Winter Bicycles

[Eric Estlund]

While I've been away- new house, new shop and new work to do!

[Eric Estlund]

Finally pushing brass in the not-quite-finished-but-can't-wait-forever shop!



Feels good.

[conorb]

Welcome Back!



Conor

[Eric Estlund]

Paolo, a customer in Norway, just sent photos of his Kastle with his new Winter stem.
Thanks, Paolo!

[Eric Estlund]

NAHBS coverage from Day One:

Road Bike Review Video

NAHBS Blog

And a few shots on Prolly is not Probably.

If anyone happens upon media coverage or photo links, please email them to me.

Day two, here we come!

[Eric Estlund]

More NAHBS Coverage!

Dirt Rag Blog

Urban Velo Gallery



Thanks to everyone involved with putting NAHBS on, covering the event, exhibiting and especially attending. It's always great to see so many locals and travelers willing to come out and see what we do- I very much appreciate the effort and the interest!

[syntax22]

Well Eric,

Since you own and build Winter Bicycles, I wondered if you knew anything at all about the cycling culture in Anchorage, Alaska. May move there for work in the next few months

[Eric Estlund]

Sorry Syntax, other then the Iditabike events I can't say I know much about what goes on up there. Winter cycling in the balmy northwest is a bit different then the arctic uber-nothwest.

The root of the name stems from my appreciation of bikes that are part of one's daily cycling- bikes for all seasons. Despite the name I don't have much experience with snow bikes (rain and slush bikes, on the other hand...).

[Eric Estlund]

I just stumbled upon the studio shot's from NAHBS-

Thanks, NAHBS!

[WadePatton]

oh my, glamour shots!

Fine to shake your hand finally Eric. carry on!

[Eric Estlund]

Thanks Wade- it was fun getting face time with so many on-line people!

[Eric Estlund]

From my blog

Josh from CommuteByBike.com contacted me before NAHBS to set up an interview- he found my bikes and was excited about my take on commuting bikes and advocacy.

We had some technical difficulties with the first video, but he was kind enough to stop by day three and re-shoot. I'm a little tired (the gesticulation is a dead give away, I try to keep that under control) but I think I stayed articulate.

Give it a view for some tidbits on my thoughts on bike design, the industry, advocacy and how I work with clients to meet their specific need.

[Eric Estlund]

I realized I haven't posted in the blog for a couple of weeks- here is a bit of a mega update.

Bikes, bikes, bikes

[hobbit]

Eric,
In one of the videos on Road Bike Review you talked a bit about a track bike you built as an experiment with undersized tubes and a different seat stay arrangement. It looked like a really cool bike and I like the concept of scaling the bike down so you could get a better idea of what a larger rider feels. Have the things you learned influenced your designs, especially for larger riders? Are there any other experients in design you've done and don't mind talking about? Thanks and congrats on the new place!
Sven

[Eric Estlund]

Hi Sven-

Thanks for taking a look at that video. I believe that was from the San Diego show in 2009. That video and a few others can be found here.

That bike was quite a bit of fun for me- I rode it pretty regularly until the parts were cannibalized for another project. It looks like it may be headed for a permanent home in Portland. That bike really just helped confirm most of what I "knew" about the influence of tube diameter on stiffness, but helped add to my vocabulary on "feel". "Feel" seems to be the biggest variable, and it's one of the things I take pride in helping translate for clients. To answer your question about larger riders- this bike, as well as counterparts in standard, partially over sized, over sized, OOS and fricken mega oos all give me "soft" terms to work through a persons current experience and help guide me in a direction that meets their wants and needs for bike feel.

While I haven't repeated that bike, the concepts I was playing with (specific tube diameters, bb height, relative chain stay to seat stay stiffness, laminate work, seat masts etc) are all things that I feel I have a better understanding of having built myself a series of very different set ups. On an aesthetic level that bike helped kick me over the edge with the my "standard" laminate treatment. Each one is different and specific to the bike and the "flavor" the client is looking for, but it's safe to say that there is a theme with the look.

My experimenting, or at least new-process learning, happens on bikes that stay in house. New materials, fillers, rack designs, etc happen with bikes I can track over time. The racks are great example of this- I built my wife one of my feather racks and then let her abuse it daily for a couple of years. Feeling confident about how that product would survive in the real world I decided to offer them. I'm building myself another test rig to play with some new material, experiment with filler options and to get a realistic full picture of the working procedure and costs before deciding if that is something I'll offer in the future (so far, so good).

In general I try to design bikes that are "lifetime", or at least long term bikes, so I don't experiment on customer bikes. As is the nature of what I do- each one is unique, and sometimes I need to approach situations in new ways, but it is done with a methodology and "tools" that are practiced and proven.

Thanks, Sven- let me know if I can expand on any of those.

[hobbit]

Thanks for the response Eric. I always enjoy looking at what builders make for themselves to ride and test ideas. Keep up the great work.
Sven

[Eric Estlund]

Two boxes to Japan, one to Iowa:


It's very rewarding, humbling, and always a little amazing at how far word travels about what one guy in a little frame shop is up to. Thanks!

[e-RICHIE]

Two boxes to Japan, one to Iowa:

It's very rewarding, humbling, and always a little amazing at how far word travels about what one guy in a little frame shop is up to. Thanks!

that's rawesome eric atmo.
how do you handle oversea invoices?
bank wire? cash? other??

[Eric Estlund]

So far most have chosen Paypal. I also offer bank transfer.

[Eric Estlund]

The truck is loaded and I hit the road tomorrow- see you all in San Diego!