Bike Check: Govert Schonewille. By BdJ

Oct 15, 2011

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 23040 times

-Frame: Homemade stainless steel

-Forks: Homemade stainless steel one leg design
-Headset: Diacompe
-Stem: Eclat topload
-Bars: S&M Beringer
-Grips: Odi longneck
-Bar ends: Odi
-Brake lever: Hayes nine

-Brake cable: Hayes hydrolic
-Brake caliper: Hayes nine 160mm disk
-Brake pads: BBB blue
-Rotor: no
-Chain: Cult 510
-Sprocket: Terrible one 30T
-Cranks: Fly
-Bottom Bracket set: S&M euro
-Pedals: Fly graphite
-Seatpost clamp: Cheap mtb one
-Seatpost: Colony
-Seat: Colony

-Front tire: Khe mac2.0 street
-Front rim: Alienation deviant
-Front hub: Wheelchair hub
-Rear rim: Alienation skylark
-Rear tire: Khe mac 1.5 street
-Rear hub: Proper 11T (customized for disc brake)
-Pegs: No

Weight: 10,5 kg

Why did you decide to make your own frame?
Govert: During the 1991 Bicross Tour de France a French rider (I think it was Vincent Allier) rode a homemade monocoque frame. He was a very smooth rider. That's when I decided to build a frame myself as well. My previous job was working with metal and it's still a hobby of mine.

How do you start on a project like this?
Govert: To start off, if you're not handy, don't start on it. Buy a Tig welder, teach yourself how to weld, slap a frame together and test it. Forget about the detailed measurements on strength. That what breaks or bends is simply not strong enough so start over again.

It is not the regular triple triangle design. Where did you get the inspiration for the frame you made?
Govert: It actually is a triple triangle design, only the top tube has a teardrop shape of 55 mm and a down tube of 12 mm.

The read end is the same as for instance an MCS. Everything has been invented before, you just need to look around and use your fantasy (think out of the box). The idea behind it is that the bigger top tube flexes less than with standard frames.

How long have you used the frame?
Govert: I've been riding this frame for 2 and a half years. The fork for 2 years.

How long did it take to weld it?
Govert: Making the frame cost me about 30 hours total. 5 of which are pure welding, the remaining hours were spent filing, measuring, aiming, cutting, and bending.

You're using disc brakes too. Any special reason for that?
Govert: Brakes in the '80s - '90s were crap! I always use one finger on the brake (for manuals, lifting up before a jump, in case something goes wrong I want to be able to stop quickly as I always want to stay on my bike). I started off by making and adjusting brakes on my own and played around with drum brakes and even a brake that worked on the tire. Nowadays brakes are pretty good, but a disc brake on a BMX is special, and it brakes! it takes some getting used to and the rim doesn't wear out.

The forks are special as well. Are they holding up?
Govert: One leg, single side connected, like all cars. Proven technology as well. Also in this case, one bigger tube so less flex (against the starting gate). When I started with this I had my doubts, but the axle and axle connection are really strong. The fork has the same weak points as a standard fork (steerer tube right above the bearing and the fork legs at the bending point). My current fork has survived many rough landings and crashes.

Have you ever thought of starting a bike company or is it just a hobby for you to make your own frames?
Govert: I've thought about it. But running your own company also has its downsides, like I have with my own horticulture company. Plus it's tough to be competitive with the cheap (and faily good) frames coming out of Taiwan. Making frames as a hobby is fine for now. Who knows what the future brings.

Do you have any advice to people who would like to make their own frame?
Govert: You really need to want to do it. It's a lot more expensive and it costs a lot of time and effort. But riding a bike that you made yourself is awesome. If you think you can do it, just start. Be creative.