Worker Owned Frame Building Co-ops
 

The only company that I know of that is a worker owned co-op is Circle A. Does anyone know of other worker owned frame building co-ops in this country or overseas?

Orbea is part of a larger cooperative called "Mondragon Corporacion Cooperativa"... don't know much else about it though.

Brixton Cycles are a worker's co-op, but they're not framebuilders.

http://www.brixtoncycles.co.uk/

Mondragon is an awesome co-op in the Basque country in Spain. They make a ton (like crazy large amounts) of stuff. I've never been there, but I heard a lot about it when I was living in Spain, and one of my friends visited and said it was amazing.

They pretty much rule.

Independent Fabrications is another employee owned frame-building company aren't they?

http://www.ifbikes.com/

Urbane Cyclist in Toronto sell very nice, no-frills bikes and frames under the Urbanite brand, but I have the impression they get their frames from somewhere. Anyhow they are definitely a co-op.

http://ucycle.com/bikes/index2.php?cat=urbanite

If!

Most smaller custom shops are technically worker-owned, in that the only worker is the owner. Does that count?

umm, and we should care what form of industrial organization characterizes particular frame shops why?

My small operation is most certainly worker owned and operated, as are a large number of independent framebuilders.

http://www.jacobsbicycles.com

Err, no. There are 4 partners. The rest are just usual staff and their frames are sourced from Taiwan. They're still a good shop though.

I will take your word for it shapelike, I just assumed based on seeing this thingee:

http://ucycle.com/Common/urblogo.gif

what's a rough price on an IF? I've been poking around for a custom frame

around $2100 for a painted f+f with no braze-ons. that's usually what they retail for in the dealer shops (remember, all IFs are "custom" built but not necessarily for you." i think if you order one directly from them it comes down to about $1700 base, with any additional customization work done without too much extra charge.

they are great looking bikes, and all three i've ridden have been really nice.

Yep, I think it was a w.c. in the past but it's definitely run by 4 partners now.

is that frame or is that complete?

frame and fork w/paint. nothing else. that's for the steel, if you want Ti obviously it's much more.

dang....$850 for a lugged steel track frame has got to be the most reasonable price i've seen so far. are the 1010 style dropouts horizontal dropouts or vertical? how long is the wait? do you have any "off the peg" frames for less $? beautiful frames by the way. that seat cluster in your gallery is the shiz.

A fixed-specific frame with 1010 style dropouts? Genius, I love it! *bookmarks jacobs' site*

Umm, and the OP said that anybody besides himself should care what form of industrial organization characterizes particular frame shops where?

Sorry, It took me a month to reply. I don't want to violate forum rules, so very short here - anything further please go to PM.

1010 style dropouts are horizontal dropouts. The Campagnolo 1010, and 1010b are a very classic, beautiful forged dropout seen on many of the best frames of their time.

http://www.velostuf.com/campy1010ati.jpg

My wait time is short. No "off the peg" frames, full custom builds only.

Thanks for the kind words!

i got this far and shot beer out of my nose.

I wrote a reply, but I'm going to send a PM.

Thanks for the interest everyone!

I hope it involved a screen shot of John Locke and "DON'T TELL ME WHAT I CAN'T DO!" written in all caps.

Not quite, but rest assured, my prices aren't going to change yet.

I do however feel like my labor is going at a ridiculously cheap rate...so:


it's not reasonable, it's a steal. Get in while my prices are low, because they will go up more as my wait list grows.