Gallery: In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
- By Emily Zinn
- Published Feb. 18, 2013
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
Denver-based Connor Wood Bicycles is in its first year of business building hand-carved 29er cruisers. The flagship model, shown here, is called the Woody 29er Scorcher and is a back-to-basics singlespeed ride with coaster brakes. Frame builder and owner Chris Connor wanted to maximize the potential of the wood with sweeping forms that he couldn't achieve with most metal frames, both for the hand-carved aesthetic and the ride quality to dampen vibrations. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
When we stopped by his shop, Connor was working on this frame for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS). Gates belt drive and internally-routed disc brakes will feature. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
Connor's bikes typically run a two-speed Sturmey Archer hub with internal gearing for two ratios and a coaster brake. This bike will have a Gates belt drive and a singlespeed freewheel hub with front and rear disc brakes. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
Marine spar varnish provides a finish with enough elasticity to protect the wood from the elements as it swells and shrinks. Connor claims his bikes are no less usable outside in any condition than a metal bike. The bottom bracket is custom machined. The internal routing will feed through the plugged hole. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
Connor starts a bike with thick ash that he rips into strips. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
The strips go into this steam box to make them workable. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
Once steamed, the strips are bent over a form like this handlebar form. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
After shaping the plies, Connor epoxies a layer of Kevlar between each for durability. It isn't military-grade Kevlar, but it is extremely strong and non-brittle. Kevlar is used between plies for products that are meant to never fail, like in marine and aircraft uses. In fact, an unshaped handlebar only deflects about 1/4 inch under the weight of a car. Even without Kevlar, plies laid on a cross-grain are incredibly strong. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
Connor hand-machines custom dropouts with a three-part system so that a mechanic can tension the belt drive while maintaining a set distance from the brake rotor. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
Connor makes a point not to use computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining for a more organic and truly handcrafted feel to each bike, giving each its own personality. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
Connor follows these patterns with a router for initial shaping. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
He then lays down this template and uses a router to hollow out the inside to lighten the bike, keeping extra material at joints and naturally weaker points. The frame alone is about 6.5 pounds. A medium frame built up with a coaster brake comes to about 25 pounds. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
According to Connor, 31.8mm stems make an ideal diameter for wood. The bars taper to 24mm at the ends for installing brake levers. He pairs a 650b fork with the 29er wheels to maximize standover height. The head badge is laser-cut mahogany adhered with automotive-grade adhesive. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
Connor gets high-end custom coaster brake wheelsets from Coasties. While he will happily build bikes with brake levers, Connor's philosophy is that "simplicity is king." Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
You can see the plies layered with Kevlar at the ends of the bars. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
A walnut strip down the middle of the Woody 29er Scorcher adds a flash of color. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
The Brooks saddle definitely plays into the aesthetic. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
In the shop at Connor Wood Bicycles
Connor's brother is a professional guitar builder for whom he worked in New Jersey. After years of working in furniture, Connor became nostalgic for items that consumers can take into the world and use. "When you play a guitar, it takes on a new life, whereas furniture just sits there," Connor explained. Building wooden bicycles "suddenly became obvious" as a perfect application of his various skills. The frame I rode was surprisingly smooth on a bumpy Denver street. Photo: Emily Zinn | VeloNews.com
FILED UNDER: Bikes and Tech / Gallery TAGS: Connor Wood Bicycles / Handmade / NAHBS / North American Handmade Bicycle Show
Emily Zinn
Emily Zinn spent her infancy in the back of a women's team van while the team built wheels around her. She spent part of her pre-teen years in Europe following the major European mountain, road and gravity races and touring cycling product factories. College was the first time she lived in a home without a frame building shop in her garage or basement. Her favorite style of riding is getting lost in singletrack trail networks and taking her time finding her way back.
