Sklar, Stinner, and the Business of Being Small
A candid look at the different paths of Stinner, Sklar, and Afterhours Framebuilding. How three top builders are surviving and redefining American manufacturing.
There is a lingering romanticism about the American frame builder—the solitary figure filing lugs in a dim garage, covered in dust and glory. But watching this roundtable with Aaron Stinner, Adam Sklar, and Bradford Smith (Afterhours Framebuilding), what struck me wasn't the shared craftsmanship, but the stark divergence of their survival strategies. We’re seeing a maturation of the "handmade" scene where the business model is just as bespoke as the geometry. You have Sklar, who candidly pivoted to high-end Taiwanese production to reclaim his time for actual design (and riding), versus Stinner, who doubled down on scaling domestic manufacturing, and Smith, who is happily embracing the low-volume, solo-artist role after cutting his teeth at Seven and Geekhouse.
It’s a refreshing reality check on the post-COVID bike industry. The conversation highlights that the era of "custom for custom's sake" is fading, replaced by a push for "purpose-built" machines. Whether it’s a batch-produced Sklar that nails the geometry without the waitlist, or a singular creation from Afterhours, the value prop has shifted. It makes me optimistic that despite the industry's recent economic hangover, there is still plenty of room for the small guys—provided they know exactly which lane they’re riding in.
