DAVAO CITY – As the construction industry slowed down on the onset of pandemic, a seasoned architect ventured into customizing and restoring vintage bicycles.
Seasoned architect Francis Hidalgo turned his skills into designing customized bicycles as well as innovating parts for his vintage bicycle collection.
Among his vintage collections and up for restoration are Schwinn bicycles that date back to 1940s.
“We don’t have projects because of this pandemic and I’ve got nothing much to do. So for now, I ventured into customizing bicycles,” explained Hidalgo.
He admitted that he had long wanted to own a stretched cruiser bicycle but he could not find one in the region.
Thus, he made one for himself with a help of an experienced welder.
But what started as an experiment, Hidalgo added, it became a source of his extra income during this pandemic.
“It’s not a just simple customization, it also involves geometry and of course, creativity,” he told Manila Bulletin.
Hidalgo bared that the customized cruiser bicycles are made of essential parts taken from Japan surplus bicycles, from junk bicycles and other sources.
“We took out some essential parts from Japan-made bicycles such as the bottom brackets, head tubes and forks then combine with other portions of the bicycle.”
Recently, he had already sold three customized bicycles in Cagayan de Oro City and Bukidnon with a price range from P20,000 to P30,0000 each.
Aside from customizing stretched cruizers, Hidalgo also offers to build Klunkers on his Kiko Customs shop.
As an avid lover of vintage items, Hidalgo is also into collecting and restoring vintage bicycles.
“I have a treasured barn find 1949 Schwinn straight bar from Ormoc 1949 Schwinn phantom, Columbia Westfield, Road Master 1946 and a rare 24 Rollfast 1950,” the architect added.
The vintage bicycles were purchased online sellers in from Luzon and Visayas.
Hidalgo says he had to be innovate to find components to complete and restore the bicycle parts like lights and horns which are very hard to find.
While some missing components are ordered from a well-known fabricator CA Colina from Cebu.
However, Hidalgo clarified the vintage bicycles are not for sale saying that they are part of his collection.
He added that he is only selling extra frames and parts, especially those that are the same model on his existing collection.
“I love the thrill of hunting vintage items, such as these bicycles,” concluded Hidalgo, whostarted his love for bicycles when he bought his first roadbike after receiving his first pay in 1989.