This is the final installment in our Race to NAHBS! series, we will have news from the trenches in Austin, Texas throughout the weekend. Today we have handmade-heavy-hitter Calfee Design. From bamboo bikes, to S & S couplered carbon frames, to Di2 bikes with custom batteries housed in the seatpost; Calfee is one of the most innovative frame builders out there.
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?
CD: We’ve got a bunch of new stuff: Internal Di2 bikes, all carbon custom BarStems, a new Adventure bike and a secret project bike.
BR: What about the booth, anything extra-special-crazy in the booth department?
CD: Heavily tattooed crowd control staff.
BR: What do you see as the hot trend at NAHBS this year?
CD: Tall bikes
BR: What is the lamest frame building trend ever?
CD: Trendiness.
BR: What is the most challenging or horrible thing you’ve had to do as a frame builder.
CD: Abuse testing the first carbon fiber tandem (and first tandem rated fork) with the customer as stoker.
BR: What is your favorite type of bike to build?
CD: Art bikes.
BR: As a frame builder is there anything you absolutely will not to? Like a not-without-a-gun-to-my-head type thing?
CD: Build unsafe bikes. Otherwise, bring it on!
BR: Sum up your entire bicycle building philosophy in one word or less. Kidding. How about three words?
CD: Quality, innovation, fun.
BR: If you weren’t building bikes, what would you be doing?
CD: Building aircraft.
BR: Who is your bike-building idol? Who do you look up to?
CD: Bruce Gordon
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.
CD: Don Walker, especially after he’s had a few drinks!
For more information visit the Calfee Design website.
And check out Calfee’s Facebook page for up to the minute news.
