I normally write the blogs around here, but I was more than happy to step aside and let this fine gentleman tell y’all about himself. Zach started with us a few weeks before the tornado, remember that pesky thing, but unfortunately is tenure was cut short by a pandemic. We plan on him being back soon(fingers crossed). Until then…here’s ZACH!
“Since I haven't able to see all my neighbors beautiful faces behind the bar at Vinyl Tap I have taken the opportunity to focus my attention on my other personal business Amigo Frameworks.
Amigo Frameworks is a custom bicycle fabrication company, located in East Nashville. With 10 years of experience in bicycle fabrication, welding and machining, I design, machine, weld and assemble bicycles from raw steel tubing in small batch production runs using the most modern standards and componentry available. Along with custom bicycles and bicycle frame repair I also offer welding, machining and design services for many types of metal fabrication needs including but not limited to motorcycles, furniture, signage, etc.
Building bicycles has been a hobby of mine for many years and with the down time this unprecedented crisis has given many of us, I took the opportunity to use that free time to build my hobby into a more fulltime sustaining business. Along with dialing my workshop and getting a few more machines for production work, Amigo is now fully licensed and insured for business in TN which has been a huge step in advancing my professional framebuilding and fabrication career.
While the bicycles I build are considered a niche luxury item. I do everything I can to advocate making cycling a more equitable inclusive mode of transport, leisure activity and sport. Without exaggeration cycling saved my life. As a young teen it allowed me to escape a terrible home life and explore outside of the impoverished inner city neighborhood I grew up in San Diego. It grew into my first job as a bicycle mechanic and then into the discovery of skilled trades.
Without surprise, poorer communities of color are most effected by poor cycling and transportation infrastructure but are in the most need of those services. The average bicycle commuter is not your earth concious city dwelling young professional but rather working class people of color that due to our failing/non-existent public transportation system need a cheap reliable source of transportation that bicycles can provide. Unfortunately, those communities are the last to get safe bicycle infrastructure, are the most likely to be hit by vehicles while riding, and are often harrassed and overpoliced for simply riding a bicycle.
As someone who has had first hand experience, growing up, riding in a lower socioeconomic urban environment, with dangerous cycling conditions, but had the privilege to get out of that situation, or even own a decent bicycle, I feel obligated to use that privilege to give back to my community, especially during these trying times.
There are several amazing Nashville cycling advocacy groups that are fighting to make our streets safer for people, create outreach programs for black and brown youth and create a more environmentally sustainable transportation system in our communities. Those include WalkBike Nashville (who were effected by the tornado), Edgehill Bike Club, The Oasis Bike Workshop, and The Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee and if you donate at least $20 to any of these foundations and email me a receipt at zach.small@amigoframeworks.com I will send you a free Amigo Frameworks sticker pack in the mail.
Disarming, disbanding and defunding the police must include refunding the people. The only way to create a more equitable society is to raise the material conditions of all people and along with access to affordable housing, quality free education, and healthcare I think accesible affordable and sustainable transportation for working people is an important part of that equation.
Thank you for your donations and support.
From each according to their abilities, to each according their needs!
Stay safe. Stay vigilant.
Zach Small”
