Switchcraft Cycles: simple but not ordinary

Switchcraft Cycles is Jakub Junek. Hailing from the Czech Republic and specialising in steel machines with really short back ends. 390mm chainstays anyone? #lovesbackwheel

Jakub sent us in a few pics of his latest creations and we thought you ‘d like to see them. That’s it really. Who doesn’t love one-off bike creations?

The pics that landed in our inbox were of three bikes: Switchcraft’s second single pivot with 420mm chainstays, a dirt jumper with 29in wheels and super short 390mm chainstays, and finally a more or less ‘ordinary’ flat bar gravel bike.

Watch the video above (turn on the English subtitles) to hear how Jakub got started in framebuilding.

Jakub: “I started without any background or experience. I had a vision of a bike that would resemble a BMX but with 29” wheels. Then I started to learn what I need to know to make bikes. I got a job as a welder to properly learn welding. Then step by step my builds got better.

“Before I decided to go with a single pivot I was looking for the simplest and most durable way to make a suspension.

“I took almost a half a year of drawing a frame, then two more months to build it. Since I like to jump a lot, I used the strongest tubing I could find.

“For the pivot I machined a BMX bottom bracket so it could fit massive 41mm bearings and 24mm axle from hardened steel.

“To keep the bike agile I used a yoke to fit the wheel closer to the BB. Final dimension is 420mm which is not bad for a 29er.

“Every bike I’ve built is different. I like them simple but not ordinary.”

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While you’re here…

Ben Haworth

Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

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