THE BICYCLE ACADAMY
The Bicycle Academy provides frame building courses and skills masterclasses for all levels of aspiring builders, and a fully equipped specialty workshop to build and learn in. Located in Frome in Somerset, they specialize in teaching and are renowned for the exceptionally high standards that their students achieve. We caught up with headteacher Andrew Denham to get his thoughts on frame building, bike riding, and dessert.
Why did you start The Bicycle Academy?
I created TBA because no-one was doing a great job of teaching frame building, it just seemed far too difficult to get into and yet there’s clearly so much untapped potential out there. We’re 5 years old this July and we’ve come a long way, but in truth we’re only just getting started.
What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of building a handmade bike?
Anyone can stick a few tubes together to make a bicycle shaped object, but creating a purposeful design and building it well is always challenging, whether it’s your first or 5,000th frame, but the thrill of riding a bike you’ve made or seeing the look on the face of the person you’ve made it for is practically priceless.
Have you taught any builders we will have heard of?
Yeah loads! In total we’ve taught around 700 people, many of whom are now award winning professionals. Adeline O’Moreau (Mercredi) and Rob Quirk (Quirk Cycles) both started out with frame building courses at TBA, and Tom Donhou has done a couple of Masterclasses along the way. You can meet them and see their handmade bikes on display at Grinduro Scotland!
What do you think makes the Bicycle Academy unique or special?
We’re determined to help people to build awesome bicycles, however we can. So whether it’s running course, designing tools or selling supplies we give it everything we’ve got to help people to do a great job. We’ve taken a fresh approach to the whole thing and people really like that.
What’s a bike you’ve built that you’re really proud of?
The bike I built for the first Hack Bike Derby event, I love that thing. It’s a hillbilly rat bike klunker made out of scrap tubes and old parts to race in the woods with friends. It’s so much fun to ride and makes everyone smile.
Dirt or road?
Dirt, I used to race downhill and love riding anything off-road. The Megavalanche is one of my favourite events because of the mass start and incredible scenery.
What’s more dangerous—riding bikes or building them?
That’s a good question. Riding bikes fast offroad can be pretty dangerous but a framebuilder’s torch burns at 3500 degrees C so I’d say they’re about even.
Beer or whiskey?
Beer, because as much as I try I’m a rubbish whisky drinker. I’ve heard the beer from Arran Brewery is pretty special so I’m looking forward to trying that.
Donuts or ice cream?
I recently had a Crème brûlée donut WITH vanilla ice cream, it was mind blowing! Thanks Andrew! We’re lucky enough to have a handful of master frame builders joining us at Grinduro, displaying bikes they’ve built to be the ultimate Grinduro shred machine. Check them out in the pop-up shop, marvel at their beauty, and make sure to use the ticket provided in your race packet to vote for your favorite—the chosen frame builder will win a trip to Grinduro California!