Welcome to DORNBOX Bikes.
My Name is Christopher Dornbach
and I’m a self-professed bike fanatic!
While I have the experience to hold
more jobs and trades than should
be humanly possible, bicycle frame
building has been my most
cherished and rewarding
endeavor... next to being a dad.
What Materials do I use to build my frames and why:
With a background in art, design, structures, and industrial fabrication, I design and build every DORNBOX frame to perform and fit as nicely as it looks. While I wholly believe that every material is a great choice for a given situation or set of needs, due to the durability, value, ride characteristics, and versatility to meet nearly every set of cycling needs, I decided to exclusively offer frames made from steel.
I encourage clients to conduct their own research on materials and listen to opinions from the people in the industry who only have constructive things to say about other craftsman and other materials. Why, because if the material has been or is widely used in the industry and as long as it meets the needs of the rider, it’s a good choice.
My philosophy and approach to frame building:
Offer an exceptional frame in all aspects: Value, performance, durability, comfort, aesthetics, and satisfaction: Just to name a few.
My relationship, past and current, with bikes:
I’m a rider. I ride…. I ride often (a little less now that I’m daddy)…. I ride hard... even when I’m out of shape after having taken time off the bike. I like the bumps, fluid lines, trees, jumps, and smells that a dirt trail has to offer. I love the speed and sleek lines and serenity of a country road or mountain highway. I get a high from the sound of buzzing chains on cassettes while riding in groups and pushing others to crack while often cracking myself. I find peace in the lack of noise as I head out into the woods on my single speed. I enjoy looking at bikes... a lot. I love them all, from the rusty ones that cost $20.00 at a yard sale to the ones that require years of waiting and a small fortune to obtain.
I don’t have a memory of a period of my life where I wasn’t riding. I’ve permanently lost memory as a result of riding (always wear a helmet). I’ve made friends on bikes and I’ve lost friends on bikes. I’m married to a national champion and pray to God our son finds half as much enjoyment in bikes as we do. I have hucked off large rocks and shot tight gaps. I’ve pedaled aimlessly through neighborhoods and cities for hours just too look around. I’ve raced in the dirt; I will be racing on the road (masters!). I’ve commuted to work for distances both short and long. I once spent a summer unemployed riding between 40 to 100 miles a day in weather that was often over 105 º exploring a state I just moved to… purely so I could ride more. I’ve ridden with studded tires on my bike and lights on my helmet through frozen forests and ponds, pedaled through monsoons… and I’ve refused to ride because it was only 58º outside… “burrrrr that’s too cold”!
When I build frames, this is what I draw from. These are my passions. Whether you’re flying down a mountain, gritting your teeth in the peloton, or tooling through the neighborhood, if your riding a DORNBOX frame, your riding my past and my future while creating your own.
A special thanks to Tobias Stanton of Hot Tubes and Hot Tubes Jr. Development Racing Team for continually helping me refine my craft.
Cheers!
