JESTER's Philosophy on Bicycle Design

Each JESTER bicycle is hand built and custom designed to fit both the owner's individual physique and the owner's particular needs.

You as an individual human being, are unique, there is no one else exactly like you, either in personality or physical form.

So why would you, as a cycling individual, ride the same bike as countless others do in riding an off-the-shelf model?

A bicycle's beauty truly is in its ride. it should be well finished and a beauty to behold, but if it rides poorly, what good is it?

I believe that if one is going to build bicycle frames, then one ought to do the very best possible job of it.

There is no singular factor that leads to this objective. Rather, there are several equally important factors whose cumulative effect results in the manufacture of the very finest bicycles. These are:

Design to fit the rider
Design to fit function intended by rider
Use engineered material that best meet needs of bicycle construction at the highest level
Select each individual tube on each frame for each rider
Design each frame joint for optimal strength and rigidity
Use metal joining methods that ensure optimal strength and rigidity
Maintain tolerances and quality standards that best meet the needs of bicycle construction at the highest level
Visually, the finished product should reflect both the quality of the ride and the quality of the workmanship and instill pride of ownership and confidence in its rider

The Result:

Lightweight, strength, rigidity, resiliency, comfort, control, efficiency, beauty, function and speed.

Jody Thomas Lee B.A.

All JESTER frames are hand built by Jody Thomas Lee. Jody combines a unique blend of talents in his frame building. Meticulous craftsmanship, a high degree of technical skill, mastery of metal joinery, an artistic eye, a scientific mind, anthropology background provides rare insight into human physiological variation material science studies utilized in bicycle frame design.

It is Jody's love of bicycles and of bicycling, combined with his inquisitive mind and experimental nature that led him to frame building.

Frame building led Jody to Julian Edwins, who had an earlier influence on Jody's thoughts on bicycle design.

JESTER frames are built in accordance with the Edwins formula of custom frame design and fabrication.

The Edwins Formula was developed by Julian Edwins and is based upon extensive research into human kinetics and modern materials.

Edwins frames were built during the 80's and early 90's, and are still renowned for delivering an unequaled combination of performance, responsiveness and comfort.

Julian Edwins has since passed away, having chosen Jody to continue building frames in his tradition.