Brain Vomit #9: Bikes with Soul

I’ve heard many times people say “Carbon bikes don’t have souls, Steel is real”. What do they mean by soul? That a person made it? Carbon bikes are made by people too. I think what these people are saying is that this bike has a story. A story different from a corporation hiring designers to draw a bike that will be produced in a factory likely overseas to make a commodity at a low cost. A product made for the sole purpose to make a profit and keep the corporation running. That’s a product without a soul. And that’s the process associated with most carbon fiber bikes. It’s the process for pretty much any mass produced good. Then a custom made bike has a soul right? Not always. You could place an order for a custom made bike at a factory overseas, they will make a great product at a fantastic price. But if I am being honest, that is not the same as getting your bike made from a builder. It is a more personalized product but It is not the same. The builder gives the bike soul, it’s not the material. It’s the builders vision, process, habits, their story. Not a standardized process. Machines have no souls, people have souls. And when a framebuilder makes you a bike, you are taking the fruits of their soul.