"We often revel in the artistic craftsmanship of hand-built bikes. For most, owning one is like owning an original Picasso, only you also get to ride it. Many of us will settle for reading about handmade frames and bikes online or attending events showcasing them. And very few of us will actually attempt to build one. Surely, the know-how aspect is a huge barrier, as many may not have a mind bent toward frame building."
"It's been 10 years since I took UBI's (now shuttered) framebuilding course here in Portland. In that time, the scene in Portland and beyond has changed significantly. I've observed what was once a fire slowly burn itself out,"
"I'm more convinced than ever, however, that there's a strong enthusiasm and curiosity for framebuilding still out there. The strongest part of a fire is so often its embers; I'm excited to stoke the framebuilding coals a bit here in town. Attending UBI truly changed my life; now I want to give others a similar, Firsthand experience within this unique craft."
Firsthand Framebuilding School opened in Portland to teach hand-built bicycle frame construction to beginners and allow experienced builders to refine skills. Founder Chris Blandford observed a decline in local framebuilding education since his 10-year-old UBI course and identified an educational gap for would-be builders. Blandford intends to rekindle enthusiasm for framebuilding by providing practical training, mentoring, and a community workspace. Blandford credits his UBI experience with changing his life and aims to offer a similar hands-on experience through Firsthand. The school occupies an 8,000-square-foot space dedicated to framebuilding education and craft.
Read at Bikerumor
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