Cycle Source magazine

At the Wolfgang Circus, we are busy adding items to our juggling act. Last week we officially added one more ball to the two or three already in the air: Custom Bike Building Basics by Chris Callen of Cycle Source magazine fame. Chris approaches the subject of building bikes from scratch a little differently than I do, and that’s probably a good thing.

Chris’ outline includes things like: Setting up a Shop, Working with Steel, Love thy Welder, Getting Ready, Tearing it Down, Sheet Metal Fab, and Saddle Work, along with three start-to-finish assembly chapters. The assembly chapters document the construction of three bikes – none of these are pro street bullets or expensive over-chromed choppers. No, these bikes are way more down-home than that.

Look for a new spin on building bikes from scratch – done with a lot of help from Chris Callen from Cycle Source Magazine.

Chris’ juggling act promises to be ready for viewing this spring, so be sure to buy your tickets now before they’re all gone.

Hobo Stew is just one example of the art, compliments of Darren McKeag, we are using to open each of Chris’ chapters.

At the Wolfgang Circus, we are busy adding items to our juggling act. Last week we officially added one more ball to the two or three already in the air: Custom Bike Building Basics by Chris Callen of Cycle Source magazine fame. Chris approaches the subject of building bikes from scratch a little differently than I do, and that’s probably a good thing.

Chris’ outline includes things like: Setting up a Shop, Working with Steel, Love thy Welder, Getting Ready, Tearing it Down, Sheet Metal Fab, and Saddle Work, along with three start-to-finish assembly chapters. The assembly chapters document the construction of three bikes – none of these are pro street bullets or expensive over-chromed choppers. No, these bikes are way more down-home than that.

Custom Bike Building Basics. Caption: Look for a new spin on building bikes from scratch – done with a lot of help from Chris Callen from Cycle Source Magazine.

Chris’ juggling act promises to be ready for viewing this spring, so be sure to buy your tickets now before they’re all gone.

Hobo Stew is just one example of the art, compliments of Darren McKeag, we are using to open each of Chris’ chapters.

It all started in Sturgis last year. Working on the Sturgis 70th Anniversary book put me in the midst of the mayhem and wherever I looked there were these back-to-basics motorcycles. Some looked like pre-choppers from 1968, and others were obviously one person’s very unique vision of a custom motorcycle. To their credit, a number of these young builders seem to be coloring way outside the box. Leading this new group of riders is Chris Callen of Cycle Source fame, and the guys and gals from the Limpnickie Lot.

The new designs, the fresh faces, and their enthusiasm made me think that maybe there’s room in the market for a new generation of how to books, designed for a new generation of builders and customizers. What if I could help design and publish one or more books, designed to help people build basic motorcycles in their own garages and spare bedrooms. Given the fact that it’s almost impossible to get a motorhead book on the shelf at any of the retail book stores now, I would need an alliance with a known entity, maybe a magazine that could help me to reach this new, younger audience.

I am pleased to say that my Sturgis-born fantasy is turning to reality, almost as we speak. Chris Callen publisher of Cycle Source, has agreed to author a new book titled: Custom Bike Building Basics. Chris suggested we focus the book on helping readers with basic skills: like welding, fabricating sheet metal and creating mounts of all kinds.

Wolfgang Publications is pleased to announce an alliance with Cycle Source and editor Chris Callen to produce a new back-to-basics bike building manual.

In order to keep the price reasonable, and ensure we can print it in the US of A, the book will be mostly black and white, with a simple, easy to follow layout. Other than that, I’m a little light on specifics right now. I do know the book is a done deal, that we will have finished copies early in 2013, and that I’m a very happy camper to have Chris Callen working with Wolfgang Publications as the author of a new how-to book aimed at a whole new group of builders.

The new book will carry the Cycle Source name on the cover.

Among the many people who helped me shoot and assemble the Sturgis 70th Anniversary book, is Colleen Swartz from Milwaukee. A serious motorcycle nut and talented photographer, Colleen is also involved in the Chicago Swap Meet and Bike Show, scheduled for February 5th of this year.

When Colleen called a few months back and asked if I would be willing to attend the show as a judge, I was only too happy to say yes. Her offer of a lavish hotel suite with a fridge filled with expensive champagne, and a sizable cash stipend, was really only the icing on the cake – I woulda done it anyway.

If you live anywhere near Chicago, consider attending the one-day Swap Meet and Bike Show scheduled for February 5th.

Billed as the world’s biggest one-day swap meet and bike show, the Chicago extravaganza is somewhat similar to our local Donnie Smith show, at least in the sense that a huge swap meet combined with a high quality bike show is guaranteed to provide something for everyone. The show itself is sponsored by Cycle Source magazine, what owner Chris Callen calls a “grass roots motorcycle magazine.”

Now, I’ve photographed a lot of bikes, and I’ve certainly admired even more, but I admit I’m a judging virgin. When I told Colleen this, she said not to worry, “all you have to do is follow the check list for each bike, it’s pretty straightforward.” We shall see.

Show organizer and fellow judge, Colleen Swartz is the one who convinced me to give up my virginity.

It’s amazing what people can accomplish when they don’t know they can’t do it. With nothing more than enthusiasm for all things two-wheeled, Chris Callen built Cycle Source from a tiny little biker rag to one of the most successful motorcycle magazines out there. All at a time when even the biggest magazines are dying on the vine at an alarming rate.

So the afternoon of February 4th will find me behind the wheel of the mighty Ford Ranger, bound east from Stillwater down the super-slab highway 94. Chicago is a great city. It’s just about far enough that I feel like I’ve traveled someplace. Far enough away to make the trip a real trip and maybe a small adventure as well. The other good thing about Chicago is the large number of incredible music venues. Halsted Avenue is reminiscent of Beale Street in Memphis, with a blues joint on almost every corner. How can a guy not love Chicago.

Anyone within driving range of Chicago should take a look at the web site (http://www.chicagomotorcycleswap.com/BikeShow.php) and think about attending the WORLD’S BIGGEST ONE-DAY SWAP MEET AND BIKE SHOW. Follow my example and arrive the night before so you have time to carouse through downtown and check out a few of those famous waterin’ holes.

http://cyclesource.com/home.htm