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Handmade Bicycle Paean

Speaker
Robert Kieffer

Affiliation
The Glorious and Subversive Culture of Irrational, Irreverent, Irrepresable Bicyclists

URL
http://www.broofa.com/

Biography
Mr. Kieffer has an irrational passion for bicycles. Although a life-long cyclist, this passion really took hold 12 years ago when his Bridgestone XO-3 bicycle was stolen. In his quest to find a comparable replacement he found himself disappointed with the inadequate offerings from production bike makers, and drawn into the fascinating world of handmade bicycles. Eventually this led to his attending the United Bicycle Institute (UBI) framebuilding class, where he designed and built his own mountain bike, which he now rides on the trails of Central Oregon.

Description
There is a long and storied tradition to the art of building bicycles by hand. It is a profession associated with some of the most important figures in history; Leonardo De Vinci invented a bike made entirely of wood; the Wright Brothers were bike builders before they were aviators. Yet today's bicycle industry is dominated by a handful of companies that churn out millions of mediocre bikes every year, none of which reflect any of the artistic passion or technical innovation that has defined this industry through the ages. Fortunately in small workshops and garages around our country the art of building bicycles by hand is not only still alive, it is thriving! Today's independent framebuilders are pushing the limits of what is possible with modern technology and are rediscovering the techniques and materials of this trade's venerable past. They are creating masterpieces of engineering and artistry. This presentation will explore a bit of the bicycle's history and provide a visual tour of some of the more amazing work being done today. It is hoped the audience will come away with a new appreciation for what it means to "build a bike".

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