27/04/2026
Udo is 57. An architect. He runs his own office.
Most days, he plans, coordinates, makes decisions.
In the framebuilding course, all of that falls away.
He becomes a beginner again.
—
A few years ago, Udo and his partner gave up their car.
Since then, the bike isn’t for sport.
It’s part of everyday life.
Year-round.
To work.
In all conditions.
Reliable.
—
When it was time for a new bike, the options were obvious.
A well-built production bike.
Maybe something custom from a builder.
But that wasn’t the point.
It felt too passive.
—
In 2024, he visited Bespoked.
No real plan. Just curiosity.
Custom frames. Endless details.
Components far beyond standard production.
New ideas too. Titanium lugs, 3D printed.
A lot of inspiration.
Very little clarity.
—
The shift came later.
In a podcast episode of “Wundersame Fahrradwelt” by Johanna Jahnke, someone talked about a framebuilding course.
And a thought appeared:
Maybe I don’t have to choose one.
Maybe I can build it.
—
Udo isn’t starting from zero.
He trained as a carpenter before studying architecture.
He knows how to design.
He knows how to learn.
And still, this meant starting over.
Not knowing.
Asking questions.
Learning step by step.
—
The idea for the bike was clear.
Not a performance machine.
A companion.
For everyday use. In all weather.
Light enough for long distances.
Maybe a brevet. Maybe a bikepacking trip.
One bike.
—
What stayed with him from that week aren’t big milestones.
It’s the quiet moments.
The first look at the tubeset.
The color of the silver as it flows.
The smell.
A file in his hand.
Memories coming back.
—
Then, a moment.
The frame comes out of the jig.
Something that only existed in his head is suddenly real.
—
Later, doubt.
Then rhythm.
Material that starts to respond.
Transitions that soften.
Surfaces that change with the light.
Steel and silver working together.
—
Now, the bike is finished.
For the moment, it almost feels too special to ride.
But that will change.
The first brevet is already booked.
—
“An example of self-efficacy,” Udo says.
Not because he did everything alone.
But because he was part of it.
With guidance.
With materials.
With tools and knowledge from different directions.
And still—
with his own hands.
—
Since then, he looks at bikes differently.
Not as products.
But as the result of decisions.
Material. Process. Hands.
And maybe that’s the point.
—
If this resonates with you, you can find more out about the framebuilding course here: https://bigforestframeworks.com
