Learn to build your own steel bicycle frame in our five-day Framebuilding 101 course in East London. Suitable for road, gravel, or MTB builds. No experience required. Materials included.
£1,650.00 inc. VAT
Build your own steel bicycle frame in five days — no experience needed.
A hands-on introduction to steel framebuilding using a proven Stayer design.
Secure your place with a 50% deposit — balance due 30 days before the course begins.
For Cycle To Work Scheme options just get in touch.
See Klarna finance options.
If you’d like to design a frame from scratch, explore custom features, or develop new geometry, take a look at Framebuilding 101 – Full Custom →
If you’re not completely sure yet, that’s fine — we’ll talk through your ideas during the pre-course design session and confirm the best route before any material decisions are made.
Framebuilding 101 is a practical, five-day course for people who want to build a high-quality steel bicycle frame with expert guidance in a small workshop setting. You’ll choose a road, gravel, or MTB frame and work through sizing and geometry before spending the week learning the hands-on framebuilding process.
The course is structured so you can focus on building, learning, and leaving with a quality steel frame you built yourself.
If you’d like a preview of what the experience involves, you can watch our Framebuilding 101 videos on the Stayer YouTube channel.
In good time before the course begins, we’ll meet one-on-one via Zoom to prepare the details of your build and make sure everything is ready for the workshop week.
You’ll choose one of three frame types — road, gravel, or MTB. The tubing, clearances, dropouts, and hardware are predefined for each option, allowing us to focus the course on learning the hands-on framebuilding process.
Within that framework, we’ll work through sizing, fit, and geometry. You can either choose from our pre-designed Stayer sizes or we can adjust the geometry to suit your fit, riding style, and intended use. Depending on your situation and experience getting a professional bike fit done is a real advantage, or, if you alreay have a great fitting bike then we can work from there, with it’s contact point measurements.
By the time the workshop starts, your design will be agreed and ready, so you can concentrate fully on building your frame.
Next, you’ll join us in the workshop for five days of practical, hands-on learning.
To begin, you’ll practise the core techniques on small test assemblies, allowing you to get comfortable with the tools and processes before moving on to your main build. This includes:
Fillet brazing around mitred tube joints
Silver soldering small components
Using a brazing torch safely and effectively
Once you’re confident with the process, you’ll move on to building your own steel frame. At this stage, you’ll:
Mitre and tack the tubes
Fillet braze the main structural joints
Attach frame fittings using silver solder
Finish the frame to an unfiled brass fillet standard
Throughout the week, we guide you step by step so you can learn each technique safely, confidently, and at your own pace.
Your forever bike, your choice.
Geometry and fit are tailored for each student, while most construction details are predefined, with a small number of practical options available.
27.5″ or 29″
Up to 2.6″ tyre clearance
148 × 12mm BOOST rear spacing
T47, 73mm Bottom Bracket shell (BSA optional)
Seatpost: 31.6mm
44mm straight headtube
Wishbone seatstays
External cable routing
Dropper routing: optional
ISO disc
Bottle / Bento Bosses, Rack Mounts : as many or as few as you fancy!
650b or 700c
Up to 2.1″ (650b) or 45mm (700c) tyre clearance
142 × 12mm rear spacing
Modular dropouts (QR / UDH / single-speed options)
T47 Bottom Bracket shell (BSA optional)
Seatpost: 27.2mm
44mm straight headtube
Wishbone seatstays
Internal rear brake routing (optional)
Flat-mount disc
Max rotor size: 160mm
Bottle / Bento Bosses, Rack Mounts : how many can you fit ?
700c
Up to 30mm actual tyre clearance
142 × 12mm rear spacing
T47 Bottom Bracket shell (BSA optional)
Seatpost: 27.2mm
44mm straight headtube
Wishbone seatstays
Internal rear brake routing (optional)
Flat-mount disc
Max rotor size: 160mm
Bottle / Bento Bosses, Rack Mounts : as many or as few as you desire.
27.5″ or 29″
Up to 2.6″ tyre clearance
148 × 12mm BOOST rear spacing
T47, 73mm Bottom Bracket shell (BSA optional)
Seatpost: 31.6mm
44mm straight headtube
Wishbone seatstays
External cable routing
Dropper routing: optional
ISO disc
Bottle / Bento Bosses, Rack Mounts : as many or as few as you fancy!
650b or 700c
Up to 2.1″ (650b) or 45mm (700c) tyre clearance
142 × 12mm rear spacing
Modular dropouts (QR / UDH / single-speed options)
T47 Bottom Bracket shell (BSA optional)
Seatpost: 27.2mm
44mm straight headtube
Wishbone seatstays
Internal rear brake routing (optional)
Flat-mount disc
Max rotor size: 160mm
Bottle / Bento Bosses, Rack Mounts : how many can you fit ?
700c
Up to 30mm actual tyre clearance
142 × 12mm rear spacing
T47 Bottom Bracket shell (BSA optional)
Seatpost: 27.2mm
44mm straight headtube
Wishbone seatstays
Internal rear brake routing (optional)
Flat-mount disc
Max rotor size: 160mm
Bottle / Bento Bosses, Rack Mounts : as many or as few as you desire.
We use industry-standard tubing, frame parts, and design tools throughout the course.
Students who complete Framebuilding 101 are also eligible for a BikeCAD Pro discount, should they wish to continue designing frames after the course.
By the end of the five-day build week, your frame will be structurally complete and ready for finishing.
If you’d like to keep the fillets un-filed, the frame can go straight to paint as it is. Alternatively, you can file the fillets yourself after the course — we’re happy to show you how and talk through the process so you can do this at home if you wish.
Once you’re happy with the frame, it will need to be painted.
Please note: paint and powder coating are not included in the course price.
As a guide, our rAwrAw powdercoat finish is £315, which includes frame preparation, coating, and post-coating chasing and facing. This is a hard-wearing industrial finish designed to keep your own workmanship visible. It consists of a phosphate dip followed by a transparent powdercoat.
Wet paint finishes are available through external painters, but typically cost significantly more than powder coating.
You’re also welcome to have the frame painted elsewhere. If you do, we can provide Stayer down-tube and head-tube logo files should you want to use them.
Finishing options can be discussed during the course. Many students spend time looking at frames we have in the workshop before deciding, and there’s no need to commit until you’ve seen the options in person.
This course covers brass fillet brazing only. TIG welding and lugged construction are not included.
To ensure that you finish a rideable frame in five days, our team may complete small preparatory steps. Therefore, the process is slightly condensed to fit the timeframe.
Cancellations
You may cancel up to 14 days after booking. If you book within six weeks of the start date, cancellation terms may vary. A small fee may apply if you pay via methods other than direct bank transfer.
Framebuilding 101 isn’t just a course; it’s an introduction to a community of riders and builders who value craft, performance, and hands-on learning. You’ll leave with a rideable steel frame that you built yourself, along with skills you can apply to future projects.
Personalised Instruction: With only four students per course, you’ll receive focused guidance tailored to your needs.
Expert Framebuilders: Learn from experienced builders who are passionate about custom steel frames.
Your Own Custom Frame: By the end of the course, you’ll have built a steel frame ready to be ridden hard — sized and set up to suit your fit, riding style, and intended use.
Prepare and plan a steel frame for your build
Mitre and fit tubes accurately
Fillet braze structural joints
Silver solder fittings and frame details
Use frame jigs, torches, and workshop tools safely
Understand alignment and fundamental geometry principles
Leave with a rideable steel frame you built yourself
Framebuilding 101 is designed for anyone curious about how steel bikes are made — no prior workshop experience required. This course is well suited to:
Riders who want to understand their bikes on a deeper level
Makers and tinkerers looking to expand their workshop skills
Aspiring framebuilders wanting a structured first step
Designers, mechanics, or engineers interested in hands-on fabrication
Anyone who enjoys learning by doing and wants a practical challenge
If you’re interested in craft, precision, and making something functional with your own hands, you’ll fit right in.
Five full days of hands-on instruction in the Stayer workshop
One-to-one pre-course design and preparation session via Zoom
Use of all tools, jigs, and workshop equipment
Safety gear (gloves, goggles)
Your completed steel frame, ready for final finishing
Clothing suitable for a workshop (non-synthetic recommended)
Close-toed shoes
Your own lunch or snacks (shops nearby)
Tell us what you’d like to build or repair, or simply let us know you’re interested in a future Project Week. We’ll recommend how many days you’ll need, discuss your project, and confirm suitable dates before you book.
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