In the beginning, a new framebuilder may choose to take up the craft for a number of reasons. Perhaps they are a bike lover, simply inspired by the work of existing framebuilders. Combine this inspiration with an existing passion for art and fabrication, and the outcome is work that breathes vibrancy into the bike community. Newcomers might also decide to pick up the torch in pursuit of frame designs that they feel are missing from the bike market. The framebuilder can easily design a frameset that is perfectly dialed in for a specific rider, with a specific requirement, without having to work within the constraints of mass-production. The world is their oyster and often the work that follows ends up being some of the most striking and iconic in the bike world.
Kata Rasch is by no means a newcomer to artisan framebuilding, but the bike that we will focus on in this article was only her second ever frame. The skillful execution in design and fabrication emphasises Kata’s natural ability, and we can see why she decided to pursue the craft. Kata made the frame and stem by hand, in her home city of Berlin, using Columbus, Deda, Reynolds and 25cromo4 steel and fillet brazing techniques. Intended as a show bike to display at the 2025 edition of the Bespoked show in Manchester UK, we teamed up with Kata as she built her hardtail made for 650b wheels and 2.3 inch tyres. Up front, the bike is assembled with a Seido MGV fork and prototype Seido Deviation handlebar, as well as a Seido Pro EC headset. Rolling on a set of Seido Acceleron carbon wheels, the overall bike comes in at 9.3 kg, pretty decent for a steel frame! Of course we know that the bike is going to be a joy to ride – a comfortable steel frame meets supple Rene Herse Tyres and a lightweight carbon fork and wheelset.
SEIDO: “So let's jump right in and talk about the bike. What was your thinking behind the design? Were there any considerations you made that were influenced by previous bikes you had ridden?”
Kata: “I wanted to build a lightweight mountain bike for gravel roads. My whole family is really into bikes, and I have this old childhood memory of my mother riding one of those old-fashioned mountain bikes, so I kind of stuck to that style. The bend on the top tube was important to me, as a small person it sometimes feels safer to have more toptube clearance. ”
SEIDO: “What influenced your choice of components for this build?”
Kata: “I mostly chose the components based on weight, and what was compatible with my vision for the bike. I chose the MGV fork because it had a shorter axle to crown, but still had a lot of tyre clearance.”
SEIDO: “When you first rode this bike, what did you notice about it? Was there anything that surprised you?”
Kata: “I was actually surprised in the end how light the bike was, so I could go really fast. I was probably more surprised by fact that it was light and fast, because I usually ride a cargobike with my dog and that’s about 50 to 70 kilos (with second dog).”
Every framebuilder has their own unique journey in which they follow to learn the craft. In Europe, it used to be that a young framebuilder could learn as an apprentice with an existing manufacturer, but as the industry developed and manufacturing moved overseas, it became more difficult to gain experience and guidance. European based bicycle frame manufacture gradually moved away from industrialised endeavors. Smaller scale and artisanal focused businesses remained, making the craft less accessible to all but those most eager to learn. Modern bespoke framebuilders are amongst the most dedicated bike people in the cycling world, so those who are willing to share their knowledge have a lot of passion to share – to be lucky enough to find one of these few and far between craftspeople can open up doors that are absolutely priceless in value.
Kata already had invaluable experience in metalwork, but learned the ropes of the framebuilding craft from one Konstantin Drust, an esteemed framebuilder who we have had the pleasure of talking bikes with in a previous article. Kata and Konstantin have been good friends for several years, so the door to the framebuilding world was an open one; it was an opportunity that anyone would be crazy to pass up. But where did Kata’s love for metal begin?
SEIDO: “Where did you first discover your love for working with metal? And how far along in your journey did you decide that you wanted to make bikes?”
Kata: “I am studying art and technology education because I have long wanted to become a teacher. Both subjects have a strong practical component. In technology education in particular, a lot of work is done in workshops. I mainly completed projects in the metal workshop and was later asked if I would like to work there as a tutor. Now I teach students the basics of working with machines such as lathes. The job gave, and still gives me, a lot of confidence to believe that I can work in the metal field. After building my first bicycle frame with Konstantin, I couldn’t stop thinking about the next one. I often joked that I might become a framebuilder. When Mawis Bikes decided to sell his Anvil jig in the fall of 2024, Konstantin told me about it, and I knew it was now or never.”
SEIDO: “When working with Konstantin to distil your skills a metalworker into making bike frames, which parts of your existing ability did you find to be transferable, and which parts of the process did you find were a good challenge?”
Kata: “I took Konstantin’s framebuilding course at the same time that I started working at the university. So there wasn’t really a “before.” When I began framebuilding, I was able to transfer the knowledge I had gained from my studies, particularly my experience with milling machines and lathes. Since then, I’ve been spending nearly every free hour in the workshop, trying to absorb as much as possible from Konstantin. The most challenging aspect for me is the self-discipline it requires. I don’t think there will ever be a point where I feel fully trained, because I have the feeling that framebuilding is a continuous process of learning and discovery. At times, it’s difficult for me to be satisfied with a result, but when you create something yourself, learning to accept and master that balance is essential, otherwise you risk falling into unproductive perfectionism. I also know how privileged I am in my current situation, I can work in Konstantin’s workshop, and just one floor above, Flo from Fern Fahrräder has his own workshop, where I can always turn for advice or help. On top of that, Tine from Gramm Tourpacking has been a great support, being able to exchange ideas with another woman in the scene makes a big difference.”
Being part of a community is invaluable when pursuing a craft. Having guidance and support from a cohort of likeminded people stokes a craftsperson's motivation for their own self-development. Kata’s passion for making bike frames and working with metal embodies this community spirit. Her goal to eventually present courses aimed at non-male people reflects her passion to build on a welcoming and inclusive community, in a world where metal fabrication is male dominated. This type of attitude breaks down barriers, and not only makes metalwork more accessible, but also emphasises the fact that bikes are for everyone, whether that is riding them or making them.
SEIDO: “Please tell us about the positive aspects of the cycling or framebuilding community that you have spotted, that you would like to see more of.”
Kata: “ Since I mostly ride my bike with my dog, Frieda, or go on day trips around Berlin with friends, I don’t really feel like I’m part of the cycling community. I feel that I’m mainly connected to the scene through framebuilding. In the framebuilding scene, I feel that there is a great willingness to support each other. Unfortunately, this is not the norm in our society in general, which is why I appreciate it all the more to experience it there.”
SEIDO: “What changes would you like to see in the future to make cycling and framebuilding more accessible?”
Kata: “This question immediately reminded me of the Bespoked 2025 show in Dresden. It was a really great event, and I had many encouraging conversations there. Unfortunately, however, there were also moments when cis men were noticeably surprised when I told them that I had built the cargo bike myself. As these conversations became more frequent, I started to feel uncomfortable, because some people seemed to find it genuinely hard to believe.
I think it’s okay to be a little surprised, but it’s important to be aware that reacting too strongly to someone saying they built something themselves can be unpleasant and over time quite tedious. Reactions like this alone show that there is still a lot that needs to change within the cycling community. There needs to be a basic understanding that FLINTA* people are part of the scene and are just as capable of doing and creating everything that cis men do, and honestly, that should be the bare minimum. That would, among other things, make access easier. I think the bike scene could really kick itself in the ass and move forward a bit, I mean, it’s 2025!”
There are certainly artisanal crafts out there that have been around longer than the bicycle, but there are nonetheless some rather old-fashioned and dated mindsets imbedded within. But this most noble of machines has the power to transcend some of the counter-progressive notions that have spilled over from some areas of mainstream culture. Time and time again we see the bicycle to be a magnet to those who want to see progressive change in all areas of society. There is still work to be done, but it seems to be that the bicycle community is, and has always been, very socially progressive, after all, what could be better than getting from A to B under one’s own steam alone, without the reliance on institutionalised transport systems driven by fossil fuels and financial profits?
Kata’s work shows us that not only is the bike a tool for sporty endeavors, but also that there is a huge practical element to bikes and cycling, and this is arguably its greatest asset. Kata channeled her focus to create a bike that embodies this area of use by building a beautiful, made-to-measure, cargo bike for her and her dog, Frieda.
SEIDO: “We spotted your super striking, amazing cargo bike build at the 2025 Bespoked show in Dresden. Can you tell us a little bit about that? What was your inspiration?”
Kata: “When I crossed the Balkans with Konstantin last year on my previous cargo bike, I noticed a few things that didn't seem quite right for me. As a small person, I simply have more trouble buying a well-fitting bike off-the-shelf. That's why I wanted to build a cargo bike that was suitable for me and Frieda, which would take us on our next adventurous dog packing tours. It had to be particularly light and easy to travel with, because it's so complicated when you're traveling with a dog and luggage and then you also have a heavy bike.”
SEIDO: “One of the most important features of a bespoke bike frame is undoubtedly its paint job. What can you tell us about this part of the process, regarding choosing the right colour?”
Kata: “To be honest, I had imagined the paint job to be a little different. It was very funny. Konstantin and I didn't know how to powder coat or paint our bikes, so when we met in the workshop one evening, we described to each other how we had both had the same idea that day: we wanted it to look like a sun-kissed peach. He had his powder coated, which didn't fit my schedule, so I had mine painted by my friend Jacek Orłowski. Jacek definitely did a great job. But I think painting is similar to getting a tattoo: you have a very specific idea in mind and try to describe it, but it never turns out exactly as you imagined. I think that's just part of the process and completely normal. Since the concept of a sun-kissed peach was no longer feasible, I decided to make small dog drawings, plot them, and stick them on. John Watson called it the burning giraffe on LSD, which somehow fits very well, haha!”
SEIDO: “Are there any other bike shows in the pipeline for you?”
Kata: “I'm not sure what next year will bring. I want to finish my studies in the summer first, but I think I'll definitely be at Bespoked in Germany”
SEIDO: “Do you have any dream build projects in your mind’s eye that you would love to someday make reality?”
Kata: “I would love to build a folding bike, I’m so into the old Di Blasi folding bikes. I missed my chance to buy one this year, so now I'll have to build it myself. But first, I have a customer bike to build this winter, which I'm really looking forward to because it's my first real job and it's for a good old friend.”
We would like to kindly thank Kata for allowing us to capture a snapshot of her corner of the bike world. We think her work is some of the most distinctive that is currently being produced, and considering it is still early days in the story of Rasch Cycles, we are in no doubt that there will be some more seriously mind blowing creations to come!
We'd also like to thank John Watson, for providing his beautiful photos of Kata's skilled work. The attention to detail they show us really speaks a thousand words.
SEIDO Components
December 2025
By Peter Skelton