John Collins headed up to Eriksen Cycles to pick up his new titanium ride. Thankfully, while he was there, he was able to grab a couple of questions from Kent Eriksen and snap a couple of shot for us. The following article is John’s recap and interview with Kent Eriksen.
In a very non-descript building next to the Yampa River, The Titanium Master works relentlessly. He and his small crew craft the finest handmade titanium bikes in the world. This isn’t opinion, it is fact. Eriksen Cycles has captured both Best Titanium Bike from the North American Handmade Bike Show and Best Bike Builder of the Year at the Rocky Mountain Bicycle Show in 2009.
Kent Eriksen's Shop
Kent Eriksen is a legend in the cycling industry and world renown for his hand crafted and beautiful titanium bikes. Moving to Steamboat Springs in 1974, Kent has been around this quaint Colorado town for many years, and the residents know of him very well. I spent a lot of time at the local watering hole, the Double Z bar, which is conveniently located right next door to Kent’s shop. Every person I met there knew of Kent and his incredible bikes.
One may think someone with such stature in the bike industry would be on a high horse, but everyone at Eriksen Cycles is grounded and very fun to talk with. If you want to talk bikes, these are the people to call or see if you are in Steamboat Springs. The genuine enthusiasm in their voices and constant smiles are like nothing else I have experienced in visiting many bicycle shops and shows. I spent a good part of Friday with Kent, talking about the design of the bike he is building for me.
Eriksen Frame In Jig
I immediately sensed this is a biker who is passionate about designing and building. You could almost see the calculations and design thoughts spilling out into the room from his head as he showed me the shop and materials. There are no overblown egos here. At Eriksen Cycles, it’s like talking with excited kids who just got cool new toys and are sharing the experience with you. One of the coolest and unusual bike frames I’ve ever seen was oversized frame for big people, and I mean people who are 6’6” and up. Eriksen builds these frames for Lennard Zinn Cycles specifically for human Clydesdales. Titanium is the perfect material for these bikes because of the weight advantage. I can’t even describe how incredibly light these oversized frames were.
Interview with Kent Eriksen by John Collins
Kent Eriksen
How long have you been in Steamboat? Did you move out there with plans to open a bike shop? If not, how did it happen?
I left home on a long bike tour, returned several months later after touring around northern North America including Canada. I worked along the way at odd jobs to eat and sleep. After returning back to West End, WI for a few days, I decided to hit the road again, landing in Steamboat (Springs) on New Year’s Eve, 1974. I started a bike shop in the summer as a secondary business with Inside Edge Ski Shop, for the off season. The bike shop morphed into Sore Saddle Bike Shop, the “Cone” was built and the shop became a mainstay in Steamboat until its last owner ran the business into the ground. The current tenant is a bike shop called Orange Peel Bike Service. Moots Cycles was born and raised in the same building we are in now, including the Cone, moving out of downtown to its current location in 2001. I left Moots Cycles in 2005.
What are major challenges of working with titanium?
It is expensive, requires a very talented welder and it only comes in one color. That said, it is very resilient, compliant, strong and light, lasts forever, is shape-able, beautiful and it looks great with any color!
What are the statistics on the type of bikes you craft, meaning what percentage are mountain, road, tandem, etc.?
50% road, 35% MTB, 15% Cross and other.
How long do you intend to keep crafting bikes?
As long as I can.
What are the dates for the 2010 Tour de Steamboat?
July 17, 2010
From the crew at 198, thanks for the article John! Great work!