenge Finish Line in Dripping Springs.

Texas Custom Bike Show starts today!

2009-10-23T07:10:00.000-07:00

All the builders are in town and ready to show off their latest work. Come join us at this celebration of locally made, hand crafted bicycles.

Texas Custom Bike Show
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
Friday, October 23, Noon- 7 PM and Saturday, October 24, 9 AM- 1 PM
LiveStrong Expo, Austin Convention Center
Sunday, October 25, 8:30 AM- 5 PM
Dripping Springs Finish Line of the LiveStrong Challenge

Frame Builder Profile: True Fabrication

2009-10-22T06:13:00.000-07:00

The Texas Custom Bicycle Show is just one day away, and we finish off our frame builder profile series with True Fabrication of Austin, TX.

Custom Bicycle Company Name:
True Fabrication

Year Business Founded:
2005

Material True Fabrication works with:
Steel

Styles:
We are a full custom builder and have made all kinds of bikes. However, we've done more 29er hardtails than anything else.

Website:
http://www.truefabricationbicycles.com

Telephone number:
(512) 709-5936

About True Fabrication:
True Fabrication, LLC is an Austin based trio who have joined forces in order to make bicycles the old fashioned way: one-at-a-time, built with passion and an acute attention to detail. Not only are we frame builders, we are riders and that makes a difference!

The idea for True Fabrication was born during a 2005-summer mountain biking trip to Colorado and ultimately lead to our participation in the 2008, 2009 NAHBS and last years first annual Texas Custom Builders Show. We are a complete frame building shop that has worked hard to hone our fabrication skills and perfect our welding. Any of the three of us are capable of taking a bicycle from inception to completion. We can all design, weld and fabricate. However, over time we have definitely developed our natural abilities and talents and this is what makes us a great partnership. We don’t take short cuts for the sake of quick turnaround; rather we are willing to do what is necessary to make something that is both aesthetically pleasing and fully functional. This means that we don’t follow trends or fads just to sell bikes. True Fabrication, custom bicycles from deep in the heart of Austin.

Frame Builder Profile: Southwest Frameworks

2009-10-21T06:37:00.000-07:00

Custom Bicycle Company Name:
Southwest Frameworks

Year Business Founded:
1984

Material Southwest Frameworks works with:
Steel

Styles:
Custom road, rando, track, cyclocross, 29'r, custom racks, and custom painting.

Website:
http://www.southwestframeworks.com

Telephone number:
(214) 358-2579

About Southwest Frameworks:
Southwest Frameworks has been custom building and painting bicycles frames since 1984. Originally established as Cheakas Custom Cycles, a one-man custom bicycle frame shop, in 1994 we evolved into Southwest Frameworks. Our services and products now include custom framesets, frame repairs, complete bicycles, frame refinishing, and frame restoration.

Southwest Frameworks is dedicated to continuing the art of the custom. hand crafted bicycle frame. Although modern technology is employed in the manufacture and modification of the materials essential for the crafting of the bicycle frame, it falls upon the framebuilder to weave these materials into a finished product. The help continue this rich tradition, but only custom, hand crafted bicycle frames.

Frame Builder Profile: Alchemy Bicycle Company

2009-10-20T07:01:00.000-07:00

Custom Bicycle Company Name:
Alchemy Bicycle Company

Year Business Founded:
2008

Material Alchemy Works With:
Titanium, Carbon Fiber, Steel, Aluminum

Styles:
Road, Mountain (single/geared), 29er (single/geared), Cross, Fixed Gear

Website:
http://www.alchemybicycles.com

Phone:
(512) 443-2900

About the business:

Alchemy Bicycle Company designs, engineers, and builds handmade road, mountain (single or geared), 29er (single or geared), cross, and fixed gear bicycle frames using titanium, steel, aluminum, and carbon. Each frame is built in Austin, TX by James Flatman and a team of artisans dedicated to The Passion to Transform.

The Passion to Transform… Your Dream Bike into Reality! At Alchemy, we make it personal by handcrafting bicycles that are all about our customers. From start to finish, we work one bike at a time to accurately transform dream bikes into reality.

The Passion to Transform… Your Life, Making It Better… The World, into a Better Place! The passion goes beyond dream bikes at Alchemy. Alchemy Bicycle Company works with nonprofit organizations, participates in events, and volunteers our services to support our communities and industry.

Texas Custom Bike Show: T Minus 4 Days and counting

2009-10-19T08:23:00.000-07:00

See the latest creations from Texas' finest builders

This Thursday and Friday, some of the best bicycle frame builders in Texas (plus one from sunny Philadelphia, PA) will be rolling into Austin for the Texas Custom Bicycle Show. The show highlighting hand made custom bicycles will be a show within a show at the LiveStrong Challenge Expo, Friday, October 23- Sunday October 25. The builders on hand will be Alchemy, Bilenky Cycle Works, Crumpton Cycles, Daltex Handmade Bicycles, Dominion Bicycle Company, Gallus Cycles, Kirklee, Massengill Cycles, Southwest Frameworks, True Fabrication, Violet Crown Cycles, and Willits Brand Bicycles.

Texas Custom Bike Show
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
Friday, October 23, Noon- 7 PM and Saturday, October 24, 9 AM- 1 PM
LiveStrong Expo, Austin Convention Center
Sunday, October 25, 8:30 AM- 5 PM
Dripping Springs Finish Line of the LiveStrong Challenge

Help Spread the Word

In addition to this site, you can follow the Texas Custom Bicycle Show on the TCBS Facebook group page. In addition, you can help us spread the word by downloading our Texas Custom Bicycle Show poster (color or black & white) or quarter page leaflet (color or black & white) and put these up at your work, business or favorite coffee shop.

Help us with the Show

We are looking for individuals interested in helping our builders set up and tear down the booths at the show this weekend. If you are interested in helping, contact Elliott McFadden via e-mail or at (512) 791-9874 with any times you might be available Thursday- Sunday, and he will match you with a builder.

Frame Builder Profile: Bilenky Cycle Works

2009-10-19T07:47:00.000-07:00

Custom Bicycle Company Name:
Bilenky Cycle Works

Year business founded:
1983

Material you work with:
Steel

Styles:
Road, Mountain, Tandem, Cargo, S&S coupler folders

Website:
http://www.bilenky.com/

Phone:
(215) 329-4744

About Bilenky:
Since 1983, Stephen Bilenky’s visionary innovation and personal attention to artistic detail has brought worldwide recognition. Bilenky Cycle Works has won awards at the 2009 North American Hand Built Bike Show for best tandem and the 2009 Cirque du Cyclisme award for best sport touring Bike. The accolades for the creations of Bilenky Cycle Works just keep rolling in.

Bilenky Cycle Works is a happy, dirty place that turns out exquisite clean machines to suit the needs of riders of every possible size, shape, and desire. Each frame gives evidence to the Bilenky pursuit of aesthetic functionality. All are produced by Steve and his dedicated team. Working at BCW isn't a job. It's a calling.

While Bilenky and his employees have made just about every type of bicycle at one time or another, BCW currently focuses on five niche areas: traditional touring bicycles; bikes for "fine bicycle aficionados"; utility/cargo bicycles; installing S&S couplers on existing bikes to make them travel-ready; and at least two different types of tandems. Bilenky bikes have made many trips across many different countries, and whole families have enjoyed bike rides together -on the same bike. Fixie freaks and messengers appreciate the style and feel of the bikes. In fact, Hodari DePalm rode his Bilenky cargo bike to become Cargo World Champion at the 2006 Cycle Messenger World Championships. Bilenky bikes are featured in the forthcoming book, Custom Bicycles: A Passionate Pursuit, and in a glowing spread in COG magazine.

Frame Builder Profile: Violet Crown Cycles

2009-10-15T05:58:00.000-07:00

Custom Bicycle Company Name:
Violet Crown Cycles

Year business founded:
2008

Material you work with:
Steel

Styles:
City Bikes, Xtracycles, Cargo bikes, Touring, Cyclocross, Road

Website:
http://violetcrowncycles.com/
Also follow Violet Crown Cycles on Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr.

Phone:
(512) 791-9874

About Violet Crown Cycles:
Violet Crown Cycles is a maker of hand built fully custom, steel lugged transportation bicycles from our shop in Austin, Texas. Whether you choose our city bike, The Ferguson, cargo bike, touring or road bike, every bicycle we make is designed from the beginning to be a great bike for transportation. This means fenders, racks, and lighting systems are standard features, not an afterthought. We also believe that just because you are riding a utility bike doesn't mean it has to be ugly. Using our easy to navigate online ordering form, we build stylish, classic bikes based on your personal tastes and riding style tailored to your body. Fashion AND function is our motto.

About the Builder:
Elliott McFadden is the builder behind the quality custom transportation bicycles of Violet Crown Cycles crafted in Austin, Texas.

Elliott is passionate about cycling and passionate about using alternative transportation to help enhance one’s quality of life. He founded Austin CarShare, Texas’ first carsharing service, worked on the campaign to bring commuter rail to Austin, and is one of the editors of Austin On Two Wheels, the Online Magazine of Austin Cycling Culture.

In 2008, Elliott studied framebuilding using the lugged steel and fillet brazed methods under master framebuilder Doug Fattic. In early 2009, he put together the financing and workshop space for VCC opening for business in April 2009.

Frame Builder Profile: Crumpton Cycles

2009-10-12T06:22:00.000-07:00

Custom Bicycle Company Name:
Crumpton Cycles

Material you work with:
Carbon

Styles:
Road, Time Trial, Cyclocross

Website:
http://www.crumptoncycles.com

Phone:
(512) 459-7458

About Crumpton Cycles:
Crumpton Cycles continues to strive to deliver our best in carbon fiber bicycles. Each bicycle frame made to order for individual riders, and Nick Crumpton still personally designs, builds and finishes each frame in his studio in Austin, Texas. Crumpton Cycles combines carbon fiber tubing of the highest standard from Edge Composites with proprietary rear stays designed in house to bring the utmost level of quality in ride, aesthetic and reliability.

Crumpton Cycles fit philosophies are based in combining performance and comfort for its riders. We design frames based on rider contact points that in the end, result in a superior ride quality with well rounded attributes for all types of road riding. This is key to the overall performance of our bicycles.

Crumpton Cycles Awards:
2008 Bicycling Magazine Editors Choice Dream Road
2008 NAHBS Best Carbon Bicycle
2006 NAHBS Best Carbon Bicycle
2005 NAHBS Best Carbon Bicycle
2005 NAHBS Best Offroad Bicycle

Frame Builder Profile: Massengill Frames

2009-10-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

Custom Bicycle Company Name:
Massengill Frames

Year business founded:
1995

Material you work with:
Steel & Carbon

Styles:
Road, Travel, City/Transportation

Website:
www.massengillframes.com

Telephone number:
(214) 315-6465

About Massengill Frames:
A Massengill frame, made one at a time, is constructed of the best materials available for the specific intended use of the bicycle and to an exacting standard.

Most frames are made out of steel, and can be lugged or fillet brazed. A variety of tubing suppliers and lugs suppliers be used. Lugged frames are silver brazed unless otherwise specified. Carbon frames are available as well, with similar lead times.

Repairs work is also done on steel and carbon frames. There are many paint options available and the painters used do outstanding work.

In the end, if I don’t like it, you don’t ride it.

About Tim Massengill:
Ever since I became involved in cycling world in the early 80’s, bicycling has been a passion of mine. I became involved in cycling as a kid who wanted to backpack, but couldn’t find an adult to go along. My friends and I found some adults to go as long as we could carry our stuff on bikes. So, we loaded our bikes and did a tour of Indiana, from state park to state park.

I have since been involved in many facets of bicycling, but became specifically involved in frame building in the late 1980’s. This happened when my bicycle was stolen at college. I had done about everything else mechanically and the idea of buying a frame and putting parts on it and calling that building a bike didn’t quite seem to excite me.

It was around that time, I met Doug Fattic, who had apprenticed in England in the 70’s. To make a long story short, I was able to learn how to build frames from him, and have been doing so ever since.

I went on to complete my degree in physical therapy. As a result, I have a unique background and body of knowledge about human function and ergonomics. I have a keen interest in bicycle fit, and have applied this knowledge and background to my chosen field. It is extremely useful when assessing a customer for the fit and function of their bicycle frame.

Frame Builder Profile: Daltex Handmade Bicycles

2009-09-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

Glenn Thompson of Daltex is the founder of the Texas Custom Bicycle Show and our latest builder profile.

Custom Bicycle Company Name:
Daltex Handmade Bicycles

Year business founded:
2005

Material you work with:
Steel from Columbus, True Temper, Reynolds

Styles:
Road, Fixed, Mountain

Website:
www.rideDaltex.com

Telephone:
(972) 743-4811

About Daltex:
Daltex Handmade Bicycles exists to provide a great fitting, great handling bicycle designed specifically for the person that will be riding it. Daltex bicycles are built entirely by hand in my Dallas workshop.

The fitting process includes extensive body and flexibility measurements. The bicycle is then designed around these measurements. The fit is designed into the bicycle, not sold as an optional service after the fact. Much effort is spent determining the intended use of the bicycle and the customer’s riding style – I won’t build a racing bicycle for a customer that does weekly club rides and an occasionally century.

About Glenn Thompson:
All of my work is silver brazed and lugged. I am one of the few builders that produce lugged mountain bikes. I first met legendary Texas Framebuilder, David Cheakas, back in ’93. Over the years David has been very generous to share his knowledge of framebuilding with me.

I hold firmly to the belief that there is no more beautiful or fascinating object in this world than a handmade bicycle. I believe that if you design a frame around a person’s unique proportions and riding style the resulting frame will put the rider in the most efficient and comfortable position possible. These beliefs guide me on every frame I build.

Volunteer call for Texas Custom Bicycle Show

2009-09-25T08:13:00.000-07:00

Texas Custom Bicycle Show is entering just its second year, and we are trying to make the show really big this year so that it can be an ongoing, yearly event promoting locally made, custom bicycles.

We are looking for volunteers to help spread the word and assist the showcased builders in setup and tear down the weekend of the show. We are trying to leaflet as many Austin cycling events as possible and get posters and leaflets in all the local bike shops. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Elliott McFadden via e-mail or at (512) 791-9874, and he can get you plugged in.

If you aren't available to volunteer in Austin but you still want to promote the show, you can download our Texas Custom Bicycle Show poster (color or black & white) or quarter page leaflet (color or black & white) and put these up at your work, business or favorite coffee shop. We also encourage you to join the TCBS Facebook group and encourage others to join as Fans as that will be one of the ways we share pictures, profiles, and information about the show.

Frame Builder Profile: KirkLee

2009-09-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

When hand built bicycles are mentioned, steel or titanium are usually the materials that come to mind for most people. There are builders who work in other materials to craft a bike tailored to you. Today's profile is of Austin's KirkLee and it's builder Brad Cason who works in carbon.

Custom Bicycle Company Name:
KirkLee Bicycles

Year business founded:
January 2008

Material you work with:
Carbon

Styles:
Road and Mountain

Website:
http://www.kirkleebicycles.com
Also follow on KirkLee on Facebook, Twitter,
and Flickr.

Telephone:
(512) 371-9661

About KirkLee and Brad Cason:
KirkLee Bicycles unofficially started in Southern California, 2001. It was there, on the morning coffee crew rides, where individuals would roll up on bike exotica. I would think to myself, “I could build that.”

I left California to pursue a Masters Degree in Business. When I was not immersed in my textbooks, I was molding my own bikes in my roommate’s kitchen oven. Thanks Rob; I am sure to this day he is still finding resin in his kitchen. While my classmates were dreaming of the stock market and investment banking, I was dreaming my own bike company.

After completion of my Masters, I took a job in Las Vegas, NV. I continued my bike building after my move. It was in the town of Blue Diamond that I would talk composites with riders of similar interests. It was on these long mountain biker rides that techniques were perfected, resins were discussed, and bike designs developed. Doors were opened and most importantly friendships were made.

Since then, I have left the corporate world and moved back home to Austin, TX. I started a bicycle company under the condition that I would do things my own way and put some handmade soul into each bike that I produce.

KirkLee is committed to building you the finest bike possible… by hand.

Bilenky Cycle Works confirmed for show, Austin Framebuilder Happy Hour Tonight!

2009-09-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

The Texas Custom Bicycle Show is pleased to have reached a baker's dozen with the addition of Bilenky Cycle Works of Philadelpia, PA to the show. Stephen Bilenky and his crew have been building custom steel bicycles in 1983 with a focus on very tall and very short riders who have difficulty finding stock bikes and has been featured multiple times in Bicycling magazine. This also marks the first out of state exhibitor showing the growing interest in Texas as a custom bicycle market.

Welcome, Bilenky!

Also, as a warm up to the show in October several Austin builders will be meeting this evening for a Framebuilders Happy Hour. They’ll be showing off some of their latest work, answering questions, and end up with a social ride (if it doesn’t rain on us!) If you are thinking about buying a custom bike, aspiring to build, or just curious to learn more about how bikes are made, stop by tonight.

Austin Framebuilders Happy Hour
Monday, September 21
5:30- 7 PM with social ride after
Doc’s Motorworks, 1123 S Congress Ave
1/2 priced burgers and Budweiser/ Bud Light specials

Announcement: Willits Brand Bicycles signs on for Texas Custom Bicycle Show

2009-09-18T12:51:00.000-07:00

The number of builders for the Texas Custom Bicycle Show has now risen to an even dozen with the addition today of Willits Brand Bicycles. The owner and frame builder Wes Williams was a pioneer of the 29er movement in off-road design. Willits makes custom steel and titanium frames out of their Austin workshop.

Read a recent profile of Willits at Austin on Two Wheels.

Frame Builder Profile: Dominion Bicycle Company

2009-09-18T06:10:00.000-07:00

Custom Bicycle Company Name:
Dominion Bicycle Company

Year business founded:
2008

Material you work with:
Steel and Carbon Fiber

Styles:
Road, Cyclocross and Mountain

Website:
www.dominionbicycles.com

Telephone number:
(512) 850-9266

About the business:
Dominion Bicycle Company is a full service bicycle manufacturer in Austin, Texas. Our mission is to provide our customers with durable, high performance frames and bicycles. Whether it’s a road or mountain bike, racing or commuting, we can build the perfect bicycle for you. Our workshop is a fully-equipped design and fabrication shop. In addition to building high quality steel bicycles, Dominion designed and constructed all of the tube blocks, v-blocks, tool fixtures, jigs, and other frame building tools, with the exception of a Henry James frame jig. We use a variety of joining methods to construct our frames, including TIG welding, lug brazing, fillet brazing and epoxy bonding (carbon fiber rear end kits). Having several joining options gives us more flexibility in frame construction and allows us to use the best joining solution based on the goals for a given frame. Each joining method has its own unique aesthetic and mechanical advantages/disadvantages; and, a properly sized and constructed steel frame (regardless of joining method) will last a lifetime when used and maintained properly.

About the builder:
As lifelong cyclist and an artisan at heart, Scott uses his mechanical engineering background and his love of fine craftsmanship to create exceptional bicycles. Metal and wood working is a family tradition in the Ross family. He was taught many of his skills, including the usage lathes, drill presses, and the oxy-acetylene torch, while growing up in the Austin, Texas area. These inherited skills were then fortified by his engineering studies at the University of Texas, as well as TIG welding and machine shop classes. Scott began experimenting with welding bicycle frames in 2002 and has been an amateur frame builder for 7 years, honing his skills and perfecting the build process with other local frame builders. In 2008, he launched Dominion Bicycles.

Frame Builder Profile: Gallus Cycles

2009-09-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

As a lead up to the Texas Custom Bicycle Show on Oct 23-25, we will be posting short profile articles a few times a week on each of the builders showcased in the show. We will begin with Gallus Cycles from Ft. Worth.

Custom Bicycle Company Name:
Gallus Cycles

Year business founded:
Established January 2009, been building since 2006

Material you work with:
Steel lugged and fillet brazed

Styles:
Track, Road, City

Web:
www.galluscycles.com

Tel:
817 757 2944

About the business:
Gallus Cycles builds handmade, custom sized and spec'd, quality bicycle frames. Frames are built one at a time to the individual customer's size, desired riding characteristics and aesthetics. All frames are made of steel, and can either be lugged or fillet brazed. Every bike is built to the highest standards in respect of the craft and the cyclist. Gallus Cycles is also very committed to the environment. We believe that in addition to the personal benefits of a custom bicycle, there is a larger environmental gain in buying a locally made product.

About the builder:
Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, I spent 5 years in Glasgow, Scotland attending architecture school. While living there my passion for cycling, especially urban riding, grew while working as a bicycle messenger. I returned to the States in 2006 decided to combine my design background with my love for cycling. I first attended the Yamaguchi Frame Building School, and then studied and briefly worked with Doug Fattic. I also spent 2 months working for the Ukraine Bicycle Project in 2008.

Austin Framebuilders Happy Hour scheduled for next Monday

2009-09-14T06:51:00.000-07:00

The Texas Custom Bicycle Show is just six short weeks away, and to whet your appetite for locally hand made bicycles, the Austin frame building community is holding hopefully what will be the first in a series of Austin Framebuilders’ Happy Hours. Local builders will have examples of their latest work, be on hand to answer questions, and participate in a short social ride afterward. There will also be more information on the upcoming Texas Custom Bicycle Show.

Austin Framebuilders Happy Hour
Monday, September 21
5:30- 7 PM with social ride afterwards
Doc’s Motorworks, 1123 S Congress Ave
1/2 priced burgers and Budweiser/ Bud Light specials

If you are thinking about buying a custom bike, aspiring to build, or just curious to learn more about how bikes are made, stop by next Monday.

TCBS now on Facebook!

2009-09-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

The Texas Custom Bicycle Show is only six weeks away, and we are gearing up with some exciting announcements and profiles of all the builders coming in the next few days.

As a way to keep up to date with the show and post pictures, we've set up a Facebook page for the show as well. We hope you'll join as a fan.

See you the weekend of Oct 23-25!

2nd annual Texas Custom Bicycle Show, Oct. 23, 24 & 25 2009 - Austin, TX

2009-05-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

We could not be more excited to announce that the Texas Custom Bicycle Show is partnering with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to host the 2009 show in Austin Texas at the Livestrong Village in conjunction with the Austin Livestrong Challenge event.

This alliance ensures that the 2nd annual Texas Custom Bicycle Show will be bigger and better than ever!

The TEXAS CUSTOM BICYCLE SHOW showcases the best handmade custom bicycle framebuilders from Texas and the the surrounding states. Meet the builders and see their work this October in Austin, TX.

Show hours:

Friday, October 23, 9 am - 5 pm, Livestrong Village / Austin Convention Center

Saturday, October 24, 9 am - 1 pm, Livestrong Village / Austin Convention Center

Sunday, October 25, 8:30 am - 5 pm, Livestrong Challenge Finish Line / Dripping Springs, Tx

Exhibitor Links:

Crumpton Cycles
Southwest Frameworks
True Fabrications
Alchemy
Kirklee
Dominion
Gallus Cycles
Massengill Frames
Daltex Handmade Bicycles
Violet Crown Cycles

and many more!

For more information, please contact Glenn at info@rideDaltex.com