EVERY Wild Card STARTS WITH A CONVERSATION
PLAN
Every bike at Wild Card starts with a conversation between me and the rider. Whether you want a bare frame or the fully built bike of your dreams, I need to understand your riding style, intended use, and fit. Don't know precisely what you want? Not a problem. I can help with that, too.
After you sign-off on the design, I require a small deposit to get in the build queue. I’ll keep you in the loop until it’s go-time.
FABRICATION
I take the plan and turn it into a reality in my Opelika-based workshop. Each tube is cut, milled, formed, welded, and finished by hand to incredibly exacting tolerances. It's the only way I can be sure that the bike you envisioned will serve you well for years to come. You’ll receive updates and photos from me of your frame throughout fabrication and finishing.
FINISH
With the fabrication complete, I paint, powder coat, or anodize each bike with the design of your dreams. While a bare frame might be your goal, full builds are ideal because they allow us to ensure each specific component is appropriately selected, installed, and dialed-in before your first ride. After final adjustments and polish, I'll either ship it out to you or schedule a time for you to pick it up.
FAQ
CAN I ORDER JUST A FRAME?
Of course! While I prefer full builds because they allow us to ensure each specific component is appropriately selected, installed, and dialed-in before your first ride, many riders just want a bare frame. I'm happy to oblige.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Each Wild Card starts with a discussion with me. Shoot me an email and we can get the ball rolling.
CAN I DO CUSTOM PAINT?
Yes! Each Wild Card's final finish is selected by the rider. While I have a selection of suggested designs, I'll work with you to get the perfect color and design dialed in.
Have an idea so crazy that I can't execute it in-house? No problem. I'm happy to work with any paint shop in the country.
HOW MUCH DOES A METAL BIKE WEIGH?
While I prefer thinking more about how the bike rides, carbon fiber bikes have made weight a huge concern.
The answer depends on various factors, such as the frame's material, geometry, and components. I recently completed a steel gravel frame with clearance for 50c tires, and it weighed in at just under 4 pounds with the rear thru-axle installed and under 20 pounds with the full build.
Could it have been lighter? Sure. But after 5 minutes of riding on local gravel, it sure didn't seem like the rider cared about how much it weighed.
CAN I COME BY AND SEE You WORKING ON MY BIKE?
Most definitely. Just shoot me an email to set up a time.
DO YOU HAVE STANDARD BUILD PACKAGES?
Yes! Any frame I build can be built up with a standard build package. If you want something more custom, we can do that, too.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
That depends on multiple factors, such as how quickly we can get the design nailed down and what kind of components you want if you're doing a full build. In general, I’d expect around 3 months from start to finish, though I will keep you in the loop throughout the process as we move forward.
DO YOU REQUIRE A DEPOSIT?
Yes. After we finalize the design of your bike, I ask for a small deposit when I place the order for tubes. A deposit for a steel or aluminum frame is $200, and titanium frames are $400. That covers only a small portion of my expenses, but I work best when we both have skin in the game.