Polo Bike (or) The Cobbler’s Son Gets Some Shoes

My personal bikes get the short end of the stick all too often, sure I’ll throw something nice for myself in when I am placing a parts order for a customer’s bike once in a while, but I’ll admit it, I dig the bottom of my spare parts bin when piecing together a bike for myself.  Such is the case to the nth degree in the example below, in this case its OK though,... Read More

Balancing Act (or) The Seven Billionth Baby

Budd Bike Works is something like a Fairy. Yeah, a magical winged thing that only exists when someone believes in them.  At that point, that some soul believes enough to commission a custom frame build, the lights come on and I start designing and building.  This fantasy world where I hone metal to earn my keep is not independent of the reality of the fact that I have to keep... Read More

Mycology, My apology, and maimed frame revivals (or) Failure Analysis

I feel it is a responsibility I have as a bicycle frame builder to use my personal bikes as a platform to push the envelope of  design innovation and then do my damned best to tear that envelope to shreds.  Hitching a trailer loaded with over 400 lbs of cargo and schlepping it over a hill proved to be the undoing of the undulating, thin walled chain stays that I’d hammered... Read More

The Physics Book Definition of Work (or) Fallen Fruit

There is no time like labor day to make an audit of your position in the workings of your place.  Just a couple of days in defiance of the schedule you are regularly beholden in pursuit of the next paycheck, are a rare opportunity to take in the periphery once the blinders are removed. At least that is the case for me this year.  Yesterday, I was lucky enough to spend much of... Read More

Low Contrast (or) Interdependence Day

In moments that I am feeling particularly proud of my toil wresting a bespoke, high performance bicycle frame from a pile of steel I am prone to seeing in myself that stoic, independent, spirit that has always been such an integral facet of the American mythology.  Taking a step back I see the error in that thinking, I am but the smallest cog in a system of economic and social... Read More

29′er Build Progress

Still much to tell, still going to just give a couple cursory pics of the latest in the jig instead.  Got to get across town ahead of the twisters. #gallery-4 { margin: auto; } #gallery-4 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-4 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-4 .gallery-caption... Read More

Entry Fee for the Tournament (or) Built to take a hit

I heard  a short piece on the radio from the guys that wrote the book Freakonomics (interesting takes on the sorts of causes at the root of effects in society and commerce) that is one of those little things that sticks in my head that I keep coming back to.  The hypothesis was that the nature of the business of being a beauty queen was at its core very similar to entering the... Read More

That Fast Look & the Performance Envelope (or) Vanity in the face of disaster

Designing and building a bicycle to suit a rider’s individual purpose for the machine has been the driving goal since I first picked up the torch 7 years ago.  The opportunity that attending UBI gave me to have access to the quality tools, materials, and instruction  to bring to life an idea I’d had for the last bicycle I’d ever need while I doodled in the margins of my... Read More

Why BBW? (or) The Engineered Design Difference

Approaching the task of designing a performance optimized bicycle from an engineers perspective has resulted in subtle differences in Budd Bike Works construction that may require some explanation. CAD Production Documentation Fabrication is faithful to customer approved design documentation Utilizing powerful drafting software and a proprietary geometry program allows a frame... Read More

Embryonic Bicyles out and about.

Gestation periods for bounds pushing bicycles can be a bit unpredictable at times.  This one was not ready for the world in time for the first hardcourt bike polo tournament of the year at this past weekends Winter Lockdown at Hockey Town in Saugus.   It has been shown that forming fetus can be influenced from the womb.  This little guy’s tight quarters, one handed, handling... Read More