Bridges

That was the line of business today. Formed. Fitted. Ready for action. Really like how this turned out. Mirrors the profile of the tire well. The disk brake bridge also is curved too. (shown just before she was tacked in place utilizing a framebuilders 3rd hand..) I must admit that these were relatively the same amount of work as I have found making a straight bridge. A little extra effort as per the curve, but I think that little extra step is worth it in the end. More on this next week. All that's left with the 29f1 and 26s for Franky is to fit/weld up the disk mounts. Then these are ready for paint. Better even ready to ride.

Happy 4th everyone. Get out and ride before the picnics and fireworks start..

OFF TO PAINT

This ones out the door for paint this week. Rohloff build is finished up. Gloss black of course..

PROGRESS

Progress shot from the Rohloff build. This ones a 26s but with an ebb/Rohloff 500/14. Very impressed with the fit/finish of Rohloff's product. Wheel build courtesy of Peter White Cycles. Ted Wojcik thumb of approval naturally.



This ones going to be a special build. Rack mounts throughout for a touring option (not road touring though-we're talkin' touring on dirt and trails. None of that sissy road stuff) Room for 2.5 tires, fender if needed and lots of standover. Classic 71/73 New England geo for tight twisties but given that this will be a Rohloff build we'll be going with #1. Rohloff 14 speed hub. That gives the option of gears. With an ebb, you can switch things out and just take it up a notch for a singlespeed. Matching plate sans hanger will be there for a clean look. Then if that wasn't enough, we've got braze on's through out for the addition of derailleurs in case the Rohloff needs to be shed. So that's 3 bikes in one. Not too shaby.

29f1

Check this out: 16.75" Chainstays with the help of a shaped seat tube, room for 2.5+ tires, massive standover, and angles suited to picking your line in the New England tech. Can't wait for this one to be done. 29" for the wheels, 'F' for flaired stays, and the '1' stands for one shaped tube. No graphics-just hot rod black and stainless etched badges. Giddy up.



Pieces parts for the main triangle.



Welds are getting better - more practice though.

BUILT

44 26f



Another view - mean and clean.



Here's a rare sight... 2 44's side by side.



You'll notice something about 44's: No graphics with the exception of two badges. One on the seat tube and of course one on the headtube. Why? Why not. Flat black is to hotrods as no graphics are to 44's. It's that simple. These are hot rods not billboards. Each one is spec'd custom for the ride and built for fun.

PAINT

From the front

Another view...


Wet Black Powder is juicy.. build pics to follow. Someones going to be stoked this weekend.

44 26f

So I think I'm just going to start calling bikes by their wheelsizes. A additional letter will denote a special quality about them. So say a 44 29er with straight seat curves would be referred to as a 44 29s. A 44 26 with a flaired seat tubes would be a 44 26f. Makes it really quick for me to reference documents and associated tech drawings. So what i'm working on now is a 44 26f for myself. The one I made for my wife Lynn turned out pretty nice-and now I think I'm making one for myself. Love the big wheels, but I have to say there is still something much more playful about a pair of 26" hoops. I don't have a preference either way, but depending on terrain and mood I'm in, I sometimes just pick one over the other. If I have to ride to the spot (which is about 95% of the time) I pick the big wheels as there is a good amount of time spent on roads/dirt roads. But if I'm traveling, to a more technical spot in another state.. well then sometimes I go for the 26" hoops. Either way its all good.

This builds going to be interesting though-paragon drops, chainstays and seatstays will be hand drawn and formed, flaired seat stays along with the new Paul Components "Mini Link" EBB shell. Basically the exact same thing as their larger shell, just smaller with just enough swing for a singlespeed setup. Also good practice for me building with an ebb as its a challenge to keep the shells in round. I'll have to make some heat sinks for these-as I've been meaning to make some nice ones for the seattube, headtube and bottom bracket. NIce thing is a 68/73 mm shell ID and HT ID are the same.. So I can use one for both. Keep the eyes peeled for that coming soon. This summer could be the "summer of tooling". More later - here's the progress: