The Philosophy at Baylis Cycles

There are numerous aspects of framebuilding, related to making

hand built bicycles in small numbers. Most importantly, there are

the considerations and concepts of designing the frame. This will

include "fitting" the frame, which includes looking at the client's

body dimensions, riding style, intended use, and rider's age. The

other part involves selecting the materials, actual construction,

and finish.

There are countless theories and formulas, and even computer

generated models, which are supposed to help us determine a

particular frame for a given rider. There are many factors that

must be taken into consideration. Many builders will simply

copy designs that have worked in the past. My method is to

study the machine (s) the rider has had experience with, up to

the point of ordering a new custom bicycle. I then ask a whole

lot of questions about their experiences with their bicycles.

Some of the questions are asked of every client, while some

questions will be specifically related to that individual. I probe

for the key bits of information, about how to best suit the rider.

I consider how to improve what may be lacking in their

previous bikes. Sometimes the client is just seeking a

frame with distinction and flair, beyond the readily available,

that performs as well as what they have. Note that great riding

bicycles can come from anywhere, including high production

companies. Each framebuilder has a personality and style

of their own, which is reflected in the frame. High volume

companies cannot do this. I believe my method is one of

the most sound, owing to my many years of riding, racing,

building for myself, and building for others......... this is one

of the reasons why people seek me out.

Once I know the needs of the user, it becomes a matter of

how much time and effort one is willing to put into making

the frame special and distinctive. Most people call this

"craftsmanship". This is where debate sometimes begin......

which frame is better? It really is a matter of personal taste.

Certainly, there are some methods of making a distinctive

machine that requires great skill and a good eye for aesthetics.

To a client that cannot detect these subtle differences, this may

mean nothing. The same goes for designs that are more than

what the client expects or likes.

I feel that my work falls in the middle of these extremes,

in that most can appreciate my style, even if they don't

really understand how much effort it takes. That being

said, I generally don't go to the extreme, trying to make

my lugs look like jewelry. I make a bike that pleases my

eye and satisfies my soul. Even though my extra effort is

not always rewarded monetarily, my "payment" for this

is self-satisfaction.

When the finished product makes the client happy,

and if some appreciate my skill and effort, then I feel

complete. Builders who refuse to put in the effort, much

of which involves lots of time, without financial considerations,

are simply not driven as craftsmen, in the purest sense.

These people are in the "business" of framebuilding.

Framebuilding was apparently my destiny and purpose

in life. Therefore, money only, is not a consideration in

my work, as compared to my need to fulfill that destiny.

I am satisfied that some consider me to be one of the best

framebuilders of all time; and that is what motivates me.

That may sound "corny" to some; but the truly sensitive

observers see that in my work.

Talk is cheap. The work must speak for itself. Simple as that.

Baylis Handmade Cycles.

BHC :: Construction

More Details, TBA.

Lug Work pt.1

More Details, TBA.

BHC :: Dale Brown's Frame

More Details, TBA.

Track Frame

Details on this Frame, TBA.. (one of a kind, to say the least).

The History of Baylis Cycles

My framebuilding career started by accident. As a young

racer in Southern California during the "bike boom" of

the early 70's, I was at a bicycle race in Escondido, CA

in 1973. I was riding a Masi Gran Criterium, built in Italy.

I was aware of the legendary Faliero Masi. Like most bike

racers, I considered Masi to be the best of the best. On that

day I never dreamed that I would actually meet the man face

to face. As it turned out, the new Masi factory had been

established in nearby Carlsbad, CA and most of the principal

people involved had come to the race to watch. I had no idea

there was a factory nearby. When I was able to meet the plant

manager, Faliero Masi and Mario Confente I was stunned.

With my Masi in tow, I sheepishly approached Faliero to get

his autograph on my paper racing number. He signed it and

handed it back. He had a sparkle in his eye I'll never forget.

Even at 65 years old he was full of energy and charisma.

For some unknown reason, having never considered

building bike frames, I sought out the English speaking

manager, Roger Smith. I asked if they needed any people

to work at the new Masi factory. It was disappointing to hear,

"I don't think we need anybody right now". The following

day, I had to deliver a Rolls-Royce for the dealer I worked

for. The Masi factory was right off the freeway in Carlsbad,

so I whipped the Silver Shadow off the freeway and stopped.

Roger Smith was surprised to see me. There were no

applications, I just wrote my name and number on a piece

of paper. Asked if I had any previous experience, I told

them I built some wheels and painted a frame or two in my

garage with an airbrush. Apparently that was good enough;

the following week I was working at Masi. I was the fourth

American to be hired. Originally, they wanted Italian

workers, but lucky for me, due to visa issues,

that was not going to happen.

My first duties involved building several hundred wheels.

Once I built them, I was taught to properly glue and mount

the silk tires. After this I did sub-assemblies of bars, brake

levers, and stems into complete units. I did the same for toe

clips/straps to pedals, saddles to seat posts. When all of the

bins were full of parts they needed to assemble complete

bikes, I was moved to the beginning stages of framebuilding.

I think my first task was to file the front dropouts that had

been brazed to fork blades. We did hundreds of forks at a

time. It took no time at all to learn each basic task under these

conditions. Each time I successfully completed my assigned

task, I was moved to the next operation. I filed rear triangles

at the dropouts, then was taught to cut and ready caps for the

seat stays. After they were brazed, I filed them by the hundreds.

I was taught to shape the raw lugs and prep them before they

were used to join the tubing. I was then taught brazing,

and brazed some front dropouts to fork blades.

At this stage of my apprenticeship, I was finally moved to

the paint department, where I was the assistant to Ron Smith

(no relation to Roger). This is where I learned the paint sequence

and techniques I still use today. I also was able to learn the art

of applying varnish decals to the painted frames. I hand painted

yellow trim in the cutouts as well.

My time at Masi came to an end. One of my roommates

and fellow workers at Masi, Mike Howard, who was being

groomed as a brazer there and myself, decided to strike out

on our own. Jumping ship was something they tried to prevent.

But Mike had become frustrated with Mario, as they were

trying to build forks with "twin plate" fork crowns. Mario

was difficult to work with. The previous brazing trainee had

left, having a difficult time with Mario over similar issues.

Mike and I quit and we moved back to Orange County,

and began to build the notorious Wizard Bicycles. During

that two year period we both learned a lot about the craft

and a little, very little, about the business of framebuilding.

We built about 75 serial numbered frames. We built a few

for ourselves as well. There were probably about 80

frames or so total.

At Wizard, we put a lot of time into each frame, which made

them highly regarded. We weren't making much money though.

In mid-1976, we received a call Masi in Carlsbad. They had

fired all of the crew and only the shop manager, Gian Simonetti,

remained. They wanted Mike and I to come back to Masi as

foremen, and assemble a new crew. By then the newfangled

"investment cast" lugs were being used. I became the painting

foreman, head painter, and the person who trained the guys to

shape and file lugs, as I did the painting of the Wizards and did

all the lugwork. Mike was the brazing foreman, since he did the

fixturing and brazing of the Wizards.

That lasted until sometime in 1977 or so. Medici Bicycles was

formed in Los Angeles. Mike and Gian became the principal

builders of the Medici bikes. I was to be the painter, of both

Confente and Medici bicycles. However, instead, I opted to

stay in San Diego county and build frames under my own

name. I have been doing so ever since, under a number of

working conditions and in situations that exposed me to a lot

of other builders. From this one learns a lot. I still do this even

now, whether teaching beginning builders or spending time

or visiting with other experienced builders. Teaching is one

of the best ways to learn things.

Growing as an artist and craftsman never ends.

Challenging oneself is what makes you grow and expand.

Falling into a routine and doing the same thing over and

over again doesn't satisfy me. This may work for many

others, but results in being good at one thing. I prefer

working on a broader set of skills and perfecting them,

which keeps framebuilding fresh and exciting.

I get my inspiration from this.

Brian Baylis, February 8, 2010.

Road Bike With Custom Dropouts