It was a few months back when I decided to update my Strava profile to better reflect my corporate sponsorship. ‘Bryan Kevan’ became ‘Bryan Kevan | BMK Frameworks’, and since then, I’ve been playfully weaving in references to ‘… my SPONSOR’ during group rides.
But here’s the thing – I am my own sponsor. BMK Frameworks? That’s all me.
Bryan Kevan with BMK Frameworks
It’s been a while since I last wrote about framebuilding, even though these posts are consistently the most popular on my blog. Truthfully, my process has evolved to a point where I’m less inclined to share every detail publicly. Protecting that intellectual property, you know? So, apologies to those who’ve asked for open-source files and CAD drawings. These things take considerable time and effort to develop. This post, then, is more of a visual update, showcasing recent Bmk Bike frames and progress.
Original BMK Bike Frame
It’s hard to believe where it all began. This original BMK bike frame has clocked over 5000km.
Carbon framebuilding and bikepacking have become deeply intertwined with my life and identity in recent years. These two passions are so connected that discussing one without the other feels incomplete. How can I explain the intricacies of the fiberwinder without recalling those long, solitary nights in Uzbekistan spent planning its creation? How can I detail the geometry and components of this new bikepacking rig without referencing my firsthand experiences with the challenging Kyrgyz terrain it’s designed to conquer? And how do I maintain the motivation for those 12-15 hour training weeks for August without acknowledging the surge of energy a freshly built BMK bike frame provides?
New Bike Season Feeling with BMK Bike
As always, my BMK bike tubes are fiberwound using my Arduino-powered fiberwinder. This method continues to deliver excellent ride quality. The frames are not overly stiff, avoiding that harsh, unforgiving feel, yet they possess the right amount of spring and frame flex for powerful climbing.
Carbon Fiber Placement on BMK Bike Frame
The essence of carbon bikes lies in achieving that perfect equilibrium between frame flex and stiffness. The beauty of fiberwinding is the precise control it offers over fiber placement. You can reinforce specific sections or utilize fibers with varying tensile strengths to strategically manage flex. This procedure is the most guarded IP among carbon framebuilding companies; it’s the artisanal heart of this craft.
Dropout Attachments of a BMK Bike Frame
My ride quality testing for each BMK bike is primarily conducted on the road. After riding a frame for a few months, I become attuned to its flex characteristics, noting areas I appreciate and areas for improvement. This feedback directly informs the design of the next frame. So, yes, as I’m pushing up Las Flores Canyon from the PCH each Thursday morning with the Las Flores Breakfast Club, I’m that guy engrossed in thoughts about bike geometry and frame flex. A true bike nerd, indeed.
Multiple BMK Bike Frames and Fiberwinder
I’m genuinely thrilled with how everything has progressed with BMK Frameworks. While I can no longer delve into the intricate details of the process due to IP concerns, I wanted to create a space to share some images of my BMK bike frames, both in progress and out on adventures.
BMK Bike in Peruvian Cordillera
The BMK Pamir, my dependable second frame, served me faithfully for 10,000km before it was retired for parts. It accompanied me on an international trip and countless long days on the gravel roads of the Santa Monica Mountains.
BMK Olimpica Road Bike
But progress marches on. In the summer of 2019, I crafted a road bike, the BMK Olimpica. With 6,000km under its belt, it has become my primary commuter and road cycling companion. It’s an exceptional BMK bike, and it has enjoyed a fantastic start to its life.
Fiberwound Tubes of BMK Bike Frame
The Olimpica was my first BMK frame to incorporate a plug design, where the fiberwound tubes slot into separately molded lugs. This design was a game-changer, a technique I had aimed to perfect since the very beginning of my framebuilding journey.
Untitled BMK Frameworks Bikepacking Rig
In 2020, I built a dedicated bikepacking rig. My intention is to put this BMK bike frame to the ultimate test in the Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan this August, adventures I plan to detail in a future post. This race is the driving force behind my current intense training regimen.
Plugs and Lugs of BMK Bike Frame
This unnamed BMK bike – yet to be christened until the celebratory bottle is broken – is by far the finest frame I’ve ever created. It strikes that ideal balance of stiffness and compliance, it’s surprisingly light, and it’s equipped with higher-end components than my previous builds, resulting in an exceptional ride experience. I also significantly improved the paint application – less epoxy, richer pigment, and a clear coat to prevent yellowing over time.
BMK Bike Framebuilding Journey
This journey with BMK Frameworks has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m deeply grateful for the resources and time to dedicate to this passion. To everyone who has offered words of encouragement along the way – thank you. My friends, family, group ride companions, classmates, industry colleagues, fellow bikepackers, and travelers I’ve met – thank you for appreciating what I do.
Thanks for visiting BMK Frameworks. Welcome to the world of BMK Bike.
