The Inside Line: Frank The Welder 23

A lesson in history and inspiration with one of mountain biking's most seasoned makers.

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1/27/2019 2:20pm
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23 comments

View replies to: The Inside Line: Frank The Welder

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Gnarnia420
2 years ago
FTW story:
Back in '08 at the US Champs race at Mt. Snow:
During my race run, there was a small drop into a berm as you exited or entered the first woods. Being a wet weekend, I missed the exit rut of the drop and slid bar-first into a tree, snapping my rear brake lever off. I waited for the next rider to pass, then pulled back on track and chased him down. Surprisingly, I was riding really well w/o a rear brake and ended up passing the rider on "Slick Rock Hwy". Exiting the last woods there was a sloppy S-turn and small creek crossing before it opened up to the finish. I tried a tree pinch to cut the S-turn, which worked, but sent me into the creek crossing way too fast and w/ no rear brake I couldn't slow down in time, looped out in the middle of the creek landing back first in the mud and water. Then I heard a slow clap from a single spectator. The clap was made by hands that sounded leathery, solid, and wise. Eventurally, the clap grew louder as more and more people joined in, and I had a steady, albeit slow, rhythm to guide me down the remained 30-seconds of my run. Seriously, it sounded like 100 people slow clapping in unison.
Thanks to FTW for starting that clap. I never forget that run.
Also, the R9 was a bad mofo. Loved that bike.
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Bobodaclown
2 years ago
Looking forward to this one, I listened to another podcast with FTW a while back and it was super good. I have always always wanted a frame made by him.
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StainedSilver
5 years ago
Hands down one of the best Vital Podcasts to-date. Such a charming guy and artisan. I'm in the age bracket that really identified with the impact his Spooky Metalheads and Sinister bikes had on the scene. Never was lucky enough to own either but the style is in my DNA. Such a great listen.
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peecee
5 years ago
Cannondale or Specialized should buy the VST linkage from Frank install a idler pulley lets make DH Mountain biking great again like the late 90's era
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jcook
5 years ago
Man this makes me miss my old r9... a Huck-to-flat sofa like no other.

Whatever happened to Sinister anyways? I heard a few versions but I’m not sure how believable they were
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bizutch
5 years ago
Going to play the audio tonight. Ton of respect for him as a human being. That he's never achieved actual financial stardom is a shame. His name alone should be worth 7 figures because of the mystique that comes along with it. I will always credit him as being the only person intelligent enough to do the fork bump stops the right way the first time on the Motorhead.
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metadave
5 years ago
Really enjoyed that. I remember being 14 and seeing avalanche equipped spooky's all over the internet and drooling. Also the proto when Frank released it and waiting for more info to drop. I waited for a year and nothing, it was so sad for it not to happen. It's like the silencer. I'd be interested to hear more about what he touched on with the patent issues he had. First about his name not being on it and then having to buy it back.
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jonkranked
5 years ago
always great to hear from Frank. one of the friendliest people I've ever met from the MTB community. The first time I ever met Frank was in the plattekill parking lot, probably '05 or '06, me and some buddies had uh, obtained, some logs from the woods after riding to make a bonfire but were only splitting with an ax. This sorta crunchy lookin dude comes over asks if we need a hand, and produces a chainsaw that looked like it could have been used in a horror movie from his van. Turned out to be Frank. Good times.
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profro
5 years ago
I got the privilege to hang out beside Frank at a Whiteface 5k race around 2007ish. I borrowed some of his tools and chatted with him as we worked on our bikes the night before the race. An incredible human.
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Heath_Franklin
5 years ago
I worked with FTW at Yeti and in AZ when we left. He was and still is the most real human around. Always said"I just want to build bikes".
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Big Bird
5 years ago
That was great to be able to finally "Meet." the legend through the wonders of modern technology. I've heard legend of Frank since I first bought one of those stems. You seem to be just as I'd imagined you. A bit shy, very thoughtful, dedicated and a proper tool collector. Just like every other frame builder that I've worked with. Including me of course.
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bicycle019
5 years ago
I sold and raced a bunch of Spooky bikes (Junebug and Darkside) back in the 90's. Pure East Coast geo, twitchy, but fast as hell. Still have a bunch of Spooky stickers in a shoe box somewhere.
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Stupid Sexy Flanders
5 years ago
I have an old Spooky Bandwagon frame I got back in 1999 or 2000. I don't remember exactly. Not sure if Frank welded those frames but I remember the Spooky brand and FTW being so awesome back then. Still to this day even.
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lamaybird23
5 years ago
So great to see this. Got me missing my R9 now.
Franks bikes gave me such a confidence boost.
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Roots_rider
5 years ago
Awesome to listen to this! As someone who quit high school to learn how to weld, is obsessed with bikes, and has multiple jobs solely based around building things with my hands, Frank has not been a small influence to me, haha. Cool to hear his whole story in one place.
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VTsession
5 years ago
Awesome pics and word. FTW is a legend representing the Vermont bike scene.

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