Sinister Bikes

FTW Inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame

"Being considered for induction into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame is an honor which would pour juice onto my creative fires, as I have much yet to contribute"

2007 INDUCTEE FRANK WADELTON

I was born in Hollywood, California. My Father worked for the motion picture industry as a machinist and I spent most of my weekends at work in his machine shop or out motorcycle riding in the Mojave Desert. I got my first bicycle as a hand-me -down from my sister. It was a Schwinn Stingray and as soon as it was in my hands it was being modified for "moto cross". I was never good at throwing or catching a ball and never really fit in with that crowd. My bicycle was the freedom machine that took me to the nearby foothills and the surrounding neighborhood. Having a welding set and a few machines made me a good friend to have in those days. Cross bars needed to be welded into handlebars, and frames needed to be repaired. I had built my first frame in the summer before 7th grade (1972) from materials gathered from 10 speed frames and shopping carts. It was a “mono-shock” suspension frame, a copy of a motorcycle prototype I had seen in a magazine.

I continued to ride throughout Junior High but before long a drivers license had replaced my bike as my most valued possession. I had begun to race motocross in ‘79 and was working at a contract shop welding Mongoose BMX frames. I saw a 26" wheeled racer they were producing and just had to have one. I fitted it with taller bar and stem and used it to train in the local foothills to build endurance for Motocross.

By ’83 I was married and had sold the motorcycle to buy diapers and was working as a ironworker in San Fernando, CA. A friend had purchased a Stumpjumper and soon I was blowing the dust off my Cruiser and riding again. I entered a race in the local foothills. It was a Hill-climb/Downhill and many of the early "Hot Shoes" were there. It was the first time I had heard names like Tomac, Sloup and De Angeles. I entered the downhill event (my bike was still a single speed) and ended up tying Mark Langton for the win in novice class.

The friend who had purchased the stumpjumper has Jim Herting, father of Chris Herting (Yeti/3D) and Eric (Atomic/Easton). I used to frequent the bike shop where Chris worked, and he had told me that he had purchased a T.I.G. machine and a small mill and was going to make bike frames. I offered my services as a welder and we began producing one-off frames for friends and shop customers. It was there that I built my first mountain bike frame. I used the lightest tubes I could find and drilled holes in everything I could. It was as flexy as could be and the stays were so short that I had to notch them to get the chain rings to fit.
Around 1984 or so, we had moved to what was once a Mexican watering hole in San Fernando and were building frames after work and on weekends. John Parker of Yeti had seen an ad in BMX magazine and approached us about building frames for him. After a few years we were made partners in Yeti and had moved to Durango. I was living the frame builders dream, going to the races and building frames for the biggest names in the industry. It was during these years that I worked on several projects for Shimano, Campagnolo, Onza, Barracuda and many others.

I had left Yeti by 1993 and went to work in Phoenix, AZ. I went through many changes in my life. I started a company but it seemed I would rather give frames away than sell them. I kept it up for a few years. I was building a lot of frames for Pro’s who weren’t willing to ride the frames their sponsors had supplied.

In 1994, I had built 100 frames for a company called "Spooky". The name sounded silly but they had a fresh attitude and the checks cleared so we stayed in touch. By ’96 I had closed up shop in Arizona and headed east to check out the slippery singletrack of rural New York. I have been working at Spooky and living in the east for two years. I really liked the people I work with and the singletrack couldn’t be better...people love to ride here in a big way!

Funny story: when I was working for Yeti, some of the boys from Easton had dropped off a prototype set of frame tubes. I had always loved Aluminum but Parker had mentioned several times that Yeti would never build an aluminum frame. I was really excited, but John had insisted that the tubes would not be touched. The team had left for Mammoth to attend the races and it was just me, a couple of the crew, and John’s wife, Linda. I grabbed those tubes knowing full well that I would be punished. I had the frame almost done when Linda came out and saw what I was doing and called John in Mammoth. I knew I was dead. He told me to pack my stuff and hit the road! Just then, Zapata Espinoza (MBA) walked in. We knew each other well. He saw the frame and loved it! I asked him to call Parker and see what he could do. He said, "Parker you’re a genius!! That’s the coolest frame I have ever seen!! I need to do a review of this!" Needless to say, I was back on Johns good side and the subject was never brought up again.

Cycling to me has always been the link between one part of my life and the next. My friends are cyclists. I choose everything in my life according to its relation to a bicycle. My bike has always been a way to both ease the pain and celebrate the joy in every aspect of my life. I still go to races as often as I can. My son races BMX and my daughter raced her first downhill race on a custom 7" travel 24" wheeled bike. (She took second place!) I race downhill in 40+ expert, raced BMX every Wednesday evening for years, and ride my cross-country bike in festivals and local fun rides. I also sponsor some kids in BMX who can’t afford bikes.

My biggest accomplishments in the cycling industry include: 1) Input in development of Easton frame tubes; 2) Made Zapata’s top 100 list some years ago; 3) Fabricated first set of two fingered Shimano brake levers; 4) Welded first set of two sided clipless pedals for Don Mirah; 5) Designed A-tac stem for Answer products; 6) Designed new bar ends for Onza; 7) Co-designed all Yeti frames; 8) Pioneered "soft tail" design that is currently popular on XC bikes; 9) Pioneered use of plastic bushings in pivots; 10) First to use MMC material in frames; 11) Designed tires and grips with Yeti; 12) Built frames for John Tomac, Juli Furtado, Lisa Muhic, Tinker Juarez, Brian Lopes, Miles Rockwell, Missy Giove, Sarah Ballentine, Don Mirah, Daren& Kurt Stockton, Davis Phinny, Greg Orovits, The Evian team, Leigh Donovan, Jimmy Deaton, Russ Worley, and others who escape my memory just now. I think I have built more different bikes by hand than most anyone (aluminum, steel, Ti, MMC, and frames for DH, DS, XC, trials, track, BMX, road and even a unicycle out of wood).

I think my greatest contribution to the sport is always reminding people to have fun. I have worked on some awesome bikes with some great athletes and designed some neat stuff but FUN is always where it’s at. I’ve promoted some races for St. Jude’s Hospital and some nuns came to watch us race. They really enjoyed the races and fresh air. They commented that they had never seen so many people having fun and enjoying life.

The thing I have always loved about mountain bike racing is that the industry has always embraced innovation and evolvement. I love to try new things technology-wise: suspension, disc brakes or whatever. I always encourage new designers to do what they want and always "go for it". There is no such thing as a bad idea.

My most memorable ride was with a group of about twenty riders on the Hermosa Creek Trail north of Durango. We were several hours into the ride and it was raining and the views were awesome. We had spread out quite a bit, and I was all by myself on a sweet stretch of singletrack. I heard a thumping sound and thought I had flatted. I slowed a little and noticed that I was riding in the middle of a heard of elk; I settled
into a pace with them. I could feel the warmth of their breath. They began to veer to the left as I went to the right I could almost swear that I got a "nod of approval" from one of the bucks. It was something that still brings tears to my eyes as I type this now.

I have had so many wonderful cycling experiences in my life and could keep going page after page. Right now I race Downhill, BMX, ride XC, and don’t think a day has ever gone by when I didn’t at least touch a bicycle. What else can be said?

What you just read was a bio I submitted in ’01 to the MBHOF . That was the year Rich Long was killed motorcycle riding near Big Bear. What a tragedy!

So much has changed since then. Can you think of a four-year period in which more has changed in the cycling industry?! Many quality bikes are made from plastics and heavy bikes are not necessarily cheap. A lot has changed in my life and career in the same four years. I got married, tried my hand at entrepreneurship again and relocated to New England to promote and develop the Sinister Bikes brand. I am still committed to focusing my creative energy on a diversified product line and the evolution of performance cycling at Sinister Bikes.

Being considered for induction into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame is an honor which would pour juice onto my creative fires, as I have much yet to contribute. Thanks!

Sinister Supports Our Troops
12 June 2007

Sinister Bikes, proudly hand-built in North America, is offering a discount to all current enlisted military personnel. Though Sinister does not condone war, we do support the troops and the effort that goes into making the world safer for everyone...to ride bikes!

Sinister will offer a generous discount off MSRP on all of their current offerings to anyone with a valid military ID who is actively serving our country.

Sinister Bikes co-owner Bruce Linehan says, "You have to support the troops. These kids are over in Iraq and other countries dying in war while we ride around on fancy bicycles and yap on the internet. It's our way of saying thank you and we wish we could do more!"

Sinister Bikes strives to support many causes and local efforts despite being a small rider owned company based in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Co-owner Skye Nacel sums it up. "As the son of a former Purple Heart and decorated Marine, I realize how F-ed up it is for people to be involved in war of any kind without any support from their own country. This is our way of doing that. We hope the troops will come home soon, safely!"

We are proud of our service men and women and look forward to seeing you all on the trails soon.

For More information Click on our Friends below. GovOutdoor allows military personnel the ability to securely register and purchase gear from over 50 brands from anywhere in the world!!

Dieselbikes D-Day Event at Lynn Woods - June 3rd
01 May 2007

Lynn Woods Mountain Bike Event - June 3rd

It has been unanimously approved by Lynn Woods Park Management! On Sunday June 3rd, we are proud to present our first "Dieselbikes D-Day Mountain Bike Event".

What is the D-Day event? This event will be a host for local bike shops and manufacturer reps to provide and showcase DEMO bikes for the general public to test ride in Lynn Woods.

We have received our permit for this event and plan to make this event a success for the local bike community. Sponsors such as Cycle Loft, JRA Cycles, Iron Horse, Sinister and Ski Market have currently signed up to provide DEMO bikes for this event. Dieselbikes will be hosting this event and provide group rides for all rider levels. Our group leaders will take you and your DEMO bike of choice on a 20 to 30 minute ride, in the woods on a pre-determined course.

Whether you are a beginner and wish to just ride the bike on the fire road, or more advance and wish to ride some sick lines on a bike that you were thinking of purchasing, this is the event for you. More information will follow about this event in the coming weeks. Below is a list of basic information you need to know for this upcoming event:

Date: Sunday June 3rd (In the event of bad weather, make up day is scheduled for the following Sunday June 10th).
Location: Lynn Woods Great Woods Entrance. Event will be held next to the ball field.
Event Time: Begins at 9:00am and runs until 4:00pm
Event Admission: TBD
USE OF DEMO BIKES: Each sponsor will have requirements for proper photo ID and completing waiver forms before riding any demo bike. Riders under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent with proper photo ID. Availability of demo bike is on a first come first serve basis.
Dieselbikes Group Rides: Group rides will happen throughout the event. Ride leaders and riding levels will be posted during the event.

Again, more information is to follow in the coming weeks, but we are excited to announce this event and believe it will be fun for all ages. If you want to participate as an individual or sponsor, please feel free to contact me directly: frankd@dieselbikes.com

We thank everyone in advance for their support.

Sinister Bikes Has a New Home and Re-Focused Mission! Look Out!!!
12 March 2007

Sinister Bikes, a longtime East Coast based handmade bicycle manufacturer, has relocated the company headquarters and has some new blood at the helm. Frank Wadelton a.k.a. Frank the Welder (FTW) will continue to handle design and production while welding his legendary bicycles renowned throughout the world. The new structure will allow FTW to create, design and weld in his own facility while the day-to-day operations are handled by new owners Bruce Linehan and Skye Nacel.

As FTW says,

“I’m really excited to be focusing on production and realizing the potential of Sinister. With all of my energy being put into production, I feel it is possible to improve the quality and turnaround times greatly. I just want to make bicycles, is that so wrong?!”

Linehan, a.k.a Bruce the Firefighter (BTF) will be running operations at the new headquarters in Gloucester Massachusetts. As many of you know, Bruce’s backyard is home to one of the areas best trails, aptly named “Bruce and Tom’s Excellent Adventure.” BTF is a fixture in the New England MTB scene and will handle day-to-day business operations along with his wife extraordinaire, the lovely Kelly Linehan. He is a successful entrepreneur and looks forward to seeing the Sinister brand thrive and continue to set an example in regards to sound business and environmental practices. He has this to say about the new set-up.

“Backed by the talented and gifted Excalibur welding genius, Frank Wadelton (a.k.a. Frank The Welder), we've moved the welding and manufacturing to a new building in Bellows Falls Vt. Lifestyle/marketing guru Skye Nacel will continue to provide us with exposure and keep the fun factor high while keeping an eye on pushing us to becoming more environmentally responsible. Having our administrative/shipping operations located in Gloucester, MA has allowed us to initiate plans for a showroom complete with demo bikes. So look forward to hitting the on-site pump track or legendary local riding spot "Bruce &Tom's XLNT ADVNTR" on a Sinister. We are looking forward to pushing Sinister to bigger and better things. The strength of Sinister Bikes has always been our customers and friends so stay tuned to see what the Sinister Family has in store!”

Skye Nacel, the lifestyle and marketing manager for the last two seasons, will continue to fly the Sinister flag high and making sure the whole world hears about the mission of this unique New England based business. He will be at events throughout New England and beyond while continuing to form alliances with other like-minded businesses within the action sports and adventure arena. The focus has and always will be on the industries which possess deeper missions that are driven by more than just profit. Skye added this message:

“Well, the future is now and it is time to bring Sinister to the forefront of the hardcore biking scene. We want to lead and not follow while bringing back the fun to this industry. There are enough corporate-type companies out there already trying to dictate what everyone else is supposed to do. And why in the hell are there so few companies in the cycling world who don’t take a bigger stand on the environment and giving back to the community? We’re not going to dwell on why, we’re just going to do our “thing” and believe me we’re here to stay!”

Sinister will focus on the current lineup of bikes. This includes the dominant R-9 which finished up last season on podiums all over the world in downhill while also pushing the boundaries of extreme freeriding. The park and jump machine, the DNA, will be back in all of it’s glory along with the bike that started it all, the Ridge. The X-C hard tail racing machine, the Mustang, will be available for pre-orders only and keep in mind the Mustang can be set up as a single speed too!

There will be many satellite teams representing the brand as well as the return of Sinister Bikes Freeride, the factory team of shredders who will be ripping up the parks, jumps and demo’s throughout the nation.

Sinister Bikes is moving forward so stay tuned for more information on bikes, factory team, media and lifestyle.

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