Frame Building Courses

With 1-to-1 tuition, using quality hand tools and jigs, you will be able to make a made-to-measure lugged steel frame. Choose whether you would like a steel or carbon fork, the style of lugs and braze-ons and then, sometimes the hardest bit: choosing the colour.

If you have ever made something, even the most simple of items, you probably know the great pleasure and pride that you had in using it or giving it to someone. Reading this probably means that you like bikes and cycling, so how would you feel riding a bike on a frame that you made to a size and shape to fit you perfectly?

Maybe you haven't made anything with your hands before. Don't let that stop you from learning and trying. You probably have the ability, but haven't had the opportunity. We have the patience, skills and abilities to enable you to build a bicycle frame. You just need a positive can-do approach, an open mind and basic hand-eye co-ordination.

Peter Bird was the first frame-builder in the UK to introduce a frame building course back in 1993. The courses today are taught by either Peter Bird or Robert Wade, both very experienced frame builders who produce Swallow bespoke frames and design the Landescape range of aluminium and carbon fibre frames.

We don't like to restrict what you can do, though there may be some frame styles and techniques that would be outside the scope of a week-long course. We will send you an initial assessment questionnaire to see what type of frames and techniques would be suitable for you. We prefer that the frame is complete and ready for painting by the end of the course.

The week-long course starts on Monday morning. First, we size you on our sizing jig and explain the basics of size and frame geometry. This is then translated onto the frame jig and you can then start cutting and mitring tubes. Before taking brazing torch to your frame you will work on a small test piece. You will then work through each step of construction and we'll make sure that you gain the understanding of the work you have done. By Friday afternoon you will have built your very own frame.

Prior to the course we will discuss with you the type and style of frame that you plan to build and the type of equipment you will be fitting to the frame. We can also help you design your paint scheme. After the course, when the frame has been painted, you can return to do a wheel-building and/or an assembly course to complete the build of your bike.

Bike Radar followed one of our courses -  the write-up and images showing almost step-by-step the processes invloved can be seen here.

One of our clients wrote a blog during his course and is planning to ride his finished bike from Rome to London during June 2013, you can follow his progress here.

Other examples of bikes and frames from our courses can be seen on the Bicycles by Design Facebook Page.

Availability and booking

Please contact us to discuss suitable dates and availability - we are quite flexible as tuition is 1:1 and there are two of us that teach. Let us know which dates work for you and we'll see if we can fit you in that week.  We will hold an initial date for you for 7 days to allow you to make any arrangements. A firm date is only secured with a deposit of £300.

For more information drop us an email of give us a call. Below are some frequently asked questions that may help you.

FAQs

How much does it cost? For a 5-day course, Monday to Friday, £850 plus materials.

What materials do I need to build a frame? A tube-set, lugs, bottom bracket, frame ends, forks, fork crown and steerer (if required), braze-ons and bosses for the type of frame you are building, flux, brazing rod, silver solder, gas and air. We will discuss your exact requirements and then order or supply these for you. To ensure compatibility of all frame parts we encourage you not to buy these from other suppliers.

And how much do the materials cost? That depends on the tubing and style, but from approximately £170 for a Reynolds 725 fixie or approximately £280 for a Reynolds 853 race frame.

Can I build in Reynolds 953, 931 or Columbus XCr? These require very advanced techniques and skills. Only if you can convince us that you have the appropriate skills and experience, would we consider this request.

Can I build a lug-less frame? This requires very advanced techniques and skills and is quite time-consuming. Only if you can convince us that you have the appropriate skills and experience, would we consider this request.

What about lug-less 953? Shall we learn to walk before we can run? This is outside the scope of a week's course, see points above.

Can I build a tandem frame? This is definitely a two week build-time due to being lug-less, the sheer number of joints and is not for the faint-hearted. It requires very advanced techniques and skills and is time-consuming. Only if you can convince us that you have appropriate skills and experience, would we consider this request.

Does the course give me a qualification? As yet there is no UK qualification in bicycle frame building. You will have been taught the basic skills by an experienced frame-builder, but you will require a lot more skills and experience before you could consider becoming a frame builder by yourself.

Could I set myself up as a frame builder after the course? Ask this question after you have done the course.

So what do I get at the end of the course? A rideable frame that will require painting, photos of you building it, some great memories and a notebook full of notes and techniques describing how to build a frame. We provide the initial outline of the techniques and the course structure to you once you have paid your deposit.

Do you provide accommodation for the course? We give you lots for recommendations of good local B&Bs, hotels or campsites that you can book yourself but we don't do the booking for you.

Terms & Conditions

• To secure a place on a course a non-refundable deposit of £300 is payable at the time of booking.
• The deposit is non-refundable if you cancel. We will always try to accommodate a change of date within a reasonable time scale. If this is not possible, then you may have to wait longer for suitable date.
• The balance of the course fee must be paid at least 4 weeks before the agreed start date of the course. This is non-refundable if you cancel. We will always try to accommodate a change of date within a reasonable time scale. If this is not possible, then you may have to wait longer for suitable date.
• If booking a place within 4 weeks of the start date of a course the full fee must be paid in time of booking. This is non-refundable. We will always try to accommodate a change of date within a reasonable time scale. If this is not possible, then you may have to wait longer for suitable date.
• We will make every effort to accommodate requests for specific material choices. However, we reserve the right to substitute materials and parts of an equal or superior specification, if the original choice is not available.
• The material cost will be calculated once a frame design has been agreed. If there are any variation in the agreed material specification, or requirement for additional materials during the course, these must be paid for by the end of the course.
• The course fee covers tuition, use of the workshop equipment and safety equipment.
• We will ensure that every effort will be made so that course participants produce frames of the highest quality. We cannot offer a warranty on the frames that you make.