Witnessing my Bike Friday being built by hand by my Bike Friday peers.
Even prior to my time as Bike Friday Marketing Coordinator — Bikes have been a constant part of my life. From the very first time I rode my NEXT BMX to my first day of 7th grade to commuting to the last day of college on an old, way oversized road bike. Bikes have always been my preferred mode of transportation. Sadly, the older I got the less bikes fit me. At 5’5”, most things don’t fit me as they should. Having to stand on my toes at a stop light or being scared to hit the top tube were daily realities for me. Many things are slightly big and this is especially true for my 4 other bikes I bought pre-owned. Traditional frame sizing paired with 700c wheels results in a bike that is simply too big for me.
“Handmade” is a term often thrown around even when something was not actually handmade. At Bike Friday, skilled linemasters are involved in every stage of the production process.
I spent my first few months at Bike Friday witnessing raw steel tubing be transformed into a truly custom bike made by hand.
Production begins with our engineer Willie cutting and shaping chromoly steel tubing to the correct size based on each customer.
Next, our skilled welding team brings all main parts together with an emphasis on high quality and durability.
Depending on the bike model and customer order, our brazing team then adds all the necessary braze-ons to the frame and fork. The Diamond Llama comes with all the braze-ons for front and rear racks, fenders, and water or accessory mounting points on the top tube, seat tube, and bottom tube so you can carry all you need touring or commuting.
I knew I NEEDED my own Bike Friday. I wanted a comfortable frame design to commute to work with all the racks and bags I may need. I also wanted something capable of some light off-road commuting if I felt slightly more daring that morning. But the main thing I wanted, and the thing that took me the longest to decide on, was the frame color. I wanted something that would stand out from the crowd, something that was visible on the road and something that just made you go “WOW!” when you saw it.
When it was time, a Raspberry 1×9 Diamond Llama was the clear choice for my riding style.
The best thing about being at the Bike Friday Factory is witnessing raw steel tubing turn into my dream Bike Friday. My Diamond Llama was cut, shaped, welded and powder painted by my Bike Friday peers with decades of experience — Just as they have done for tens of thousands of Bike Fridays around the world.
When the bike rolled off the production line, my excitement could not be contained. For the first time in a long time, I did not have to worry about hitting the top tube or how I was going to support myself at a stop light. I grabbed my helmet, attached my bike lights and rode my very own Diamond Llama way past sunset. The only thing that got me to pack up my bike and head home was the need to walk my Shih-Tzu, Bella.
