Switchcraft's Brit Inspired Trail Bike From the Czech Republic
Another week, another lockdown project bike from a European shed-dweller. This time it's Jakub Junek, a frame builder from the Czech Republic and his first-ever full suspension project under his brand, Switchcraft Frames.
Junek has been building frames since 2015 when he quit a previous job due to health issues. He decided to follow his passion and went to welding classes where they were so impressed with his work ethic and motivation that they ended offered him a job of a certified welder. Since then he still works as a certified welder, and on the side has built a workshop where he builds frames.
Junek has been building frames since 2015 when he quit a previous job due to health issues. He decided to follow his passion and went to welding classes where they were so impressed with his work ethic and motivation that they ended offered him a job of a certified welder. Since then he still works as a certified welder, and on the side has built a workshop where he builds frames.
Details
Material:Chromoly steel
Travel: 130mm (140mm fork)
Wheelsize: 29"
Size: Custom
Head Angle: 66°
Seat Tube Angle: 76°
Reach: 482mm
Chainstays: 433mm
More info: @switchcraftcycles
Material:Chromoly steel
Travel: 130mm (140mm fork)
Wheelsize: 29"
Size: Custom
Head Angle: 66°
Seat Tube Angle: 76°
Reach: 482mm
Chainstays: 433mm
More info: @switchcraftcycles
Coming from a BMX background, Junek has previously built a few hardtails and road frames but now he's decided to take it a step further with this 130mm travel trail bike. He spent a year designing this frame and has been piecing it together for the past three months. He looked to the UK steel building scene for inspiration and in particular took a lot of notes from the Starling Murmur. The frame shape and single pivot suspension design are the obvious cues, but Jakub has brought his own ideas to the bike as well. For example, as he has spent most of his life on 20" wheels, simplicity and durability were high on the checklist for this bike so the main pivot is on oversized 41mm bearings and 24mm axle.
The Starling Murmur influence is obvious but there are some deviations such as the braces on the swingarm near the dropouts.
A simple single pivot did the trick for Jakub on his first full-suspension build. The leverage ratio progresses from 2.35 to 2.25 as the bike moves through its stroke.
Jakub had some experience with geometry from building his hardtail frame, but adding a linkage definitely complicates matters. He describes it as "building two different frames that have to work together." He put plenty of research in on similar bikes to find the limits and then adjusted the bike to fit his own proportions. Some key figures are a 66° head angle, 76° seat tube angle and a 482mm reach. The full geo chart is below:
Some of Jakub's bracing work at the head tube junction and on the swing arm
Fitting the gussets of the rear end with the gussets of the bottom bracket was one of the toughest parts of the build for Jakub, bu also the one he's ended up most proud of.
Jakub doesn't currently have any plans to sell this frame, however he is working towards expanding to a proper workshop with modern tooling and being able to build similar frames for other passionate riders. His dream is to focus on custom builds where he will work closely with the client on design and geometry based on their riding style and preferences. For more info, click here.
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
Holy shit
and santa frames are aloso much more expensive here i europe...
But without lifetime warranty in the frame and in the bearings.
They pedal incredibly well and arent really much heavier than a comparable alloy enduro bike.
But they're aren't any.
Am I the only one that's noticed it?