Tarn of Primate Frames is one of Australia’s most innovative builders. A giant of a man, he naturally creates bikes that won’t disintegrate underneath him. Working primarily in steel, he has a portfolio of bikes that range from 29er hardtails to BMXs to cargo bikes and even a tandem that he and his girlfriend toured Japan upon. All of which are manufactured indestructibly enough to jump off the side of a house with.
The level of finish has the touch of a maestro, and the photos on his blog track the stages from design to completion. To see the final product with paint by Peter of Star Enamel is like the unwrapping of a Christmas present. Needless to say, when I saw that he had plans for a road frame in the works, I waited with baited breath to see the result. Both road bike and mountain bike aficionados will be able to appreciate this, as the obvious resilience of this frame would be enough to get sideways over a hip at the skate park. Weight weenies will sniff, but this frame is enough to take on any Col, chew it up and use it for a toothpick.
For more detail shots, including those of the interesting cockpit layout, have a look at the Primate Frames blog. There’s also a post on there with a gallery of the building process and Tarn’s dissertation of working with the Columbus Aero tube set. Give him a call if you’re disillusioned with the fragility of modern frames, he’ll be able to solve your problems.
