The Bike Builder Columnist Jim Kish has been building custom frames and bikes for nearly a quarter century. His shop, Kish Fabrication, is located in Carrboro, N.C. Jim can be reached at 805-574-0414 or via his website, www.kishbike.com. Jim writes an occasional column for RBR centered on the topic of bike building. If you have a specific question or aspect of frame building … [Read more...] about Jim Kish
Titanium
Jim Kish, Bike Builder: The RBR Interview
Jim Kish has been building frames and bikes for nearly a quarter century. About three years ago, he set up shop in North Carolina after moving around the country, honing his craft as one of the pre-eminent titanium builders in the industry. RBR’s Paul Smith caught up with Kish at his shop, Kish Fabrication, in Carrboro, N.C., where he hand-builds each custom bicycle to … [Read more...] about Jim Kish, Bike Builder: The RBR Interview
Steel, Titanium, Aluminum, Carbon Fiber? Which Bicycle Frame Material Should I Ride?
Question: I'm turning 50 and my wife is buying me my dream bike. I'm currently riding an old Litespeed Classic with a Campy Record triple. I'm not a racer but enjoy long rides, including Paris-Brest-Paris. So which frame material should I get? I like my titanium bike but am interested in carbon. However, I heard that it can be fragile (a "one-crash" bike). Also, because … [Read more...] about Steel, Titanium, Aluminum, Carbon Fiber? Which Bicycle Frame Material Should I Ride?
Is a Steel Frame a Bad Choice for a Road Bike?
Question: A year ago, I bought a custom steel frame equipped with Ksyrium Elite wheels and Campy components. Now when I go on group rides, other guys tell me I should have gotten a titanium, aluminum or carbon-fiber frame instead. Was steel the wrong choice? -- Jean-Claude D. … [Read more...] about Is a Steel Frame a Bad Choice for a Road Bike?