I'm fairly new to biking, but after fixing two used bikes bought in Amsterdam over the past year, I think I've got the bug. So much so, that I would like to attempt to assemble my own in the coming year. However, being a novice I was hoping that their might be some good resources on how to read bike frame charts. And what about AutoCAD for designing custom frames? Are there any online courses I could take? I am not in a hurry. I'd rather spend 6-12 months learning and picking parts than jump in spending four figures only to find out it isn't for me.
There's a local workshop here in Amsterdam that rents out benches to the public and also offers courses in 'fietsmaking' - bikemaking as well as welding. I'm not sure what the bikemaking course entails, but hopefully it's more than just adjusting and replacing wires. I will inquire about this. I'm afraid that welding will only cover steel and I think I would like to have my frame and fork made of titanium.
I think I'd like to go for something along the lines of a gravel-bike. Comfortable on cobblestone, decent on long distances with the possibility to dismount everything for a fast ride and mount a bunch of bags for a camping trip. In addition, I have fond memories from my adolescence of biking through the forests and crossing creeks with my bike on my shoulder, something I think I could do with a gravel bike.
Practically speaking, one obvious choice would be to go to a specialist bikeshop and try out different bikes. However, going in there with the firm intention to not buy anything, I would feel bad for wasting their time. That is exacerbated by the looming viral threat that has defined 2020.
There's a local workshop here in Amsterdam that rents out benches to the public and also offers courses in 'fietsmaking' - bikemaking as well as welding. I'm not sure what the bikemaking course entails, but hopefully it's more than just adjusting and replacing wires. I will inquire about this. I'm afraid that welding will only cover steel and I think I would like to have my frame and fork made of titanium.
I think I'd like to go for something along the lines of a gravel-bike. Comfortable on cobblestone, decent on long distances with the possibility to dismount everything for a fast ride and mount a bunch of bags for a camping trip. In addition, I have fond memories from my adolescence of biking through the forests and crossing creeks with my bike on my shoulder, something I think I could do with a gravel bike.
Practically speaking, one obvious choice would be to go to a specialist bikeshop and try out different bikes. However, going in there with the firm intention to not buy anything, I would feel bad for wasting their time. That is exacerbated by the looming viral threat that has defined 2020.