Independent Fabrication (IF) is a bicycle company located in Lynn, Massachusetts, USA. IF fabricates bicycle frames from steel, titanium and carbon fiber. Independent Fabrication has twice won the Bicycling Magazine "Dream Bike of the Year" with its carbon-tubed, titanium-lugged XS road frame.[1] Independent Fabrication was founded by and is owned by its employees. In 2005, the company took part in a CNN television program called The TurnAround.[2] The show paired a growing business with a mentor from a more successful company. Independent Fabrication was paired with Jeff Swartz, chief executive of Timberland.[3]
In 2011, the company announced that its factory would move from Somerville, Massachusetts, to Newmarket, New Hampshire, within the year. A handful of IF's employees made the move with the company, and several former employees returned.
In 2022 Independent Fabrication was purchased by longtime employee Keith Rouse. He moved the company back to Massachusetts, not far from their Somerville location.
Independent Fabrication has also produced specials and one-off bikes. Some are show bikes, others have been built to the requirements of customers or other companies:
They also sponsored a regional woman’s team called the IF Chicks. The roster included Lauri Webber from NewArk, DE and Kerry Combs from Mass.
IF Racingedit
IF Racing was formed in February 2008 by team director Jonathan Bruno. The squad is a newly expanded U25 Development program for road racing and pro mountain bike racing. In addition to efforts to promote environmental sustainability and healthy choices, the team will participate in an after-school cycling program for Boston public schools.
Team Website: https://sites.google.com/site/ifracing/
2010 Team
Jonathan Bruno
Evan Cooper
Robbie King
John Hanson
Emerson Oronte
Matt Buckley
Vinnie Scalia
Kevin Wolfson
Todd Yezefski
Women's teamedit
The team, which started as Merlin/Smartfuel in 1997 and in 2000 picked up sponsorship from Independent Fabrication, is based in New England and rides regional and National Racing Calendar events.[16][17]