We are excited to announce the arrival of the Cradle from RATKING FRAMES, a custom frame builder based in Seattle, USA. It serves as both a bag support and a cargo platform!
I first met Smith from RATKING at this summer's MADE Bike Show.
We were introduced by Dan from FORAGER CYCLES, who was sharing a booth with him.
In fact, the Oyster Bar from FORAGER CYCLES is manufactured by RATKING. While I’ve known the name since we started stocking those handlebars, this was my first time meeting him in person, and I finally got to see the frames and racks he builds.
As an aside, the RATKING logo was designed by Dustin Klein, the creator of CADENCE.
My eyes were drawn to the rack that RATKING was showcasing at their booth, and since they were just about to open pre-orders, I placed an order. That is the rack I’m introducing today: the Cradle.
RATKING FRAMES / Cradle
Color : Black, Rainbow Chrome
Made by hand in Seattle WA USA.
Price : 33,000 JPY (excl. tax)
The Cradle acts as a bag support and cargo platform that can be mounted to either the fork steerer or the seatpost.
It’s a handy item for strapping down sleeping bags, dry bags, or other small gear, and since it doesn't require rack eyelets, it can be installed on a wide range of bikes.
Thanks to its adjustable-angle design, it can be installed on bikes with short stems, bikes with limited steerer space (a minimum of 20mm is required), small bikes with short head tubes, or even bikes with suspension, serving as a convenient cargo solution.
You can use it like this to strap on dry bags, sleeping mats, or sleeping bags. For lighter use, it's also a great way to stash a jacket you've taken off, or even a rinko bag.
By the way, for strapping rolls the size shown in the photos, the new 32-inch length of the SimWorks Thunder Strap works perfectly.
It comes in two colors: Black and Rainbow Chrome. Both are powder-coated at STUNT DOUBLES, a shared space where RATKING has their workshop. While Rainbow Chrome might look silver from a distance, it actually features a beautiful finish with fine glitter.
Finally, I’d like to delve a bit into the history of Smith from RATKING. It’s also featured on The Radavist, so please check out their article if you’re interested.
In 2013, while interning at a bike shop in Oakland, California, Smith started RATKING by building a few frames for himself and close friends.
As he connected with many people through the shop and community, his craftsmanship slowly gained recognition. He met Cameron Falconer of FALCONER CYCLES, who gave him tips on building segment forks, which served as a major catalyst for his progress in frame building.
Driven by an insatiable thirst for craftsmanship, Smith visited the shops of Rick Hunter of HUNTER CYCLES and Matt of PASS AND STOW, absorbing everything he could about their processes and the tools they used. They sensed his passion and shared their time and knowledge generously.
Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Smith has incorporated his own ingenuity into RATKING’s production—making the necessary tools himself and organizing his shop to achieve more efficient workflows.
Smith says:
“Custom frames are fun because each one is unique. But rack building is fun precisely because none of them should be special.”
“Repetitive work is very calming for me. I can put on some music, zone out, and have time to face my own thoughts. I find myself frequently looking for ways to measure timing, seek out more efficient movements, focus on ergonomics, or figure out how to break things down in a way that feels more appealing to me. There are many indicators for efficiency, and it’s also a fun practice to turn monotonous tasks into something engaging. Part of the joy of making things for me is just doing lots of trial and error and discovering things.”
Beyond the photos here, the process of making the Cradle is archived in his Instagram Stories. Seeing those archives—and even through the time-lapses of his working process—I could get a glimpse of his commitment to efficiency in every task and the ingenuity he applies to create better products.
We hope you’ll get to know the RATKING Cradle, crafted by his own hands.
We’ve also introduced other items recommended as a reward for yourself for working hard all year, so please check them out.
