Welcome, Frankie!

As we’re rolling into the 2023 riding season, we’re “spoked” to share that Nomadic Mechanic is expanding!

With the addition of Squamish and the Sea-to-Sky corridor to our service area, we're extremely excited to announce that Frederick "Frankie" Viviers Franken will be moving into the role of Vancouver-area manager. If you've used our services before, there's a good chance that you've had Frankie working on your bike. We wanted to take some time to introduce the man you’ll see around Vancouver wrenching on bikes and behind the wheel of Nomadic Mechanic’s second van, affectionately called the “Silver Bullet”. Check out our recent interview with Frankie so you can get to know him and the skills that he brings to the team a bit better!

Frankie and his new 2023 Transition Smuggler

What is your name, where are you from, and where are you now?

Frederick Viviers Franken. Originally from South Africa. I grew up on a small dairy farm, but moved around the country a fair bit during my school years. I finally settled down in Pretoria where I Studied Urban Planning at the University of Pretoria. I got a job as an urban planner and promptly realized that a desk job is not for me. I had an opportunity to move to Vancouver in 2014 and have been living there ever since.

How long have you been working in the bike industry professionally? 

About 10 years. I spent a year after school racing road bikes and working in my local bike shop as a junior technician. After moving to Vancouver I got a job in cycling retail for a little while but managed to wiggle my way into the repair shop where I spent the next 8 years. In 2022 I moved to Endless Biking in North Vancouver as a Senior Technician where I am currently finishing up my tenure before hitting the road with Nomadic Mechanic.

How long have you been riding bikes? In what capacity?

Bikes have been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. I finished dead last in my first bike race when I was 8 years old, and got a little bit more serious when I started racing road bikes at 14. I was on a pretty competitive team and raced - with good results - in the under 16 and Junior (under-18) levels, and I took a gap year after school to pursue my dream of racing bikes. I raced at Cat 1 level for the season but soon realized that big boy bike racing required a much more competitive mentality that I could not muster within myself and that spelled the end of my competitive days.  These days I prefer to spend my days riding mountain and gravel bikes at a recreational level.  

What is your involvement with Nomadic Mechanic?

I have been involved with Nomadic Mechanic for the last couple of years on a part time basis doing one or two days a week during the peak seasons. This year will see me going all in as a full time “mobile bicycle repair man” as the Vancouver-area manager.  

What are you most looking forward to in the job? What is your favourite service to provide for bike work? What is your favourite bike tool?

Nomadic Mechanic prides itself on working on any and all sorts of bikes, this inherently comes with challenges and learning opportunities that I am looking forward to getting pummelled with.  

As for my favourite service, I really enjoy the meditative process of building wheels.  

I really want to stay away from saying that Knipex Wrench Pliers are my favourite bike tool because I think that might be the majority of traveling bike mechanics’ answers, but they might be my favourite. My second favourite would be the Park Tool 3-Way Hex (AWS-1). It just ends up in my hands more often than any other tool in the quiver.

You said that you’ve really enjoyed riding mountain bikes the last few years. What is your favourite type of trail? Do you have a favourite trail or network currently?

Fast Tech. It makes you feel badass! But I have also in recent seasons started to unlock the secrets of riding flow trails well, and that has led me to enjoy the odd flow trail here and there. 

I used to be quite picky about trails, but in recent years have found myself enjoying almost every trail in the majority of locations. It is hard to single out a trail or network when you are as spoiled for choice as we are in BC.  

Are there any other activities that you're stoked about other than bikes?

I do dabble a little in the occasional rock climbing and trail running. I am passionate about being in the mountains so whether it’s on a mountain bike, a climbing rope, trail runners or -when the weather forces me to - skis, I will take to the mountains at the first given opportunity.

The season is fast approaching with some opportunities to get out and explore. Do you have a favourite bike trip you find yourself reminiscing about? Are there any summer bike trips this year that you're looking forward to?

Really anything that gets me out of the city for a couple of days! But the big one is definitely the annual bike packing trip in the South Chilcotin Mountains Provincial Park.  

Do you have a favourite post-ride snack or place to aprés?

Does chocolate milk count? If so it's definitely chocolate milk.

Is there anything else I've missed that you would like mentioned?

I do like bikes.

Welcome to the team as our full-time Vancouver manager! We couldn’t be more excited to have you wrenching on bikes, bringing years of experience, a keenness to share and educate, and an incredible problem-solving, hard-working ethos. Say “hi” to Frankie when you see him out and about town, or better yet, at your next service!

Frankie, on one of the many river crossings that can be found on his annual Chilcotins bikepacking trip