As a newly elected 2010 member of The Framebuilders’ Collective I am proud to be a part of such a diverse group of bicycle builders. Being a lifelong bicycle industry person I believe I can add yet another positive dynamic to the organization. My background ranges from bicycle retail to all aspects of a full production frame building shop. I look forward to my involvement with the collective, helping to answer questions and to the professional advancement of our industry.

Mike Flanigan
Holliston, MA

As a past builder and current supplier to the greater Framebuilding industry, I’m honored to be able to support the Collective’s mission of actively promoting professional building practices, preserving the craft, mentoring new builders, information sharing, and inclusion regardless of building technique or style. We are such a small industry, rich in both history and potential, and I believe that it’s only through such a collective effort that not only can new ideas be explored and shared, but past and tradition preserved. It’s such a beautiful idea and I’ll do my best to help the Collective achieve it.

Don Ferris
Littleton, Colorado

I am very proud to have been chosen to be a part of the collective. As far flung solo tradesmen I see the need for communication among peers, the need for accountability, transparency in quality standards, group input for the continued availability of high quality materials and also just a general source of knowledge for this and future generations of small cycling operations. It is easy to be led astray in the modern world of computer info be it right or wrong, and I feel I personally strive to dismiss the idea of the Wizard behind the curtain and insert one of the practiced lifelong professional tradesman. In looking through the work of my peers what impresses me the most is how the “flavor” of each builder stands in a distinct way that embodies the fruits of a body of work honed over many years much toil resulting in a work all their own.

Steve Garro
Flagstaff, AZ

In an ever expanding world of automation, globalization and outsourcing it is becoming increasingly difficult to find individuals who take the time to build things by hand. After years in the hi-tech, specialty metals industry, I was compelled to start my journey as a custom frame builder, specializing in titanium.

Frame building, for me, is a culmination of elements that provide satisfaction and personal meaning in a way that no other work has ever done. Design, creativity, collaboration, precision, technical know-how blend to create an object that will provide our clients enjoyment and adventure for years to come.

The Framebuilders’ Collective is a tremendous opportunity for me to share my experiences as well as furthering my knowledge of this skill set. It is a great pleasure to be able to participate with The Framebuilders’ Collective and the community of individual builders. I have followed these esteemed colleagues for years as they have been essential in my growth as a frame builder. I hope to be able to contribute in a similar fashion to others, adding value to this group and, ultimately, our small but dedicated industry.

Darren Crisp (USA)
Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy

The successful independent framebuilder is a professional tradesman. He is dedicated, perseveres and strives for excellence in all aspects of the trade. Not quite as romantic as many might think, but these are some key factors by which the founding members of The Framebuilders’ Collective have come together.

I am very thrilled to have made a connection with such an incredible group of like minded professionals. I have already felt the positive impact of time shared with TFC both in my business, outlook on the industry and in my personal life. Most of us work alone so it’s nice to have a touchstone, sounding board and general water cooler group.

Nicholas Crumpton
Austin, TX

As someone who makes a living building bicycle frames I am excited to be part of a group of like minded individuals. I am looking forword to learning from others in the group and sharing what I can with them. I am also looking forword to what the group can add to the small frame building industry as a whole.

Mike DeSalvo
Ashland, OR

To be honest, the first time I saw the placards for The Framebuilders’ Collective, I assumed it was this totally exclusive little club that a few individuals founded for themselves. In the ensuing months, I had many conversations with my friends in the Collective and my opinion of this group as a whole has changed.

We are all very individual people with distinct ideas about our own companies, but as a whole, we have many desires for our industry that are truly in line with one another, whether it be the quality of the materials we use in building to the components that go on our bikes. I am glad they took the initiative to start this group, knowing they would take some heat for it, but in the end, went ahead in the hopes of making our little slice of the bicycle industry better. I look forward to seeing how The Framebuilders’ Collective evolves and grows in the coming years.

Curtis Inglis
Napa, CA

Being a professional bicycle framebuilder is for many of us a solitary pursuit. Most work alone or with a very small group of focused individuals. That doesn’t mean that we don’t appreciate and have respect for the work of others. With the advent of the Internet and electronic communication we can now get to know other builders and their work as never before. Over time a group of us have been drawn toward one another due to quality of the people, the work they produce, and professional way they conduct their business.

This lead to the organic formation of an informal group of peers. We shared information, techniques and advice, and came to rely on each other in ways that only a peers can. It became apparent to us that this group could expand and be a benefit to the handmade framebuilding business as a whole.

It’s with this in mind that I’m excited to take part in the forming of The Framebuilders’ Collective. I firmly believe that this is the Golden Age of the hand built bicycle, and that by using the Internet and electronic communication The Framebuilders’ Collective can play a vital role in furthering the craft and business of the professional framebuilder.

David Kirk
Bozeman, MT

As we approached the 21 first century there was a dramatic shift occurring in the high quality bicycle market towards mass produced bikes. This brought significant changes to the independent frame builder’s operation and method. The timely arrival of the internet brought the far corners of the frame building community together through the sharing of creativity, methods, and accumulated business experience. At the same time the internet has placed the independent frame builder’s work and creativity within the global reach of our discerning customers.

Due to the relative geographic isolation of Australia, I built frames for many years secluded from the preponderance of frame building. Through the facility of the internet, I found myself connecting with a peer group of professional frame builders. We share an almost parallel creative and progressive philosophy and a strong desire to share our long term accumulated knowledge to assist developing and established fellow professional builders. I saw this collaboration to support and promote ethical and professional framebuilder practices as an inevitable consequence of these intercourses.

I am very pleased to be involved with the conception of the The Framebuilders’ Collective and I desire to contribute what value I can. I believe we are traveling in an era when the creativity and quality of the bespoke hand made frame has never been healthier or more exciting.

Darrell Llewellyn McCulloch
Everton Hills, Queensland, Australia

I have many friends among framebuilders in Italy and elsewhere, and we often share our ideas and technical know-how. This is to me a unique occasion to make such a spirit of friendship public, turning into something from which everybody can benefit. I am proud to belong to a group of such talented people. Bicycling is a frame of mind.

Dario Pegoretti
Caldonazzo Italia

I’m looking forward to being part of The Framebuilders’ Collective. This assembled group of peer craftsmen represents a solid cross section of experience, enthusiasm, and magnanimity. I have spent most of 2007 getting to know each of them better as we have hashed out the ideas and goals which have brought us to this point of now going public. I know some of these cats better than I know others, yet, as a group I sense that we have the framebuilding trade, its past, and its future, covered.

In this decidedly internet driven era, with its message boards, picture sites, and listserves, there’s never been a better time, nor has there been an easier time, in which our collective ideas can be culled and put to use. My peers and I look forward to sharing resources, mentoring others, and being a positive influence on the framebuilding community for many years to come. These are exciting times. Stay tuned!

Richard Sachs
Chester, CT

Having been a full time builder for 34 years, I have felt a member of a fraternity of sorts for many years. Believing that when we help each other, we will all become better builders and better business persons in the process, I have always been free with our knowledge when talking with other builders. Keeping secrets close to the chest has always seemed to me to be a short sighted approach to business. The Collective is a formal mechanism for doing what comes naturally to me and we are honored to have been included in this immensely talented and dedicated group of craftspersons. Can we talk?

Tom Kellogg
Breinigsville, PA

Framebuilding is an interesting business. I don’t know why it is but we all compete against one another and conversely share everything we know with one another. I like that about this craft. I suppose it has a lot to do with the fact that we all love Framebuilding above all else and business is the necessary means by which we get to do it all day. Also there is really no formalized avenue to follow for a career in Framebuilding. There is also the giving back, returning to the community which so generously helped when you needed it most. I think that is the spirit in which this collective came to be.

Carl Strong
Bozeman, MT

What a fantastic group of builders. Smart, talented, connected with their customers and the cycling world as a whole.

When I look around at the other founding members of The Framebuilders’ Collective, I see an endless wealth of business knowledge, fabrication skill, unique and effective approaches to design, artistic brilliance and above all else, the ability of each member to confidently forge his own path as a builder and in life.

As the youngest member of the TFC, I am honored to share a seat at the discussion table with Richard, Dario, Dave, Curt, Carl, Nick and Darrell. And I look forward to the opportunity to help our little industry realize it’s full potential.

Sacha White
Portland, OR