Last updated: January 28, 2025
No love for Minnesota frame builders. Maybe it’s because we’re too cold. Maybe our pro sports teams aren’t particularly good. Maybe it’s our Scandinavian stoicism. Whatever the case, we get no love when it comes to judging the bike-friendliness of various cities throughout the country. Though I’m hearing rumors that Bicycling is calling us the best, finally.
Anyway, I’ve noticed that Minnesota custom frame builders don’t get a lot of love out there, and we’ve got some great people doing amazing work. So here’s the current list, which I update semi-regularly — if I’ve missed anyone or anyone else joins the fray, let me know and I’ll add them to this list.
Active Builders
- Paul Wyganowski. Website is in-progress. A student of Tim Paterek; also my instructor. Builds very straight, very durable frames. Focuses primarily on recumbents and tandems.
- Vincent Dominguez. The guy that introduced me to Paul, a fellow Mac geek, and all-around good guy. An absolute perfectionist, he will not skimp on any part of a frame.
- Curt Goodrich. Curt previously built frames for Rivendell. Haven’t really looked at his stuff up-close and in-person, but his paint work is without peer.
- Anderson Custom Bicycles. Not accepting new orders at this time.
- Chris Kvale. I’ve always admired Chris’s work — he creates very classic steel frames. From the gallery, it appears to be primarily lugged work. This is one of the guys I’d like to interrogate someday.
- Appleman. Matt builds custom carbon frames and shares space with Peacock Groove and Vincent Dominguez. I’ve seen one of his frames close-up and am floored by the quality of the work. I hope to get a chance to test-ride one someday.
- Vorpal. Anyone know anything about this guy/gal?
- Varco Cycles. A hobbyist builder. No site updates since 2021.
Defunct/Retired/Relocated Builders
- A-Train Cycles. Quit, took over at Northern Frameworks.
- Northern Frameworks. Quit. I own the last Northern ever made.
- Peacock Groove. Quit.
- Pallas Athena. Quit.
- Three Stars Cycles. Quit.
- Terry Osell. Retired.
- Capricorn. Relocated.
- Evershed Cycles. Quit.
- Black Ship Cycles. Seems to be gone. No idea.
- Prairie Crow. Alex seems to have last posted anything in 2023, site’s down. There’s a GoFundMe link on his Instagram profile.
- Wildebeest Bicycles. Moved to New Mexico, apparently making bikes again as of 2022.
- Bob Brown. Moved to Wisconsin.
I’m in *love* with Capricorn, and his curvy curvy mixtes are to die for. I’m so glad I accidentally stumbled on them on Etsy 4 years ago.
I am looking for someone to build a step thru non-electric FatTire bike for me. I am 86 and have extensive riding experience including Mtn bike racing. I currently am riding an Otso Arctodus which is a great bike but find the top bar a challenge for me. I also have a Fat Ebike with a step thru frame and I keep asking why not a frame like this for a non Ebike. I have looked far and wide for such a bike with no luck.
Are you dead-set on a Minnesota area builder? Or is anywhere okay?