How to be a Bike Frame Builder, with Nate Zukas

Nate Zukas is a bike frame builder living in Augusta, GA. He's been building bikes since 2011 and works in steel, titanium, and aluminum.

By Jeff Barber
July 11, 2023 Last Updated: July 11, 2023

Singletracks may receive compensation for purchases made through any affiliate links in this article.

Nate Zukas is a bike frame builder living in Augusta, GA. He’s been building bikes since 2011 and works in steel, titanium, and aluminum.

How’d you get started as a frame builder?
Is it unusual for a frame builder to work in both steel and aluminum?
What’s different about working with the two materials?
As a frame builder, how much are you able to affect a bike’s ride feel and performance? How do you do it?
What do you look for in a project or a client?
How much of a frame build is your vision versus the client’s? In terms of what you bring to the build, how much of it is artistry versus practicality and experience?
What trends are you seeing in terms of the types of frames buyers want?
Which projects are you most proud of?
Have you ever had a project that was a disaster, or one that surprised you in another way?
Is Augusta a good place to be a frame builder? What’s the riding community like there?
What’s your vision for the future of Zukas Cycles? Is expansion a goal for you?

Website: zukascycles.com. Instagram: @natezukas.

The Singletracks podcast is brought to you by TPC — The Pro’s Closet.

Now is the perfect time to upgrade, and TPC has an industry-leading selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned bikes, plus frames, wheels and accessories. Each Certified, Pre-Owned bike is inspected, tested and serviced, and every bike includes thirty day returns. Visit tpc.bike/singletracks and enter code Singletracks40 to save forty dollars on every order over two hundred.