Drew Guldalian is the builder, designer, owner of Engin Cycles based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drew doesn’t build super flashy bikes but his frame details really shine. We got to catch up with Drew at his booth during the 2013 North American Handmade Bicycle Show to see what new creations he had cooked up and do a little interview.
Do you have a favorite tubing material you like to work with?
“I like to work with whatever I can get my hands on. I build both steel and titanium. I try to make my bikes ride the same whether they are made of steel or titanium. I build my bikes with custom chainstays bent by me. Deda makes custom seatstays for me. I use chromoly for curved top tubes because it works better.”
What things do you do that make you a bit different than other builders?
“I really control everything. I make all my own headtubes and bottom brackets. I do all the tube bending custom for each bike. My dropouts are all custom machined.”
Do you do powdercoat or paint?
“I really love wet paint. You get better luster out of it.”
What would you do if you were not building bikes?
“I’d be unemployed”
How did you start building bikes?
“I started a bike shop after college in 1995 and it kind of took off from there.”
What was your first sweet childhood bike?
“I was a younger brother so I had hand me downs. I don’t have that “pinnacle” youth bike memory.”
Favorite trail?
“The one a half mile from my house.”
SRAM or Shimano?
“All Shimano”
Burrito or Taco?
“Taco – corn tortilla”
