When we interviewed Fabio Duarte in 2021, we never imagined that at some point in our lives, we would have the opportunity to visit his workshop and meet him in person. However, life sometimes rewards you with unexpected experiences, and, taking advantage of our recent trip to Colombia, the Duarte family opened the doors of their home to us. We had the great honor of getting to know their workshop and all the history behind this surname.
We spent a whole morning with Fabio, his wife, Adriana, and Mauricio, who is responsible for the entire painting part of the brand. They were undoubtedly a few hours very well spent and of great interest to us. In the same way, we hope this document will be interesting for you, too.
One project, three generations
It’s been a long time since José Duarte, in 1967, left behind his time as a professional cyclist in the Colombian Avianca team and decided to embark on an exciting adventure as a frame builder. Without a doubt, a decision that would not only completely change his life but would directly leave a mark on his son Fabio and his descendants.
Fabio proudly told us that his father was a teammate of Roberto Buitrago, Jorge Luque, Eduardo Bustos, Pablo Hurtado, and others, all great figures in Colombian cycling. He raced four Tours of Colombia and many other high-level races. When he decided to retire, he spent a few years as a mechanic for the Banco Cafetero team and then focused entirely on bicycle manufacturing. At first, nobody knew him, but gradually, he got recognition from the national cycling scene. Over time, owning a Duarte bike became a true dream for any cycling fan.
José worked hard to carry out his project and support his family. His son, Fabio, followed closely in his father’s footsteps and joined the project in 1985. Initially, all their bikes were built using Columbus tubes and fittings, but little by little, they began to evolve their technique and dared to try more modern designs and more advanced geometries.
“It was an honor for him that his son would continue the project he had put so much effort into. And even in his lifetime, he knew that his grandchildren would follow the path he had started so long ago.” – Fabio Duarte, about his father.
There was a time when father and son invested heavily in Colombian professional cycling, and their bikes were present in some of the most relevant cycling teams of that time. Cyclists as important as Rafael Antonio Niño (the Tadej Pogačar of that time), Jose Patrocinio Jiménez, or Martín Ramírez raced, at some point in their professional careers, with their bikes. In fact, Ramírez won the 23rd edition of the Tour de l’Avenir in 1985 with a Duarte.
Today, Fabio, who is about to turn 60, is the main figure behind the brand. He still has incredible energy to continue developing the project and making it grow. Next to him is his wife, Adriana, who is always on the front line, whether behind the counter or riding alongside Fabio. His sons, Nicolás and David, are both directly linked to the business. They carry out tasks and support their parents in things they delegate.
“Behind a Duarte bicycle, there will always be a Duarte.” – Fabio Duarte.
They recently landed in Mexico, and some distributors are helping them introduce the brand to the country. Despite the effort and complexity of the market, they are confident that this strategic decision will be very positive for Duarte.
Restlessness, learning, and tenacity
After learning more about the history of this legendary brand, we can say that if there is one thing that characterizes it, it is its restlessness, excellent learning capacity, and adaptation to the times.
Throughout all these years, they have known how to transition from steel to carbon and, later, titanium. In addition, we are not only talking about working with new materials but also the fact of expanding their portfolio of bicycle models, offering their customers today a wide range of possibilities for all types of uses and terrains. As in the entire world, gravel is now the hyped discipline, and Colombians do not want to be left behind. That is why most bicycles that currently leave the Duarte facilities are of this type.
“Going to a commercial store and buying a ready-made suit is not the same as going to a tailor’s shop. They take your measurements, give you a chance to choose the fabrics you like, and, most importantly, when you put it on, you feel happy and know that this suit is unique and exclusive to you.” – Fabio Duarte.
For better or worse, Fabio has lived through a few years of many changes in the cycling sector, and like many other frame builders, they have been forced to learn new techniques and ways of adapting to the needs of their clients. Today, he receives requests of all kinds. From the most complete, including titanium frames with internal wiring, disc brakes, electronic shifting, exclusive paint, etc., or bikes like old times, with steel fittings and tubes (just a few, but still requested).
Chatting with Fabio, he mentioned that in over 50 years, they have built around 8,000 frames, a considerable number. However, he explained to us with a smile that when his father started making frames by hand, someone asked him if he had already sold any. With the sole desire to push his project forward, he said that he had made about 60 to demonstrate his experience, which he did not have at that time. Days later, that conversation would end up becoming his first real sale.
“Don José, frames start to look good after 500 units… That’s when you can say you make good frames.” Macario Llorente (Spanish frame builder) to José Duarte during a meeting.
Throughout the brand’s history, José and his son Fabio have crossed paths with great legends of frame building, such as Giovani Pinarello or Alberto Massi, among others. They have always received praise and congratulations from all of them, especially for seeing how a craftsman from a country like Colombia, with certain limited resources, has never been a barrier to guaranteeing the quality of the bicycles they manufacture.
When one day he was asked what is the best bike he had ever built, Fabio Duarte replied by saying, “I have not built it yet; every time I finish one, I consider that one to be the best.” – Fabio Duarte.
F. Duarte Workshop
Bicicletas Duarte‘s facilities are located on 68th Street in the big city of Bogotá. The Colombian brand’s headquarters have undergone several renovations over time, but they currently have all the services necessary to properly address their customers’ needs.
When we enter, the first thing we see is the showroom, where some of the brand’s bicycles are displayed. Here, potential customers are welcomed and explained all the promotions and options they may have. A bit further back is the bike-fitting area, where measurements are taken to ensure that the bicycle to be manufactured perfectly fits the physiology and characteristics of each person.
If we go to the backroom, we arrive at the place where the magic happens. There, surrounded by tubes, tools, and machinery of all kinds, Fabio handcrafts each of the orders he receives. They are all unique, without exception. Selecting the tubes, measuring, cutting, welding—the entire process is a journey for what will eventually become a bicycle. In this area, they also produce dropouts, steering boxes, bottom brackets, or any other part they need.
Over the years, we have met many frame builders, and most of them agree that every frame builder dreams of having the painting phase in-house and controlling the entire frame creation process from start to finish. Duarte is clear about this, which is why most of the first floor of its premises is dedicated to the painting area.
In addition to the above, the brand also offers a workshop service and a carbon repair service in case of breakage or accident with any bicycle, regardless of the brand.
Oficina Color
So far, we have talked about Duarte and his family members, but we have not mentioned Mauricio, who, despite not being Fabio and Adriana’s son, is considered one of them.
Mauricio is in charge of the entire painting process. He is the creative part and the main man of Oficina Color, a space destined to offer all kinds of paints and finishes to put the icing on the cake of a unique piece such as a custom-made bicycle.
From the moment a frame is ready to be painted, before moving on to the next phase, the client can check firsthand the result, welding details, and so on. Duarte’s team argues that this is a significant moment because they consider involving the client in all process phases as part of the complete experience of acquiring a custom-made bicycle.
From the customization aspect, Mauricio advises and guides clients to ensure that they make the most appropriate choice. The wide variety of colors, techniques, finishes, and varnishes can make the decision rather complex if you don’t have someone to help you and accompany you in making the final choice.
With no intention of diminishing the importance of the manufacturing process, the paint has taken on a crucial role in the whole process. That extra customization point has taken the brand to new levels in terms of quality.
Mauricio tells us that he is satisfied with the effort and hours of dedication that it has taken him to master all the techniques he can perform today. Like everything at Duarte, he recognizes that it has been a challenging learning process, but the “journey” to where they are today has been worth it.
