Anthony Poillot is 37-year-old French hand tool designer who decided to build himself a bike.
In 2013, Anthony bought a Santa Cruz Tallboy LTc, which he describes as one of the first do-it-all full suspension 29ers available in XL sizing. At the time, he didn’t see many high-end trail bikes in his area, and he became captivated by the bike: the strength (which he observed from watching numerous strength test videos), the carbon production process (which he read about as much as he could), and the fact that it was available in a size large enough to fit his six-and-a-half-foot tall stature.
Anthony has worked in product development for hand tools since 2007 using CAD to design three-dimensional objects. When his new bike inspired him to learn about carbon bike production, he started modeling bikes and toying with the idea of one day becoming a bike engineer.
Once the idea was planted, it just took a nudge before Anthony decided to act on it. He read in the Pinkbike comments section that any engineer who wanted to work in the bike industry would need to present a good portfolio to show what they can do, so he decided to create a real-life example of his work.
| I had thought sometime to become a bike engineer, but there are not many opportunities, and much more candidates I guess. And I remember one day I read in the Pinkbike comments that engineers who want to work in the industry should send a good portfolio of their work, whether it’s building a bike or components of a bicycle, which shows how motivated to learn they are. I think it’s part of why I started this. But not only. This is a challenging project, and at some point, I needed a challenge like this to prove to myself I could do something great.—Anthony Poillot |
Laying out the carbon prepreg in the mold is no small feat. It takes five consecutive days for Anthony to position the front triangle and another five for the swingarm.
Anthony was drawn to working with carbon partly for its strength-to-weight ratio and partly because he felt he could create exactly the bike he wanted with the equipment he already had, whereas building a metal bike would have been more complicated in his garage workshop.
Still, the process of building a bike from scratch is obviously complex, and he took a class on working with composites to make sure he could get answers to all his questions. He also found mentors in the handmade bike world who gave him advice. “Sometimes I felt I could be annoying with my questions, but these guys, they always took on their time to answer my questions, and I am really grateful that they shared their knowledge with me,” he said.
| At the time, some of the early full monocoque carbon frames were showing up. For example, I remember when the first Ibis Mojo was released, it was fascinating to me. Just because I could see the amount of work needed just to design a frame like that. Now that we see so many of these carbon frames out there, no one would believe it took them something like 2000 hours just for the CAD. I can understand that just because I also spent so much time building complex 3D models. I am not that old, but I remember the time when the regenerate button wasn’t as fast as it is now! Computers were really slow, and you’d think twice before you modified anything.—Anthony Poillot |
The frame and molds all starts in CAD.
Once the design is complete, the carbon prepreg is positioned in the molds and cured in Anthony's homemade oven.
Not many people can say they've built their own carbon bikes from scratch.
The iridescent blue looks pretty nice under the light. Plus it has a threaded BB, of course.
Anthony has built three frames now. The first two were for his personal use, while this third one is for his brother.
Anthony made these frames because they are what he wants to ride. The 120 mm / 130 mm trail bike suits him well. "It’s a versatile mountain bike that you would use every day," he says. "It climbs well and descend fast enough, and it’s comfortable."
The name Monotrace means 'singletrack' in French, a nod to the intention of making an all-around trail bike. He's clear that he made these bikes as a passion project and doesn't intend to sell them because of how difficult it would be to scale up production.
While he does want to build more bikes in the future, he would rather work for a bike company than start his own brand. He thinks of the Monotrace as his portfolio and job application for a position as a mechanical engineer or frame designer. Considering what he built in his garage, he could probably do a lot with the resources available at an established bike company.
Still, "Never say never," he says when asked if he would ever sell the Monotrace. He enjoys making bikes and wants to see where this project can go.
Not many if us are *brave* enough to do so, congratulations man it looks like an absolutely stunning labor of love! I'd be so curious to see how it rides
Really appreciate the words @Normdaofficer , thank you
You need a clean pattern placed epoxy coated, coated with easylease release agent for best result
He did a really nice job!
3d printed Polycarbonate + EMP60 for swingarm
Take some time to watch this one
www.easycomposites.co.uk/making-a-composites-mould-from-a-3d-print
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I like this bike very much.
2000 hours is about the time required to become a very skilled 3D modeler. Or to render an entire car in hyper realism.
I've spent hundred of hours in linkage, and thousands rendering.
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Maybe, everyone is just accounting different kinds of work under the "CAD". For someone it's just modelling in CAD, for other one it's done only when moulds are done as well, or only after complete documentation if done. Someone spends half of the time in FEA verifications.
Doing a CAD drawing for cutting out precision molds is different than making a pretty render of a frame. The more organic a shape the more work it is going to take to create in CAD.
But 2000 hours is 2000 hours, and a bike frame is a bike frame. Not sure what CAD was like 10 or 15 years ago though, I'm guessing really cumbersome.
And to model a mould that you trust is another big step. Better invest 100-200 h in cad and then invest all the money for nothing
I think I heard something like that, and remember it was in 2004,
Surface modeling on ProEngineer before Wildfire wasn’t what it is today on Creo or others
www.pinkbike.com/photo/20157337
Sizing is off, that’s not an XXL, it’s basically a large in modern sizing!
And I daresay, in my limited experience with the vast history of our sport and even though this bike is a new hand-built, that candy blue colourway could be "iconic". You know Yeti by Turquoise...you would know Monotrace by Candy Blue Carbon. Or, more fittingly/marketable, "Bonbon Bleu Carbone".
Awesome !
5 -7 sq m of carbon & 2-3 liters resin, just need a bigger oven?
Add 220hours of work + a box of 100 nitrile gloves. That’s free of charge for my bro
Only question is who decided its "size" is 2 eXtra Large, especially since there is only 1 size? Reach and wheelbase line up with a modern large, if it had to get categorized...
The shape of my frame is much more simple and really less refined.
I have a lot of respect for their work.
Glad you like the blue Candy, I like it too
As for the geo , numbers were corrected, that’s for the large size
Je suis vraiment impressione par ce talent et cette perseverance et ce sans parler du design et de la geo du bike!
Chapeau bas monsieur
En esperant que le futur t'amenes a grandir ton atelier et a faire de nouveaux moules...qui sait??!!!
On ne sait jamais, mais pour le moment il n’est pas prévu que je refasse d’autre cadre..
Polycarbonate and epoxy reinforcement for swingarm
#dadlife
Based on his rear suspension choice he will get to add "shock rebuilder" to his resume as well in a few rides.