We teach you to build in steel and we offer a choice of Reynolds and Columbus tube sets. (You can't build in Reynolds 953).

Tandems, Recumbents, BMX and Trikes are beyond the scope of the 5 day course.

The frames will be constructed either using lugs or using a fillet brazing technique.

Recommended tube sets for frame type

Touring frames
Reynolds 631 or Columbus Life (standard course)
Reynolds 853 or Columbus Spirit (advanced course)

Road Frames
Reynolds 631 or Columbus Life (standard course)
Reynolds 853 or Columbus Spirit (advanced course)

Track frames
Reynolds 631or Columbus Spirit

Mountain Bike frames
Reynolds 631 or Columbus Life (standard course)
Reynolds 853 (advanced course)

29er Mountain bike frames
Columbus 29'er

The cost of the 5 day course is £900 +materials and consumables (from £180). Fork building day is £165. Included in this price is all tuition, notes to read before you start (on receipt of deposit), use of all tools and equipment and a plentiful supply of tea, cakes and biscuits. Accommodation is not included in the cost of the course, we will send a list of local B&B's, Hotels and Campsites when you place your booking.

A £250 deposit is required to secure your place.

The course runs between 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. Fork building is on Saturdays from 9am-5pm.

Although during the course you will be cleaning and preparing your frame ready for painting, for some additional time will be needed. The day following the course completion date is designated as a cost free frame-prep day

If you have an existing bike that is comfortable and you want to recreate it, either look online for the manufactures geometry tables, or bring it along and we can measure the angles and tubes.

If you have seen a frame you want or you have seen what you want but want it done a little bit differently we can help.

If you don't know what you want then don't despair we can help you through the design process on the course.

If you do not know what size your bike should be we can size you up on the first day of the 5 day course. The 10 day course has a bike fitting module as part of the course.

Tools and Safety
workshop tour of the tools
safety, what you should and shouldn't be doing in the workshop

Tubing
how to decipher the tubing specifications on the data sheets
what are single, double, triple butting and heat treatments
which main tube, seat stays, seat tube designs to choose
tubing preparation

Brazing and Welding Methods
explanation of different techniques
brazing techniques, torch control

Equipment Setup
learn how the jig works
get all the tools you need to hand

Alignment
how to get everything straight and true

Inspection
check to see if every thing has been brazed correctly
cleaning up the frame
finishing the frame ready for painting
(there maybe some parts of your frame that will benefit from extra cleaning and filing after the course has finished)

Week 1

Day 1
Workshop setup
Tooling and jigs
Oxygen and Acetylene safety practices and setup

understanding frame geometries
bike fitting techniques
frame drawing using CAD

Day 2-4
Mitres by hand and machine
Lug preparation
Lug shaping and cutting

Brazing techniques
fillet brazing
lug brazing

Day 5
Understanding tubing types
brazing practice with different tubes
brazing practice with different bronze rods
brazing practice with different silver rods

Week 2

You will now have all the skills required to build a frame under our supervision.
Put into practice everything that you have learnt in week one to build your own frame

Fork Building

We offer a 1 day fork building course for students who wish to add a lugged fork to their frame. You can come back at any time and complete your forks or add it onto the end of the course.

to book either phone or click on the link below to book online. To secure you place the course a £250 deposit is required

Phone 01227 479643 to book today

Want to come back and try something different or need workshop time?

Ask Julie about return discounts

julie@downlandcycles.co.uk

Have you graduated from our course and want to build you own frame in your own time, then why not hire the workshop

Under 16 and want to build a frame then bring your own adult along to share your frame building experience or to build a frame each

Build share - 2 people 1 frame = 1 course fee

Build each - 2 people 2 frames = 2 course fees

Accommodation

We have shared bunk house accommodation for students. Price is £38 per night, this includes breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, afternoon cakes and a cooked evening meal.

There is good local riding; both on and off road, local pubs serving some of Kent's finest ales.

If you fancy a day off from riding or just want to relax stay in and sit in the garden and watch the buzzards, woodpeckers and owls that's fine.

TV with Freeview and wireless internet is also supplied.

you have spent 5 days lovingly building your frame, are you sure you want to hand it over to someone else to finish it off.

Here at Downland Cycles we run other courses which will allow you to build up your own bike.
Tag on to the end of the course a 1 day bike building course. During the frame building course we can source the components that you wish to build your bike with, we have an agreement with Shimano to get you a good price on Shimano groupsets on any frame built at Downland Cycles. Campagnolo and Sram are also available at competitive rates.
Need wheels, we can teach you how to build yourself a set.

Anything is possible please feel free to ask about any requirements that you may have.

*This course was a steep learning curve for me, but it’s testament to the
teaching that I didn’t realise quite how steep until the end of the course,
looking back on what I’d achieved. I came along with no brazing experience
and little knowledge of frame design. I left with a custom-fitted,
lightweight touring frame that I’d built myself under Martyn’s expert
guidance. If you want to experience the sense of achievement that comes
with building your own bike from scratch, to your own specifications, I
would strongly recommend this course. Just don’t be surprised if you get
bitten by the frame-building bug and are already planning your next build by
the time you get home!*
All the best
Mike

Hi Martyn.
Just want to say thank you very much and that I had a great time this week.
You are a very good teacher.
I went back to work this arvo and on my way home tonight I was wishing I had
your class to look forward to tomorrow.

I want to jump in the deep end and buy the equipment and start having a play
by myself.
Are you able to suggest any suppliers and also a list of equipment that I
should purchase?
Many thanks.
Ben.

The Story of My Bike That I Made Myself

Owen Byrne, April 2013

Terms & Conditions

1. To secure a place on a course a non-refundable deposit of £250 is required at the time of booking.

2. Deposits are non-refundable, we will try to accommodate a change of date, providing this is agreed at least 12 weeks before the original course start date.

3. 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.

4. If booking a place within 4 weeks of the start date the course fee must be paid in full at the time of booking. This is non-refundable.

5. We will make every effort to accommodate requests for specific material choices. We reserve the right to substitute material of an equal or superior specification, if the original choice is not available.

6. The material cost will be calculated after a frame design has been agreed. Any variation in the agreed material specification, or requirement for additional materials, must be paid for before the end of the course.

7. The course fee covers tuition, use of the workshop equipment and safety equipment.

8. Every effort will be made to ensure that course participants produce frames of the highest quality. These frames cannot be covered by any warranty.