Lugged Bicycle Frame Construction: Third Edition

I successfully built a lugged steel frame under the guidance of this book. It provides key background to bicycle design and the fabrication processes required, and proposes an impressive variety of methods for frame design and construction using different levels of resources. Though the writing is highly technical, it succeeds in providing a friendly and, at times, amusing tone that keeps the manual engaging and easy to read.In addition to covering the major steps in the framebuilding process, this book also contains many small tips, tricks and troubleshooting notes that help to provide guidance that would be otherwise difficult to learn or research. Before starting my build using this guide, I had no brazing experience. The sections explaining the various types of brazing setups as well as the general principles of the process were particularly helpful in my opinion.Overall, this book does not provide any information that you couldn't find online, for free. What it does offer is a well-cultivated, down-to-earth guide to the framebuilding process that provides clarity for amateur builders. By focusing on low-cost, simplistic construction methods, the book breaks down the barrier to entry present in this niche, and empowers a large community to dive in to new, satisfying projects. If you're at all interested in building your own bike for the first time, this book is very much worth a read.

In an era where everyone is showing how to build handmade bikes using expensive jigs and machinery, this book is a refreshing look at a way for garage builders like me to reasonably consider building a bike frame. Home made jigs and practical approaches for mitering, bending and shaping tubes, details on how to make the tubes and lugs fit together, all to make me feel more confident that I can do this, too. If you're dreaming of building your own frame, but don't have a purpose-built frame jig, a tube mitering machine or a Bridgeport mill, it would be well worth it for you to take a look at this book.

I have yet to read the whole thing but the information to do the work is there it's just I'm not a reader... I love pictures which I wish there was more of.....its like taking a an online class (which I absolutely hate) vs a traditional class.... If online class is your thing you will have a frame in no time

I built a Columbus tubed road frame using the directions in this book. It came out great! Rides straight and true. Very strong. All for about $300 in parts. Building another one in a week. Compared to a $3000 frame building course, I'd say this book is a great value.

Started reading some of the more "well respected" framebuilding books, which were valuable resources, but were quite simply too much information. This does a great job of paring down all the info into "hey dummy, follow these steps and you'll have a frame that will be straight and strong." Now that I've got one build under my belt, revisiting the other books can lead to more advanced frame options. Highly recommend this for the first time frame builder.

Adequate.

Very good information. I like this book. Will use it in the future.

An excellent introduction to steel frame design and construction.