Frank the Welder

Frank the Welder might not be a household name, but his influence is spread across three decades of bicycle development.  From the first hardtails and trials bikes to the most modern downhill and dirt jumping rigs, he's seen it all and even still shreds.  He started in his father's garage, worked for Yeti at its genesis and has also built for Sinister (below) and continues to build incredibly innovative frames for Spooky Bikes.

I think my greatest contribution to the sport is always reminding people to have fun.  I have worked on some awesome bikes with great athletes and designed neat, innovative components but FUN is always where it's at.  I've promoted some races for St. Jude's Hospital and some nuns came to watch us race.  They really enjoyed the races and fresh air.  They commented that they had never seen so many people having fun and enjoying life.

My biggest accomplishments in the cycling industry include:

-Input in development of Easton frame tubes
-Made Zapata's (of Mountain Bike Action fame) top 100 list some years ago
-Fabricated the first set of two-fingered Shimano brake levers
-Welded the first set of two-sided clipless pedals for Don Myrah
-Designed the first threadless A-Tac stem for Answer products
-Designed new bar ends for Onza
-Co-designed all Yeti frames until 1993
-Pioneered soft-tail design popular on XC bikes for years
-Built frames for John Tomac, Julie Furtado, Lisa Muhic, Tinker Juarez, Brian Lopes, Miles Rockwell, Missy Giove, Sarah Ballentine, Don Myrah, Daren & Kurt Stockton, Davis Phinney, Greg Orovits, Leigh Donovan, Jimmy Deaton, Russ Worley, and others who escape my memory 

For a detailed account of his daily projects, musings about living in VT, and the people who have inspired him, check out his blog here.

 Frank's Tumblr. And Flickr.

Check out Spooky Bikes' Flickr also.