2021 Bicycle Design
I wanted a fixed gear bike built for the mix of city and rural riding of my common habit. I wanted the bike to fit 35mm slick tires, for good handling on-road in all conditions amidst dangerous and dynamic car traffic. I wanted comforable geometry that suits me as a tall rider with chronic back and neck problems from a career in rowing. I wanted a relatively light and stiff frameset, using hydroformed thin-wall steel tubing for the frame and carbon fiber for the fork. I wanted very nible handling, with a short wheelbase and rensponsive steering geometry. I also wanted a frame that fit my aesthetic ideas for a bicycle.
Based on my experience with and study of bicycle geometry, the image above at left shows my notion of the geometry suited to my needs. The image above at right shows my selection of hydroformed tubes most suitable to my application.
After defining my geometry and tubing, I created a 3D model of my design. I wanted this design to be as accurate as possible, as this would help me fine-tune the aesthetic of the bike. I modelled the spokes, hubs, handlebars, a crankset, and matched the geometry of the hydroformed tubing as defined on specification sheets. (water bottle cages and saddle from grabCAD, and the rear dropouts are modelled in a crude manner to save time)
I found an independent frame builder to build the design, and thankfully found a suitable carbon fork for the project in 2025. The manufacturing process began in October 2025, and the bike is not yet complete.