All these bloody framebuilders eh

153mm cranks? Is short the new cool thing?

Love a steel stem! Any ideas how much it weighs?

Has been around for at least two years. Tore is not tall and likes the feel of shorter cranks.

Matt Appleman (Bike Builder and bike fitter) pioneered the trend as far as I am aware.
Not scientific, but data nonetheless

Tore is not tall and likes the feel of shorter cranks.
And they have access to a load of older square taper cranks and a milling machine, why not make some?

And they have access to a load of older square taper cranks and a milling machine, why not make some?

That's why I made some 135mm cranks for my fixed TT bike. Easy to spin a 72" gear with teeny weeny cranks.

Makes sense. I have started moving down from 175 to 165 cranks I am tall but shorter legs (32" inseam) Was thinking of trying some 15o-5 on ebike just to see what the fuss is all about.

So, I might be taking some time out from work and looking to do something completely different and had the idea about a frame building course of some kind. I've zero experience so would be starting from scratch and I don't have any particular goal in mind other than I think I might enjoy the process of learning a new skill and deepening my knowledge of how bikes are made. Does anyone have any recent recommendations of courses out there? Am based in Bristol but could go to London. Sorry if this is covered elsewhere.

I gotta say im not that clued up on framebuilding courses these days, although theres a few people in the current projects on the forum who have done them so worth a look as they might give an insight. I did a course at the bicycle academy years ago and it was great, however they no longer exist.

I have made some progress on a variety of things, but nothing crazy. I have some cool bicycle things planned, including a breakaway minivelo for a friend (and forumenger). Ive been mountain biking a lot and negotiating with French bureaucracy. All the things you've heard are true, nothing gets done, i don't miss the rainy island but the UK does get the bureaucracy right at least.

Ive also made some knives, small kitchen knives and a few simple folding knives.

Kitchen knifes and folding knife

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They're not perfect but I'm fairly happy, I quite like the folding knife. It's a design I stole loosely from an existing popular knife called a svord peasant. Really simple and fairly easy to make.

Mtbing I'm liking a lot. I painted the frame purple. I barely ride the road bike nowadays.

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Another knife I'm making for my mum, not quite finished.

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Im gonna make some more folding knives, the ones ive made so far are a bit rough/prototype-y and i can make them much nicer.

Looks great! Needs a dropper for even more fun! Where is this? Spain?

I think the reference to French bureaucracy is a clue.

Dropper would be fun! slightly out of my budget at the moment but in due course as i can see the value for sure, im in the south of france near ish to Nice

Ah I missed that post...

Im building a fixed gear breakaway 853 minivelo for @Josh012, i'm excited i think it'll be very cool. Managed to get some z couplers from paragon for a super clean breakaway. I've mitred up the rear end/welded the cs/dropouts so far and welded the couplers into the tubes.

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Welding the couplers was slightly stressful because theyre so expensive, but it went well, theyre really cool things

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If I had any money you could take it now.

:) one day!

In an ideal world I'd win a huge sum of money somehow and just make frames for everyone for free, I'll let you know if that happens.