Steel. Printed. Welded and unique. Thadeus Tisch
Reading time: 9–10 minutes
If you are not a biker, living under a rock, you should be familiar with bikes featuring 3D-printed titanium parts. But other metals can also be printed, including steel. Thadeus Tisch has many years of experience in frame building and has developed an exciting concept bike. Steel singlespeed, high- and singlepivot, rearward axle path. He reduced everything to the essentials and crafted with care. Enjoy this insight about his custom parkbike.
More Custom-Projects can be found here.
Who is Thadeus and why he is building bikes?
In the upcoming podcast, we will dive much deeper into this question. What can be said for now is that Thadeus is a passionate frame builder, and has been for many years. Steel was his gateway material, allowing him to create a wide variety of bikes. He doesn't limit himself to just one category – from dirt jump bikes, mountain bikes, and hardtails, to downhillers and even four-wheeled children's bikes, he did it all.
In addition to his day job as a designer at Norco, he also uses his spare time to dream up even more bikes. Or even a pedal. Why? He can, and also because products, available on the market, not always satisfy his needs. Passionate or driven? In any case, he's a fascinating character in the bike scene, with his own mind, his own ideas, and the will and skill to bring a product to life.
"I wanted to weld thin tubes right from the start. I knew from the very beginning that I only wanted to build bikes. There was no need for me to start easy with construction steel." – Thadeus Tisch
| Frame | Custom Thadeus Tisch |
|---|---|
| Shock | Cane Creek Tigon 210 x 55 |
| Fork | Intend Bandit 170 mm |
| Headset | no name ZS44/EC44 |
| Handlebar | Syntace Vector 7075 20 mm rise |
| Stem | Intend Grace FR |
| Grips | Lizard Skins Northshore |
| Brakes | Magura MT7 |
| Cranks | Praxis Cadet M30 |
| Chainring | no name / Gates CDX |
| BB | Praxis HD30 |
| Chain | Gates Carbon Drive CDX |
| Cassette | Gates CDX |
| Pedals | OneUp |
| Rims | e*thirteen |
| Hubs | SRAM |
| Tires | DHF EXO+ – DHR II DD |
| Saddle | Fabric Scoop |
Frame
Anyone who seriously builds bike frames typically has a set of tubes they rely on. The same goes for Thadeus. A few years ago, he stocked up on steel tubes, none of which are tapered. In the past, he used laser-cut steel sheets to shape the bottom bracket area, but for the NAF Parker, he uses 3D printing with 309L steel and combines it with his tube set.
This is a clever way to create precise parts and outsource complexity in manufacturing. Why not use titanium like Atherton? The cost of additively manufactured steel parts is roughly ten times cheaper. If one were to weld the parts themselves, titanium would bring its own set of challenges. Steel is much more straightforward in that regard.
Rattling on the bike should be minimized as much as possible. That’s why Thadeus’ creation features a belt drive and a single gear. A high pivot helps absorb impacts, especially since the bike is designed for park use and has slightly less suspension travel. 170 mm at the front and 160 mm at the rear should be enough. This is partly due to the suspension design, but Thadeus also rides his downcountry bike with less travel everywhere – so why would 160 mm in the park be a problem?
Sheet metal helps before the actual tubes are prepared.
Steel in printed and tube form, joined.
Paintjob
Sitting on the wild side? Thadeus is a child of the '80s. In any case, people of that age are likely to remember this style of design. Polarizing? Probably. Eye-catching? Definitely! His frames always attract attention on the trails. It's not uncommon for his projects to be recognized. Respect is usually given.
Clever Details
Compact to the core
The goal was to give the frame a clean, tidy look. The shock fits tightly into the additively manufactured cage. Thadeus knowingly and willingly accepts drawbacks, such as a slightly cumbersome removal process. In the end, he’s a designer, and in his own projects, he wants to focus on the aesthetics. And how often do you really remove and install a shock?
Combining additive und subtractive manufacturing
The principle of the linkage and the attached "belt tensioner" is not new. However, it still creates a clean, tidy look. This photo showcases various manufacturing techniques, including both custom-made and off-the-shelf components. It beautifully illustrates the possibilities available to enthusiasts. Additive manufacturing methods have opened the door wide for such projects and creative approaches.
Where is the seatpost?
Simply integrated! On a park bike, you know exactly where the saddle should be – usually at the bottom. So why add an extra tube within a tube when you could mount the saddle directly?
As clean as it gets. Singlespeed. Gates.
NAF PArker – The bike
What can be said about the build? Every part has been carefully thought out and chosen with the intended use in mind. Can one argue about the relatively low suspension travel and the single-crown fork on a park bike? Certainly. Still, that doesn’t make the project any less impressive. Slim tubes and a love for a clean aesthetic make Thadeus Tisch's latest creation a real treat.
NAF Parker – made by Thadeus Tisch
How we will continue?
Finishing a bike in winter is always a bit of a dilemma. Do you have the heart to take your fresh creation straight into the snow and mud? Or would you rather wait for better conditions to take the first test laps? Thadeus chose the latter. We’re excited to hear his impressions. Be sure to follow him on Instagram. He’ll keep your feed filled with more treats like pedals, bikes, and glimpses into his workshop.
You want more custom bikes?
Autor – Jens Staudt
Größe: 191 cm
Gewicht: 87 kg
Fahrstil: Mit seinem Race-Hintergrund sind die Linien geplant, auch wenn es mal rumpelt. Wenn möglich, werden Passagen übersprungen. Die ganze Breite eines Trails sollte man nutzen. Andere würden sagen – kompromisslos.
Motivation: Ein Produkt sollte sorgenfrei und möglichst lange funktionieren. Wenn man weniger schrauben muss, kann man mehr fahren. Er bastelt gerne und schaut, wie das Bike noch optimiert werden kann.