Black Sheep Bikes

Framebuilder

My name is James Bleakley, and I’ve been an avid cyclist since an early age. I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1980. BMX was my first experience with bicycles, and I rode to and from school, and as my transportation as a teen. Cycling represented freedom to explore my surroundings, as well as an opportunity to develop a skill set riding freestyle with my friends. Shortly after moving to Fort Collins for college at Colorado State University I discovered mountain biking. I rode first for transportation, then started riding urban trials, and trail riding.

This seemed to be freestyle, with a purpose. I graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management. My first experience in the bike industry came from a company named Boulder Bikes, which manufactured full suspension mountain bikes. There I learned assembly, and laser machining and welding. I left in 1994 to pursue precision welding and fabrication at Advanced Alloys, a company doing work in medical, helicopter, computer, and cryogenic vessel fabrication. It was here that I deepened my understanding of work with exotic materials. Read more

5 recommendations

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    Facebook Verified

    Makes the best custom titanium bikes you can find. Beautiful lines, expert welding, just gorgeous bikes!

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    David Potts

    Shared on facebook.com

    Love my black sheep soft tail single speed. James has been very good handling any issues I have had with the bike. About to start a hard tail frame, stem / bar & seatpost build with him. Can't wait for the new frame. Highly recommend black sheep bikes.

    Original recommendation
  •  
    Eric Potyondy

    Shared on facebook.com

    I have two Black Sheep bikes. They are both beautiful and unique. I smile every time I ride them or catch a glance of them in the garage. The frames are works of art that have lasted me years of riding and have many, many more in them. James is also great to work with and an inspiration.

    Original recommendation
  •  
    Weegan Yee

    Shared on facebook.com

    I want to give a shout out to James Bleakley of Black Sheep Bikes . I had a hairline crack in my top tube sent my frame in , and the day he received it he fixed it and checked my frame to make sure it was all good and well and sent it back to me and I got it three days later that's customer service thank you James your awesome!!!!!

    Original recommendation
  •  
    Janos Köhler

    Shared on facebook.com

    Black Sheep Bikes (BSB) have set the bar in the functional art form of the bicycle. Craftsmanship second to none, every bicycle from BSB is unique due to the varying preferences and demands of each customer, down to every last minutiae of the design and build. BSB have won award after award at NAHBS over the past years. The true test however is on the terrain, where their bikes also punch well above their weight. ...

    Original recommendation