RETROTEC: America’s Quintessential Framebuilder

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

Really happy with how this video turned out. I was genuinely impressed with Curtis' craft. The attention to detail, the hands on, the visual work flow. Hes still got a while to go, but before he hangs up the torch, Ill definitely get myself a Retrotec Twin!

[@smudgemo]

Curtis is a super-cool guy who was kind enough to give me a bit of guidance some years back related to building. Being able to bend tubes like this looks easy enough, but keeping them in one plane can be challenging. The adding a bend in another plane? Then creating the mirror image? Definitely pro-level work that he does very well.

[@hardmtnbiker]

The “vibe” of going through the process of getting a custom bike frame is truly something that merits both a passion for art and craftsmanship plus the desire for riding something that sings on the trails. I have had the luxury of getting a few custom frames built. This video is super cool and I appreciate you taking the time to make it.

[@GHinWI]

what a cool dude. thanks for documenting this!!

[@stevekelly6544]

Love to see those curves on a frame, the double top tubes are definitely cool too. A true Artist.

[@alexthomas7935]

Curtis is by far my favorite builder! Thank you for sharing his story and his process. Absolutely beautiful bikes

[@alank808]

I love the head badge and the overall frame is so nice.

[@sdragnut]

Nothing cooler than a Curtis built Retrotec Twin. Curvy and cool!! Thanks Curtis👊

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

I know, I’ll order myself a twin before Curtis hangs up the torch!

[@retrotecbikes]

@@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT we can work on some interesting 3D parts for your Daniel

[@slimdog72]

Such an art form bending tubes. Thanks for the vid.

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

Definitely. To me Curtis’s bikes are some of the most artistic, even though he refuses to admit it!

[@michaelaiello9525]

I love bikes! Started on a stingray! Have one in my shop now. My favorite bike color is still orange because of that first bike.. the stingray. Idk if I'll ever grab a Retrotec, but Curtis is so cool and I have immense respect for any craftsman making excellence and a life doing what they love while bringing joy to so many. I will definitely stop at Curtis's booth next MADE and ask about the Worsley!

[@slicedbread9003]

Beautiful bikes that stand out and also remind me of my old Typhoon. That's a good thing. There's plenty of art in there. There was a Mixte of sorts that you flashed by with curved twin laterals. That looked good as well. I had never heard of Retrotec, so thanks for bring this to the internet.

[@The-Jokes-on-You]

Love that Curtis took Retrotec over. Bob Seals is an absolute character & a brilliant businessman. He was a staple in the early Chico mountain bike scene & at many bike races with his speedo & cape, putting on naked crits & playing music with his band Wayhigh Patrol. I believe he later created Klean Kanteen as well. Great video. Thanks to you & Curtis for making it, brought back a lot of nostalgia for me.

[@retrotecbikes]

So many great memories of living and working up at the Chico ranch

[@brianhall6097]

Love seeing his tube roller set up, great video!

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

That roller makes a very satisfying sound too!

[@Josukegaming]

Daniel I absolutely love these shop visits and your creative style with them. This very personal look at someone's small business and their craft is so important in an industry always focusing on the biggest bike companies and their cutting edge tech. (Also that soft service vanilla ice cream and coffee at 4:19 looks criminally delicious)

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

@@Josukegaming thanks! Appreciate that. At a certain size, a companies primary objective becomes to stay in business. It’s cool to visit and learn from small businesses that can focus on art and culture, but also build high performance bikes. Curtis at RETROTEC is a great example!

[@retrotecbikes]

If you are ever in napa Azzuro has amazing food and the soft serve is top notch

[@remek_ember]

He really is the master of the tube roller. To work with that machine on this level is much more difficult than it looks

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

That S-bend downtube is really a work of art. Curtis mentioned that he has to completely focus as he rolls the downtube. One mistake and he has to start over!

[@euantan1167]

Wow what a great insight on Retrotec esp the shop tour! Gotta love things with curves, just like my Finals test curves

[@UWMailing]

You are making some really outstanding videos here on this channel and this is another one. Really enjoyed it, thanks.

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

I really appreciate it! I get to meet some awesome people and learn new things, so it’s great to be able to share that with others.

[@loft4me]

11:40 I appreciate my Classic more, seeing the time it takes Curtis in bending the tubes and welding up this particular style. I opted for tig welding on the joints except where the top tube and down tube meet the head tube. At that juncture, the seam is very noticeable, and I wanted it to flow into each other in a non-abrupt way, so I had those filet-brazed with the joints sanded smooth. Took delivery of mine in November of 2024, and by all accounts, it should be my last bike. Thank you for the video, and thanks Curtis, for the frame.

[@retrotecbikes]

glad you are enjoying your bike. it was fun to try to explain what goes into building them

[@williamjou2844]

Love that we get to see the process and how friendly and down to earth Curtis is!

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

Curtis is a great guy, role model for many younger builders!

[@whitcj]

Having wanted a Retrotec since the Cool Tool days, this was fun to watch. As a builder, I’ve tried a handful of times what he does on a weekly basis and it’s hard to describe how difficult it is to get those bends right for different sized frames - and for every frame to look great. I hope when he’s ready to retire he can pass the torch to someone and keep Retrotec going into the future, but I’m not sure it would be the same without Curtis.

[@retrotecbikes]

Thank you Whit

[@andykordsmeier]

Great video! Love my Retrotec and love how much joy Curtis brings to his craft.

[@Gaunafabandcustom]

I like Curtis, as a fellow 2a (fabricator designator for the USAF) I can get behind what he does

[@michiganstate149]

Great video. Really interesting to hear from THE frame builder and not a company name only. Something just so cool about that.

[@deansantos8915]

I remember seeing that juice blender bike at a bike music festival at Golden Gate Park sometime in 2012-2013. So dope.

[@retrotecbikes]

that sounds about right. It was fun to have a small part of making that project happen

[@shepherdmyers]

I have Retrotec with S&S couplers, I got in 2007 and still use it as my primary ride and it gone from 9 speed to 12 speed.

[@retrotecbikes]

Glad you are still enjoying your bike.

[@ahbrooks]

Love this video. Curtis' personality really shows through. He's humble and self-deprecating as can be, but his dedication to the craft is utterly unwavering, it's in his bones. His bikes are beautiful, sure, but they also ride exceedingly well because his command of the details of geometry, fit, and tubing selection have been refined over actual decades of making these choices, testing theories on his own bikes, and getting feedback from customers. He doesn't make a fuss about this because in his mind it's an understood part of his job, but so many other builders simply can't do this as well because they don't have the experience. On top of that he's nice as can be and a genuinely talented bike rider. pops a pretty mean bowl of popcorn, too....

[@retrotecbikes]

Thank you Andrew.

[@garyaland]

Curtis makes amazing bikes, I have 2 and my wife has 1.

[@retrotecbikes]

Thank you Gary. Always fun to see what you get up to on them

[@bike.breath]

Great video! Curtis shreds 🤘

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

Old man was dropping me!

[@retrotecbikes]

@@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT I am only medium old

[@johnprolly]

CURRRRTISSSSSSSSSSSSS! Love that guy!

[@jeffreyastjohn]

Love the look of the frameset, and I still have a Cool Tool kicking around the house!

[@retrotecbikes]

They were and still are a very handy tool to have kicking around

[@levimaxwell7745]

The algorithm knows me too well , glad it brought me here, cool bikes 🤙

[@retrotecbikes]

welcome

[@levingamm5956]

I really enjoy the shop tours

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

@@levingamm5956 thanks! I enjoy doing them, it’s a win for everyone!

[@bfranco1519]

I definitely want to get one of his frames before he retires. Love that twin top tube. Reminds me of the old Torker BMX frames.

[@retrotecbikes]

I am not retiring any time soon!! That being said no time like the present to get yourself a new bike.

[@wg2060]

Just stumbled upon your channel and you’re talking to a builder I’ve been hoping to one day place an order. The Funduro is calling my name every time I see a pic. Going back in time….I used to have a cool tool! Great product. Also, nice to see Skyline trails here. Great place to ride.

[@retrotecbikes]

Hit me up I am taking orders for early 2025

[@DynamoDanm]

Found my new favorite bike channel. Sub'd!

[@williamlebron9873]

😍 LOVE the double top tubes. 😍 It would be so AWESOME to see one with clear coat all built up so you could see all the raw welds. 😍

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

Yes! That fillet brazed seat tube - seat stay junction is beautiful!

[@fredvanvactor6110]

I love those curves and the process is true art! Reminds me of violin making. There’s craftsmanship, philosophy, artistry, fabrication and love.. oh and some good ol’ business and capitalism mixed in.. because ya! Great looking standout bikes!

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

great analogy! Very hands on and analog process

[@davidtreichelpppj5304]

I remember the Merlin Newsboy....Another bike based off the SCHWINN curves ....Made of titanium.... I wouldn't have known about RETROTEC with out seeing this KZbin video ... Thanjs

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

Funny thing, I worked on the design of the latest newsboy! Go check it out. Curtis is still the cruiser master!

[@benc8386]

Great video! Being a bit quintessentially English myself I never understood those curved tubes :) But I think I get them a bit more now. Besides the bending he does those were some absolutely perfect looking TIG welds. Was also a great reveal to see he still has the Wolseley!

[@ahbrooks]

His straight-tubed bikes get those same perfect TIG welds (and all the other magic). Ask me how I know, ha....

[@retrotecbikes]

I like making Straight tube frames.

[@derekneumann]

I want one of these SO BADLY!!

[@retrotecbikes]

I know a guy that knows a guy that can make that happen.

[@shinyatanaka893]

カーティスは地球上に存在する人類の中でも心底クールと思えるひとり。心から彼が長年行ってきたことに尊敬している。いつも本当にありがとう！日本から愛をこめて...

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

Thanks for watching! It is great to see the craftsmanship and art of custom bikes being appreciated in Japan!

[@retrotecbikes]

Thank you Shinya I am very grateful for all the amazing things we have gotten to do together.

[@SurpriseMeJT]

I had a Cool Tool! I lost the main body somewhere but I have pieces of it around like the allen wrenches and the socket.

[@alindberg8001]

Beautiful

[@dgriffinm]

Amazing, these bikes are cooler than fancy carbon ones

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

For sure! You could do some cool things with carbon too, but it would be a stretch to call it art. I see many Retrotec's being ridden for years!

[@warwicksworkshop9511]

I want that orange bike. Looks like my size too. 😇

[@retrotecbikes]

you know i can make you one

[@warwicksworkshop9511]

@@retrotecbikes Sadly the low value of the AUD plus shipping and taxes would make that a $6000 proposition.

[@henderthing]

Nerdy detail--but is that a SRAM Transmission UDH on the bike he's riding at the beginning? So retro and modern... nice!

[@retrotecbikes]

Yes UDH

[@user-sn5jt5sr2c]

reminds me of corratecs bow XD

[@Alex_564]

This was a great episode. Do you think you can visit builders & shops in Vancouver, Canada & other PNW builders?

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

Definitely on my radar. It’s so fun making these videos with framebuilders, I’m glad people are enjoying them too. When I get some time I want to visit Rob English. I love his bikes, and he is so nice.

[@Alex_564]

@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT that would be cool as his righty bike are interesting. I also like the weird & interesting stuff coming from Schon & Wzrd.

[@Daniel_Yang_ARTEFACT]

@@Alex_564 That would be fun too! Maybe in the summer when its not as cold!

[@loft4me]

16:42 Very youthful looking, for one with 30 years of frame building.

[@retrotecbikes]

It's all the bike riding

[@stephaniesauvage8498]

Acording to à french Guy too ...

[@notpablo8369]

No habla Inglis Cycles 😉😉😉

[@MrPhotodoc]

Those a very cashy on theebay right now.

[@retrotecbikes]

That bike has a very special head badge. A customer had Jen Green make two custom badges one for himself and one for me. I had the brilliant idea to install it on my Enve show bike that was not my size, bad idea. Now it is on eBay, I hope it finds a good home.

[@MDRAFIQUL-786]

Hi

[@Kefoo_]

-- "Where are we --at-- ?"

[@retrotecbikes]

Napa

[@donparsons1237]

Its too bad that the top bar won't work for us shorter riders... tall top bar and off road single track doesn't work very good... i stay with standard low bar that rocks the off road catagory...

[@bootchop88]

Think he is a Lambretta dude

[@retrotecbikes]

I still have my first Lambretta a Jet 200 that i bought in 1987