Pittsburgh doesn’t exactly have the nicest weather. For 9 months out of the year, the foreboding skies loom overhead and afternoon showers are a commonplace. While track bikes and fixed gears have their hold on the cycling community, the commuter marketplace is bourgeoning. Companies like ClankWorks began in Carnegie Mellon University’s halls. Benjamin Wojtyna and Drew Hendrickson began ClankWorks after they graduated in 2009. Two years later and the guys have hit a home run with their Pinch bike stand and Plank fenders: both of which use the highly-versatile and sustainable material, bamboo.

Check out more from my Shop Visit to ClankWorks below!

This is the Pinch.

It’s a minimal and simple adjustable bicycle stand.

Using the same laminating techniques developed by modernist furniture builders of yesteryear, the Pinch is an elegant way to display (or store) your bike on the floor of your home, office or shop.

Metal brackets allow for each piece of laminate bamboo to be spaced to accommodate even the largest tires.

Not bad huh?

ClankWorks also offers a simple bamboo laminate fender called the Plank.

By using a simple vinyl decal, they can add some vernacular iconography to this simple design.

While they’re known for the Plank and Pinch, the guys also sell a number of products to fit their commuter clients.

They stock a full line of Velo-Orange products as well as some local cycling caps and accessories.

Both the Pinch and the Plank are made in-house at their storefront.

Downstairs, Ben and Drew work on laminating the bamboo with traditional methods.

Even in this stage, it’s easy to see the products emerging.

The wood is then sanded and sent upstairs to be sawed and drilled.

Here, some scraps rest against the wall.

As a series of Craftsman presses and band saws await to have their turn with the bamboo.

Here the wood is cut to a template.

By good ol’ American metal!

Then it’s back to the finishing room before they’re ready to be sent out.

Ben was kind enough to walk me through the entire process of ClankWorks.

So if you’re in Pittsburgh, swing through and say hi.

Their stand-alone building is hard to miss! Thanks again guys! Check out ClankWorks‘ products here on their site and there are a ton of more photos on my Flickr.

ClankWorks
3401 Butler Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 12 AM–7 PM
Sunday from 11 AM–4 PM