In addition to making crazy creatures like Frankendork, Marty from Geekhouse Bikes builds more "usable" bike frames for various types of riding. Custom orders are available. In honor of bike week, Geekhouse will be having an open house this Sunday, May 18, starting with bike polo at noon, a BBQ and shop tours all afternoon, bold sprints from 5-7, ghettodrome at 8, and an afterparty at Zuzu's at 9pm. Geekhouse is located at 15 West Sorrento Street in Allston. Stop by to network with other bike geeks!

How did you get started biking?

I really got into bikes when I was 13, and was totally hooked from that point on.

What inspired you to take the leap from bike rider to bike maker?

I've always loved bikes. I started designing bikes a few years ago, at first for myself and then in small batches for friends. I had those frames made at other shops, but always wanted to do more with it. That end of things slowly expanded, but I always wanted more control over the production. I then apprenticed with Mike Flanigan at ANT, and now I build each frame myself. So it's been a long process, but I'm really proud of what it's become.

Do you have a favorite bike of all those you've made?

My favorite at the moment is an all black pursuit track frame with a custom heart head badge. I made the bike for one of my roommates and I still get to see it every day.

What's the worst crash you've had?

There's two. The first was at age fourteen when my front wheel fell off while riding down the street. I didn't know how to fall at the time and ended up landing head first into pavement, and I wasn't wearing a helmet. I was unconscious for a few minutes or so and next thing I remember I'm standing up with my wheel back on my bike and no one was around. The next day at school a kid told me how he was there, traffic stopped, and a bunch of people helped me up and put my bike back together. He said I kept on telling everyone I was all right, and I guess I told them all to leave and that I was fine. That crash is still great motivation for wearing a helmet every day in the city.

The second was racing expert downhill at Mt. Snow, I crashed in a pro section of the course called 'yard sale' and dislocated my shoulder. That was a fun one...

Image from Walsh's Flickr stream.

Do you have a favorite biking city, or favorite bike tour you've taken?

I love Boston. I've ridden in Portland and it was nice with allthe infrastructure. Don't get me wrong, Boston is still difficult to ride through, but for some reason I just love it here. Haha.

How about a favorite place to ride in Boston?

Not really, I do like the view of the city from the Mass Ave bridge. But I don't really have a favorite part to ride through.

Biggest biking pet peeve (drivers, roads, other bikers, pedestrians,
whatever...)?

Bike lanes should be called door lanes. I always find it frustrating that the width of most bike lanes are just wide enough for a car door to go completely across. It makes me wonder if they are really for bikes, or just for car doors.

What Bike Week event are you most excited about?

My open house on Sunday May 18th from 2pm-8pm at 15 W. Sorrento St in Allston!!! Shameless self promotion, I know...

What is the biggest legislative or other change needed to make it easier for more people to bike, in Boston or elsewhere?

That's a tough question. I think it's just going to take getting more people into cycling and pushing forward with better ideas on how we can make it all work.

I was sorry to see that your bike got stolen recently. My bike was stolen last January--it feels like a personal attack! Any creative ideas on bike theft prevention?

Yes, my bike got stolen right out of my car! I think that it's important to not leave your bike out side at night, and to keep it locked up where ever it is, including your car or apartment. Also, everyone should get renters insurance. I didn't have it, so I'm out of luck. But for about $200 a year you can have your person property insured against theft. That's just my two cents though.