Rack Building
TAUGHT BY StarMichael Bowman
Coming summer 2025
Custom Rack building classes.
Classes will be one to two students and take about 30-60 hours. Traditionally Classes are 4-6 hours or so per day for two weeks. But for those living in Portland or wanting to spend more time here we can slow the classes down. Or even do just weekends or otherwise work around your schedule.
Classes will include a full syllabus, and all materials are included. Materials can be upgraded for extra. Class will include an overview of what it takes to build a rack, rack theory and design. And a comprehensive resources guide. You will walk away with the knowledge you need to get started collecting tools and parts to begin building racks at home! If you want, no pressure.
No previous experience required! We will practice brazing rack joints and cut them in half to see how brazing flows and works. As well as designing racks, cutting and bending rack tubes. I will make a rack right alongside you too, to demonstrate each step in the process and help guide you along.
This class is great for someone that wants to learn the basics, or just know how it’s done and wants a cool experience, and custom rack you made to ride around on your bike with. It’s not great for someone wanting to make the most complicated and complex rack of all times. you will need to save that for your next one!
You’re first rack is going to be a little weird and wonky. It’s going to have character and quirks! It’s going to be hand made by you and one of a kind!
Basic classic small to medium handlebar bag, or demi porter racks recommended. If you’ve got something else in mind and done tons of research and have an idea about design and angles and clearance, we can probably do that, but let’s talk about it first.
This class can be taken over and over to design and build racks for other bikes or what not. We can spend less time on theory and practice and more time getting right into the racks themselves, allowing for more complex designs.
*NOTE: You will need the bike, or at least frame/fork that you want to build the rack for. So, plan accordingly!
Check out our Friends over at Frame Builder Supply for custom designed and perfect rack tab selection, and to get Ideas about what can be done!
These tabs will be included in your rack building class and I’m extra stoked on them as I had some say in their design and sizing, as well as convincing them to pick up the M.A.P ones after M.A.P Cycles stopped making them.
These really are the best fitting and easiest to work with tabs I’ve ever tried. Most of the example racks in these pictures use these rack tabs!
