With NAHBS looming just a couple weeks away, we here at BikeRumor feel bad about bugging all these busy frame builders with our 11 silly questions. Well, not like kicking puppies bad. Basically, if something doesn’t make us feel kicking puppies bad, we’re going to keep on doing it. And for the record, kicking puppies makes us feel really, really bad. Kicking puppies is NOT OK. (Unless they’re zombie puppies; then it’s 100% OK to kick them. Kicking zombie-anythings is perfectly acceptable.)
And we’re sure Andrew Watson is ecstatic that this is what he gets for an intro to his interview — kicking zombie puppies. Who knows, maybe he is ecstatic in the non-ironic way. Maybe he’ll even name his “No Name” bike the “Zombie Puppy.” Stranger things have happened…in David Lynch movies.
11 NAHBS-Related Questions:
BR: Are your plans for NAHBS a secret, or can you tell us a little bit about what you’re showing?
AW: I’m bringing a small quiver of complete bikes that represent what I actually build on a regular basis–one road, one cyclocross, one mountain, and one special bike that I’m looking forward to revealing at the show; it’s not just a show bike, just the newest rig to my lineup.
BR: What about the booth, anything extra-special-crazy in the booth department?
AW: I know I’m not alone among frame-builders with great respect for the process, so I’m going to put up some photos of my shop, projects in progress, and bikes I’ve built but won’t be bringing down to Austin. There might also be one or two photos of Watson Cycles in action–bikes that have made it to different landscapes around New England.
BR: What do you see as the hot trend at NAHBS this year?
AW: I’m thinking comradery. It’s going to be an awesome year with so many like-minded people coming together with a common interest. It’s going to be a big show and I can’t wait to connect with some other builders and maybe even hear some good stories.
BR: What is the lamest frame building trend ever?
AW: I hesitate to call anything on a bicycle lame, but personally I’m a big fan of more simple bikes, No electronics, batteries, or hydraulics. But that’s just me.
BR: What is the most challenging or horrible thing you’ve had to do as a frame builder.
AW: Horrible things get blocked out of memory. But I do find many aspects of frame building challenging, that’s what makes it fun. Whether I’m making a new jig or a new head tube badge there is always a challenge.
BR: What is your favorite type of bike to build?
AW: My Storm King, it’s a cyclocross touring rig I designed for my good buddy and me to do long distance, multi-day brewery tours both on and off road around New England. Whenever I build one all want to do is get back out there.
BR: As a frame builder is there anything you absolutely will not to? Like a not-without-a-gun-to-my-head type thing?
AW: A bike with an integrated gun maybe? Maybe a hunter with a DUI would want one.
BR: Sum up your entire bicycle building philosophy in one word or less. Kidding. How about three words?
AW: Function, Respect, Enjoyment
BR: If you weren’t building bikes, what would you be doing?
AW: I would probably want to be a ceramicist, I like throwing on the wheel. So yeah, I’d still be broke and riding my bike.
BR: Who is your bike-building idol? Who do you look up to?
AW: I think I’d have to say Ted Wojcik. Nuff said
BR: This one is important. Of the people showing at NAHBS, who is the last frame builder, you would ever want to fight? Like physically.
AW: I’m not scared, I’ll fight all you. Except maybe Bruce Gordon, I’m pretty sure he could clean my clock.
Visit Watson Cycles’ website for more information.
