Snake Driver is coming together

Thursday things really came together. Spent some time forming and mitering the seat stays. Wanted these to be a little special so I added the wishbone look.

Keeping them in plane takes some mind power. But after tacking up the chainstays, it was a weldfest on the mainframe finishing the HT/DT and Bottom Bracket junctions first.

Then finishing wrapping all the welds on the seat stays. Double checked alignment twice along the way and things were looking pretty good. Final check after all was welded up and things were still on target. Usually check this a few times throughout the process and tweak if necessary.

I've been getting better at using the heat to pull things back into alignment as I work. Finished up the welding and had some time left to miter/fit the chainstay bridge.

Mirrors the tires profile nicely with room for a 2.5 and then some...

POST#44 - Snakedriver coming together

Was at the shop yesterday and was successful in mitering, prepping and tacking the front triangle assembly to the bb/cs assembly. I'm starting to get the whole process down better with each frame and getting in tune with the whole process. Some quick shots of the build progress:


Tacked up and waiting for next week


Bushnell EBB detail


Pieces parts.

The Speedway Cycles 50mm UMA 26" rim showed up today at the studio. Thanks so much Speedway for sending this on over out here on the right coast! Can't wait to build this up. Waiting on Paul Components next run of 135mm Whub front hubs to go into production. 4 weeks out apparently. Until then, its casting shadows.



Also had a very rich and enlightening conversation with Ted regarding Trail, Rake and handling. Very impressed with his knowledge on the subject. A lot of it comes from his flat track days on a motorcycle. No brakes, all controlled via power/throttle. That's balls. In a nut shell what your goal is as per Ted is a neutral handling platform. So when you lay into a turn it neither under or over steers and the bike is predictable. Basically scribing the same arc instead of independent ones, or at least that is how I can verbalize it. Wheel, inertia, rotational mass, HT angle, rake, trail... All that stuff plus more in a one big soup called handling. Definitely some black magic going on with this as its different from rider to rider...

New Winter Build: SNAKEDRIVER

Oh that's right people. Going to be doing an update to the fabled Snakedriver. Rode a full season/winter on the proto #1 when I wasn't on the f1. (which sometimes was tough with all this good weather, good trails and good setup which I came to enjoy...) But one thing was for sure, riding in the winter has been getting tough. Not because of the cold or snow, but more so because of the setup. I had options but still there were some holes. So back to the drawing board. I was building more for nothing larger than a 2.1 in the back. You can squeeze a 2.3 out there, but I'd prefer more room. So this next build is going to put into action the same forming techniques I've been using with my mountain bikes and the stays. So we'll have room for 2.5's out back.

Next up is the bottom bracket. I'm going to lower the height to 12". 12.375 is pretty good for trails. But on snow/fast dirt roads, I really liked how a low bottom bracket sucks into turns and quickens steering. Still enough room for taking it off on trails, but its meant more for dirt roads and rambles. So it goes. But another opportunity to see how this feels on trail too. Bottom bracket will be switched to a Bushnell Ebb. Worked with this on Joe's Rohloff build and was digging its capabilities in certain applications. I can change stay length, bottom bracket height and go gears or singlespeed. So a little extra weight in this case is worth the added benefits.

Next up is the fork/head angle. Keeping it at 70.5 but going to be making 2 forks for her. One will be in the 450 a-c range but the second will be able to take an endomorph. That's right-we're making this fat tire compatible for snow conditions. I've been curious about this whole fat front thing, but more so for snow. So I've been in touch with Speedway Cycles up in Alaska and a 50mm Uma 26" black roled holed and drilled is on her way as we speak. I'll also be building with the new front iso standard of 135mm. Paul Components will be supplying their new WHUB. They're 4 weeks out so I couldn't place the order, but in 4 weeks... LOOK OUT MAN. I'm placing that order. Both forks will have the same a-c and rake. But accommodate the two axle widths for comparison of these two standards. Can't wait. I'll call this the 'pork fork' though-none of that fat nomenclature...

Next up is the overall look of the frame. The Snakedriver is more of a utility type ride, but I want this one to be a 44, so we're going to make it in a similar appearance of a 44s. Most likely no gusset at the st/tt junction. Just a clean line up there. Full housing and the ability to run a rear derailleur will be in order of course.

But-finished up the chainstay/bb assembly yesterday. Welds are coming together nicely and each pass is getting better. Been fiddling with the 'on-time / pulses per second' adjustments. Also been playing with feathering the pedal during pulses too. Interesting stuff and learning more about heat control. I'll be using 17-17.65 stays (ebb swing). They were mitered in at around 17.25. Bad pics attached above but hey-I'm working on that too. Just got a Nikon D60 body. Have to save up for a good lens now.

Riding

Been riding a lot so there hasn't been news. Also been building too. Finished up Franky's 26s and Joe's Rohloff Build / 26s.


Lil'detail of the goods.


From the front.

Fun fact regarding Joe's: Good old fashioned New Hampshire Barter. You cut some trees that need cuttin' I'll build a frame that needs buildin'. I need cordwood, you need bike frame. DEAL! Fun stuff. A pretty good deal on his part too. This one can be run as a singlespeed as it has an ebb, it's got rack mounts for touring, comes with a spare derailleur mount thats removable so if he ever decides to go with a 'normal' setup, he can and its built up as a Rohloff with all the necessary doo hickeys.


Yep..Frank needs a slightly shorter stem.

Franky's 26s paint is a candy red powder. I have to say I'm particular to black, but red is my favorite color. I know what color the snake driver update will now be. Pic just doesn't do it justice.

But went down to PA for a little visit with the folks and the F1 was along for the ride. Kind of took me for a ride. Warmed up in and around my grandmothers house in the perkiomen valley reservoir. The stomping grounds where I learned the ins and outs of mountain biking. A quick 30 minute pedal from my parents house. Muddier than all hell, but it was fun. Then the second day of the trip-took for the hills of Emmaus just outside of my old employer, Rodale Press. South Mountain in Emmaus PA. Forgot how technical these trails can be. But rest assured, I was in full control 95% of the time. The other 5% I leave up to "ah shit... here we go." Good stuff. The climb from the parking lot near the playground is a good one. Crosses some downed trees that are all new to me, plenty of rock gardens, and some killer singletrack. i remember back in 99/01 someone purchased land where another trailhead was for years and quickly shut that down. I was away for a while and did not know this, and upon arriving I was harassed by a gentleman in a minivan who showed up as soon as I got out of the car faster than a jack rabbit on a hot date giving me the riot act. So we lost a lot of great singletrack. But no matter as new stuff appears to be built. But I did a large loop and was more than satisfied. Cleared a rock garden I'd only cleared once to date ONLY to be thwarted by two trees at the end of the rocks which my bars would not clear-I was pretty committed to the line at that point, and had a good pace. I approached the end looked up and realized that I couldn't even wheelie and turn the bars between these suckers... Pretty much just rode the bars right up to them, stopped balanced in a track stand.. noodled it (hot as all hell too sweating bullets) and just laughed and had to walk. Just when you think you have something licked mother nature grows some trees. Oh well.




Forgot my camera. Would have taken some on South Mountain with the F1. These will have to do till next time!

But the true test of any build is in some tech. South Mountain is no exception to this. The F1 climbed well, hooked up in corners and rolled smoothly in the rough. She was descending even better than I could due to how freakin' soaked my gloves were. I had some sweat management issues. No matter-it was great fun. Had to walk a few sections but who cares. I was on my home trails on a awesome day, on a bike I built with my own hands and not a person in sight for miles. That's good stuff I have to say. Can't wait to return in the fall. I'll have to give my bud Mr. Neyen and hey ho next time. We'll rip it up I'm sure.

44f1 Finished

So I finally finished my much anticipated new 29er frame: 44f1.



"F" for flair, "1" for one bend in the ST. I've ridden the first proto for some time now and decided it was time to make some changes from the very first proto Ted and I made last year. The first rendition threw me a curve ball resulting in a slightly slacker seat tube angle than I desired. So back to the drawing board. All that effort definitely paid off as naturally I not only learned a lot by making those mistakes, it also gave me more time on the first proto to start re-evaluating some of those early decisions/directions I had taken. So changes were in order-subtle but none the less, they are there for good reason. First up was an evaluation of how I ride and how that needs to be translated into the machine. Handling was desirable with the first proto but still not to where it needed to be. Original HT angle was set at 69. This was changed to 70.5 in an attempt to create what Ted refers to as a neutral handling bike. After my first experience on it this morning with its maiden voyage (turned into a 4 hour ride..) I now can really say with confidence that I've found a sweet spot. Always room for improvement I'm sure-but the front end tracks SO much better. I was experiencing some front wheel flop over very steep/short tech obstacles. On the back side of the obstacles at slow speeds I could feel the front end wanting to pitch either direction I was leaning. Not today people. Sucker just stuck on the ground and held its ground.



Next up was an evaluation of bottom bracket height on trail. High enough to clear obstacles and and avoid most pedal strikes, but low enough so it lowers the CG, quickens steering and sucks into turns. Again-12.5 bottom bracket height the first go around. This time-went with 12.25 to 12.375 (just depends on tire choice / tire pressure). It was pinned at 12.375 for today and I have to say I am very happy with this choice over 12.5". I can really notice a difference between the two-rear end tended to bounce a bit at times, but lowering the CG just a tad seemed to sink things in a bit more and allow the rear to stay planted. Maybe that's a bunch of BS, but that's how I interpret that change.

Now we come to a touchy one: Chainstay Length. The current set up was at 17.1" in length. This was pretty nice I have to say. But like all things, I wanted to push it and see what shorter would do. To achieve my desired CS Length-I needed to radius the seat tube. No easy task and what through the curve with the second proto. I ended up putting the radius at the bottom of the ST so effectively it pitches the Seat tube forward a hair, creates enough clearance so I can shorten up the chainstays and not have to put the ST/DT connection OVER the DT. So we can still create that nice big platform of welds around the bottom bracket and keep things relatively stiff. So with a radius in place, the trick was just getting the setup in the jig just right. All in all, I was able to go from a 17.1 to a 16.625. Dedicated 1x9 (in my case 1x5..) is the drawback because the radius really throws the angle for a Front Derailleur off. The rub was now with a shorter pair of stays, the rear would be a little stiffer and not as resilient.



This brings us to the next evolution of the design: two bends in the seatstays. Between the seat post extension and the two bends in the stays, I definitely experience a supple ride today. STOKED to say the least. Power transfer was still on point but there was that nice snappy feel of steel with a supple feel. Very comfortable ride.

That brings us to the dropouts: The 'Flip Switch' as I call them. Basically you run them in their normal position to have full gears. Want a singlespeed without horizontal drops or an ebb? Flip 'em and switch them. Right to left, left goes to right. You now have a traditional singlespeed setup. Orientation of the caliper is directly over the top of the disk. So with the use of a half link or half link chain (like a shadow conspiracy interloc) you can really dial in the chainline without having too much horizontal movement. Not necessary-but something I was noodling for a while and just wanted to try out. Big thanks to Super Rat Machine. Phil's work is awesome, top notch and a pleasure to work with. Props to SRM for their work.

Last details I made were a slightly lower slung frame. Well, close to 2 more inches of clearance over the top tube. Radius on the seat stay bridge and disk brake reinforcement. The Seat stay bridge really mirrors the profile of the tire nicely. More work but its a nice detail. Next go I'll push it up a little further-tire clearance can handle a 2.5 (2.3 installed presently) but clearance under the bridge is tight. Makes it but I'd prefer more. Chainstays are hand bent and formed. Lots of clearance for a 2.5 down there. Last but not least are the addition of the new Head and Seat badges. ST Badge sports a blank space for a lucky number to be punched. An outfit on the left coast put these together for me: Acu-Line. Photo etched stainless steel. They weigh nothing, and basically you pay a one time fee for the setup and then its per sheet. As many as you can fit on an 11x18 sheet. I got about 50 badges. Super nice and easy to work with-Ted might be using them for a run of HT badges too. Really nice etch quality.



The ride today: I was all smiles that is for sure. I dropped about a pound with this build. Lighter really has a nice effect that is for sure! Overall she felt very nimble, supple and snappy, descended well and those short chainstays just hook up for climbs or popping over obstacles. Wheelbase is 42.625" and rider compartment is 23.25 (that's optimized for me) and a 0 degree 90mm stem. I've found TT numbers a bit misleading-it's really more about the rider compartment in my eyes. I've found I prefer a little more of an up right stance. Relieves some pressure on my lower back and i'm more in a "ready position" when riding. You're very dynamic on a mtn. bike, so it makes sense to me to place the rider in a comfortable position where he/she can see obstacles, be free to move forward/back and play with body english. Low slung frame with an upright stance makes sense in my eyes. Back to the ride: good through corners. The lower BB brings the CG a little lower, and coupled with the steeper head angle, it was cornering a lot better than previously. I really could feel it tracking tighter through turns and being able to pick lines a lot better. (Good suggestion Ted! He's a Master Framebuilder for good reason!)



Overall: just a blast to ride. Fast, snappy and ready for more. More time on the frame will give me more information-but the above is first impressions. I'm stoked.. The group was beat afterwards naturally. Our buddy Brett hadn't ridden in a while and had a little unscheduled appointment with his breakfast again.. Joey T. is getting over Lyme Disease and was having a blast. Franky was enjoying his 44s in candy red. (I know what type of paint will be my next rambler!) The Punisher was out in FULL FORCE. Don't mess with the Punisher-she'll eat you alive. Post ride I delivered Joey T's much anticipated 44s Rohloff build. He was definitely stoked. Little good ol'fashioned swap. You cut some trees that need cuttin', and I'll cut some metal for a custom build for ridin'. Worked out awesome.

PAINT/BADGES

New badges arrived. Stoked. Clean. Simple. Better. Not to mention the seat tube badge now states where they're made. Even if it's one at a time-that stamp of "Made in the USA" is more important than ever before.

Head tube badge in non-titled version.


Seat tube badge with rider option of a 'owner number'. Pick your lucky number. Ours happens to be 44..

This ones the fully revised 44f1. Can't wait for the face/chase so I can build it up. Also back from paint were two 44s's. Rohloff frame in wet black and the other in a candy red. Amazing finish provided by Jim at Rev Auto Limit/Extreme Powder Coating. Great work again fella's. More pics to follow shortly..

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..