Two crowned build

 This steel big-tire CX frame and fork has a unique feature of having a fork crown to make the seatstay wishbone. I have never done one like before. This design was a request from the customer, right down to the paint accents. The frame has an older look but set up for modern components.

This really isn't a pure retro frame but something with a retro look that will have thru-axles and disc brakes. I'm interested to hear how it performs out on the trails.

small steel gravel frame for Texas

 This one is going to a 5'3" rider and will be doing the long mixed-terrain miles in events all over the central part of the USA.

 The crown was my last Pacenti PBP model- that was until Steve Garro graciously sent me a whole stock of new ones. I guess they are available again from a supplier in Portland, Oregon.

The owner opted for post mount brakes , a little easier to set up and still very plentiful. The frame wound up very light, even though it is made for abusive conditions.

A trip down memory lane

 Here's a pair of MTB's from 1993 still owned by the original couple and from what I can tell , mostly original. These are early examples of the Tig Team SL Mtn. frame that I started building in the Gross rd. shop I occupied from 1992-1996. This was pretty much a 440 square foot metal shed divided onto three rooms. I built a few hundred frames there and started my serious work on batches of CX frames.

 Before I built many CX frames these MTB's and some lugged road frames were my stock and trade. I built a great number of these bikes back before full suspension took over the market. Around this time I also imported frames from Taiwan for the 'Expert' model. I needed a lower priced frame of my design to sell in the UK and Germany. There was no way I could keep up with the demand working in my tiny shop.

 These bikes will be back in use again - they will be transformed with rigid forks and some more upright bars. Better to make them into townies than have them hanging unused or try to flog them on craigslist.

 Both of these bikes have some extra details on the head tube and cable routing that were not stock on the model. They have the wavy gussetts that were on my bikes from 1995-2001. The bikes pictured here represent a style that was a product of the kind of riding in Santa Cruz-twisty narrow single track in the redwood forest.

 It was nice to see these bikes again and I'll be getting to work on the updates soon.

Its that time again- team CX frames

 Half of the month of June has been dedicated to building team CX aluminum frames. I would have done a larger batch but I only had enough rear dropouts and flat mounts for six frames.

 Not all of these frames are for the team but most of them are built in the current team style. For the next year or so this is how they will appear- flat mount rear disc , thru-axle dropouts, flattened top tube and internal rear brake routing.

Tall steel CX frame with seat mast

 The 6'7" rider on the team ordered this one for CX and gravel racing. He's been racing a good many years and decided that this formula was the best for his needs.

 This is essentially a CX version of the 'Ultimundo' platform without the internal brake routing.The rider already had post mount brakes so the bike was set up that way.

The fork is a an Enve CX that has been painted to match The frame is surprisingly well under 5 lb. even at this size.

Steel CX frame with some classic elements

 Yes, those are cantilever posts. Yes, that's a 1" steerer on a crowned fork. Yes, that's a level top tube. And, yes- those are down tube shifter bosses. This is not the new formula- it is the classic.

 I found a source that has continued the manufacture of the Pacenti line of fork crowns. I was worried that they were extinct but now there seems to be an endless supply- not something you can say about many frame building materials in the 21st century.

The frame will be going to a place where it rains a bit so there's provisions for fenders. There's also room for some pretty big tires, at least by CX standards. The only newer feature on this frame would be the third set of bottle mounts under the down tube that are so popular now.

Steel 26" MTB for Canada

 This one is a bit of a roots build- 26" wheels, QR rear axle and IS tab for the disc brake.

 This is not the first or last 26" MTB frame of the year- it seems like there's  a bit of a revival going on- not so much for cross country rigs like this but more for dirt jumpers . I built one a couple of months ago and I will be building another one soon.

This frame is built for a 100 MM fork and 2.3" tires, although it looks like the owner will more likely run 2.25's most of the time. This frame was really fun to build and I'm really happy with how it came together. I even got to use some rare single bend Columbus short taper chain stays.