We could feature a different frame builder every day of the year without a repeat, but if you listed them according to how many years they’ve been in business, there would be only a small percentage with more than 10.
Montana’s Carl Strong and his Strong Frames have been making frames in and around Bozeman for more than two decades — about 3,500 frames — and one of their latest was for a good friend of theirs: BMC’s Tejay van Garderen.
Since the beginning of Carl’s business in Grandma’s Garage back in 1993, Strong Frames have undergone many trials and tribulations, the story of which he’s documented on his website. One detail that has been omitted is that they were Tejay van Garderen‘s first bike sponsor when he started racing.
Tejay wanted a bike that was ‘his’ and for their 5th wedding anniversary, his wife asked Carl to make this Custom Blend titanium gravel frame with thru-axles, flat mount brakes, internal brake routing and paint work by Oliver at Dark Matter Finishing.
Oliver added the date and a reference to his two daughters to the design, and it was built up with Shimano Dura Ace 9170 and power cranks. It’s rolling on ENVE 4.5AR wheels, Chris King hubs and headset, and a 3T cockpit and ENVE GRD fork is in front.
Tejay lives in Girona, Spain, during the racing season, but at least now he owns a little reminder of his childhood home and the positive values that have sustained Strong Frames over an equally long and storied career.
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