Building the Portafortuna
I am Damon Madsen, and this is my story:
The vision of Priority Cycles started in 1995 when my brother Jason and I decided we were going to make a suspension bike. We were given an old hardtail frame to use as a foundation for our vision. So it began, old frame in one hand, hacksaw in the other. As Jason began to cut into the frame I said, “Shouldn’t we think this through?” To which he replied, “Probably.”
Many hours and a few days later there it stood in our father’s shop – a Mac Strut full suspension frame that was in desperate need of a frame alignment. This being the first ever attempt we decided to try, try again. I kept designing frames to produce a better suspension and Jason and I spent many a late night learning to machine parts on our grandfather’s resurrected lathe.
Jason made a tube mitering machine that looked dangerous and I’m pretty sure it would not have gained OSHA approval. However, it did get the job done. Over the next two years we continued to design, cut, sand, knurl, drill, and whatever else the occasion called for.
One night, shortly after I graduated high school, and just a couple of days before my eighteenth birthday as my brain was working at super speed coming up with design ideas, I had an epiphany. If I were to move the main pivot location in front of the chain rings, but keep it low, I should get an axle pass vertical for about the first four inches of travel and pedal bob from the chain pulling on the suspension should be very minimal.
I was so excited I could not wait to put my theory to test. At that time, however, I lacked the technology needed to do so. I did have the next best thing though, my Lego set. I had the super Lego set. You know, the one that includes pulleys, gears, chains, and even a little Lego coil spring shock. I made a model of my vision and sure enough, it worked. Now I just needed to build the real thing.
Shortly after creating my Lego masterpiece Jason got married and decided to leave the bike creating solely up to me. Over the years I continued to build hardtails, road frames, and cross frames for friends as well as friends of friends. I continued to build prototype suspension frames for myself, improving my machining and fabrication skills and investing in new equipment.
Fast forward to 2009 and I have finally turned my Lego vision into a reality – a 150mm rear travel suspension frame that can be built up into a sub 30lbs bike that goes up the hill just as fast as it comes down. I am very proud to present to the world, the Portafortuna.
