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making it just like a normal bike. So, you can just take it to a bike shop to have it worked on, and you can ride it in the rain. The use of it is just like a normal bike.” However, if any bike enthusiast takes a closer look at these bikes, they can certainly see why his wife was so excited for his new project — Kudla’s engineering prowess and attention to detail are far from normal. Why the Wooden Ride Glides
o some people, a wooden bike sounds very unusual
and not at all practical. They may assume it’s heavy, non-aerodynamic, and perhaps even unattractive. But one couple wanted to prove the world wrong, so they started their own bike company. To ensure nobody forgets how unusual, beautiful, and eco-friendly these bikes are, they named their company accordingly: Normal Bikes. And they’re absolutely sweeping the nation. But how did the idea get started? A Dynamic Duo Chris Kudla had worked for Rochester Institute of Technology and several Fortune 500 companies — but now, he works in a few hundred square feet of workshop space in a co-op. It’s been a crazy journey, but he says none of it would have been possible without his other half. In 2017, Kudla decided to quit his day job as a project manager and engineer and start his own bicycle- building studio. Despite his strong passion for cycling, he told WGRZ, “I can honestly say I don’t think I would have jumped into it without the support of my wife. It’s such a simple thing, but it is really scary to just go for it like that.” Why the name “Normal Bikes”? “The simple answer is that when I first started, it was out of the basement and dining room of our house on Normal Avenue, over on the West Side of Buffalo. For lack of a better name, I guess,” Kudla told WGRZ. But there’s more to the story, too. “[When my wife and I] started talking about using that as the name, it really fit because everything about the design of the bike is geared toward
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Crafted with maple wood, Normal Bikes are much more durable than you’d expect. According to Kudla, “The wood absorbs shock more efficiently and distributes impact throughout the frame better than metal.”
And plenty of industry experts agree! With a price tag of $4,995 for an entry- level Urban Scout model and a custom Normal Bicycle taking over 3–4 weeks to complete, these bikes are meant for serious bicycle enthusiasts. Many bikers have a specific bike for unique uses. So, why do so many avid cyclists buy a wooden bike? “Usually, it’s a commuter bike or to ride around town.” Since the bike is actually hollow — intricately assembled together by cut sections — its achievement is mainly in its precise engineering rather than woodworking. Kudla’s extensive experience designing products for large corporations pays off with his new shop. With his think-tank design workflow, a lot of checks and balances are required to get a seemingly simple part finished, but this ensures every bike is pristine. “It’s a known thing, the design process, and then you’re comfortable with it when it goes to production,” Kudla said. “You feel good about it because you’ve gone through all these different checks along the way.” Of course, the checks and balances make the process more lengthy and challenging, too, as the sole person crafting his bikes. “When you’re the only one looking at every step of the design, then it’s a lot more nerve-wracking.” With all materials sourced from North America, Normal Bikes has certainly pushed the “norm” with their unique designs. Congratulations on your success so far, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for your future!
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