HT Lug brazing POV – YiPsan from YiPsan on Vimeo.
Today, in our ongoing interview series: Race To NAHBS! we have Colorado-based frame builder Renold Yip of YiPsan Bicycles. YipSan was the winner of Best City Bicycle Award and the People’s Choice Award at NAHBS 2010. Considering how unique and beautiful YiPsan’s bikes are, it is no wonder why.
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?
RY: No secret, I will be showing a city bike (a companion to last year’s Sunflower bike) with a front rack that transform; a randonneur bike with a front bag and rack combo that will stay together without the use of a decaleur; and possibly a mountain bike with bilam construction, a fat front and rohloff drivetrain.
BR: What about the booth, anything extra-special-crazy in the booth department?
RY: Nothing special, adding some lighting this year to better show off the hard work of my painter.
BR: What do you see as the hot trend at NAHBS this year?
RY: Trend is to show what you do and are passionate about, not what others are doing.
BR: What is the lamest frame building trend ever?
RY: Tell customer they know about fit and can get it right.
BR: What is the most challenging or horrible thing you’ve had to do as a frame builder.
RY: Inform customers of hiccup / delays along the process.
BR: What is your favorite type of bike to build?
RY: Randonneur bike, go anywhere bike that can be used rain or shine, paved or dirt.
BR: As a frame builder is there anything you absolutely will not to? Like a not-without-a-gun-to-my-head type thing?
RY: I would not build something I have no idea how to achieve, or do not see it being a good idea for the customer.
BR: Sum up your entire bicycle building philosophy in one word or less. Kidding. How about three words?
RY: Fit for purpose.
BR: If you weren’t building bikes, what would you be doing?
RY: No idea, maybe trying to get a job at BikeRumor.
BR: Who is your bike-building idol? Who do you look up to?
RY: Darrell McCullough of Llewellyn Custom Bikes and Peter Weigle.
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.
RY: Well, it has to be Don, anyone of them.
