Parts shown 7,000 g typical weights, 56 cm example build
Custom steel bikes, fits and tune-ups in Duluth, MN
Braze Works is a small bike shop in Duluth, MN. We braze lugged steel frames by hand, build them into bikes, fit you to them and keep them running.
What we do
Custom bike frames, builds, fits and tune-ups
- 01Custom framesA lugged steel frame drawn around your body and the riding you do: road, gravel or a commuter that shrugs off salt.from $[X,XXX]
- 02Custom buildsWe build your frame, or one you bring, into a whole bike. You pick the parts with us at the bench.from $[X,XXX]
- 03Bike fitsTwo hours on our fit bike, measured and written down, so any bike you own can be set up to match.$[XXX]
- 04Tune-upsAny bike, any brand. Brakes, gears, wheels and bearings, done properly before the season or after it.from $[XX]
How a frame is made
How a custom steel frame gets made
- Step 1 of 4
Fit first
Every frame starts on the fit bike. We measure how you sit and reach, then ask where you ride and what hurts now.
- Step 2 of 4
Draw the geometry
We draw the frame to your numbers: tube lengths and angles that put the saddle and bars where your fit says.
- Step 3 of 4
Cut, mitre, braze
The tubes are cut and fitted into lugs, the sleeves that hold each joint, then brazed with brass at about 900 °C.
- Step 4 of 4
Paint and build
Paint, then the build: wheels, crank and cockpit go on and we ride it round the block before you do.
Bike fitting in Duluth
What happens in a bike fit?
A bike fit is about two hours on our adjustable fit bike. We watch you pedal, measure the six numbers on the sheet here, and set your bike to match. It fixes sore knees, numb hands and a stiff neck more often than any new part does.
The fit is $[XXX] (placeholder). If you go on to order a frame, it’s drawn to these numbers.
Book a bike fit- Saddle height
- 742 mm
- Saddle setback
- 58 mm
- Reach to bars
- 392 mm
- Bar drop
- 64 mm
- Crank length
- 170 mm
- Knee angle
- 146 °
How much does a bike tune-up cost?
A full tune-up at Braze Works is $[XX] (placeholder) and covers gears, brakes, wheel truing and a clean drivetrain. We work on any bike of any brand, and tell you the price before we start.
Safety check
Brakes, tyres, bolts and chain checked and adjusted. Same day.
$[XX]Full tune-up
Gears and brakes adjusted, wheels trued, drivetrain cleaned and oiled.
$[XX]Overhaul
Stripped to the frame, bearings repacked, cables replaced, rebuilt.
$[XXX]
Prices are placeholders for the owner to set.
Riders
What riders say about Braze Works
[Review placeholder: a real customer's words about their custom frame go here.]
[Review placeholder: a real customer's words about their bike fit go here.]
[Review placeholder: a real customer's words about a tune-up go here.]
Questions
Custom frames, fits and tune-ups: your questions
How much does a custom steel bike frame cost?
A custom lugged steel frame and fork from Braze Works starts at $[X,XXX] (placeholder: owner to confirm). A complete custom build adds the parts you choose, from $[X,XXX]. We give you a written quote after the fit, before any tube is cut.
How long does a custom frame take?
Plan on [X–X weeks] (placeholder) from your fit to riding it. Drawing and building the frame is a few weeks of bench time; paint and parts take the rest. We tell you the date when you order.
Is steel better than aluminum for a bike frame?
For most riders who want one bike for years, yes. Steel rides smoother because the tubes flex a little over rough roads, and it can be repaired: a cracked joint can be re-brazed. Aluminum is lighter and cheaper, but harsher and hard to fix.
What is a lugged steel frame?
It's a frame whose tubes join inside lugs, the shaped steel sleeves you see at each joint, brazed with brass. Lugs make joints strong without melting the tubes, and they're why an old steel bike can be fixed instead of thrown away.
How much does a bike fit cost?
A full bike fit at Braze Works is $[XXX] (placeholder) and takes about two hours. You leave with a written fit sheet, and we set up the bike you came on. If you order a frame within [X] months, the fit comes off the price.
Do you tune up bikes you didn't build?
Yes. We tune up any bike of any brand, from a kid's bike to a carbon road bike. A full tune-up is $[XX] (placeholder) and usually takes [X] days in season.
Book a bike fit or a frame consult
Every Braze Works bike starts with a fit. Call, email or stop by the shop in Duluth and we’ll find a time.
Phone, email and booking details are placeholders.