Still can't upload photos

 Thats right....Google is currently not my friend. If you want to see current builds there's the Rock Lobster Facebook and Instagram pages for now.I'm putting up photos almost daily, that is until some glitch keeps me from doing it. If anyone has suggestions, let me know. The issue is usually before I post a photo a window comes up asking me to allow cookies. This window no longer comes up- all this happened after an update-I hate updates, don't you ? Every time I let my computer update it forces me to learn something new that I really didn't want to lear. I do not want to abandon this blog but at this point I don't know what to do. I'll still try- I have friends who might be able to help me with this problem. Stay tuned/.......

Alien invasion

Scientists are now confident that they have the tools to investigate extraterrestrial life. Heck, I could have told him that there are Aliens on the erath already- here's one in red. I made the front triangle- the rear section is real Nishiki Alien steel. It was an interesting project and now it is rolling for real.

 

Gravel frame in steel for Idaho

 This one has a 44 mm ID head tube beefy wide chain stays to fit 700x45 tires. The bike will be set up with GRX Di II from a couple of years ago so it has wired levers. This is the first tig frame of 2026 and I hope that the owner likes it. It will be paired with a Whiskey carbon fork.

First frame of 2026

 This one was supposed to be done before the first but lugged frames always have a habit of taking longer than one would think. This one also threw me curves-unexpected pitfalls which will be covered in depth in my Overopinionated frame builder blog. In spite of the problems the frame and fork are done and I'm happy with the way it all turned out. I used materials from three different departed builders as I have been the recipient of a lot of unused materials . Frame builders have a habit of hoarding lugs, tubes and other stuff and it is quite common that much of it does not get used up before the builder gets to the end of the line. I'm trying to not be that guy but after the last 4-5 years I have accumulated so much stuff I'm sure I'll be dead before it all gets used. I'll try to sell off or give away a bunch of it if I am sensing the end of my time in the world of bike building. As of January , 2026 I'm still at it full time. 

Ok- about the frame: Lugs came from Hugh Enochs

Tubing was originally in Bruce Gordon's shop and wound up in Ed Litton's shop. 

Brazing rod came from Hugh Enochs

Dropouts came from Ed Litton's shop. 

I designed the frame to be slack and long , kind of like a French bike from the 1950's .Not having a frame like that in the shop I guess I'm kind of making it up as I go but the geometry should be pretty different from the bikes I have except for maybe the Ivor Johnson track frame I have . I'll write up a story on it on the Cycles Heroic blog when I get the chance. 

First frame of 2026

 Every year end I take time between Christmas and new years to do a project or two. I'm a bit late starting this one for a couple reasons but hope to have it done tomorrow. It is raining here so if the project leaks into the weekend I'm ok with that. It will be kind of a copy of a French bike from the '50's , not that I know much about them but I do know a bit of the geometry. This one will be long and slack- not a bike for the fast group ride but it could be nice for exploring on less than optimal roads. It should be very smooth riding , or at least that is what I'm shooting for. I'll put up full photos when it is done. Tubing came from Bruce Gordon's shop through Ed Litton's shop and then to me. Lugs came from Hugh Enoch's shop. I guess I'm last man standing from the '70's Nor-Cal frame building generation so it's up to me to turn some of this stuff into frames while I'm still alive. I'm just building one or two of these a year to keep my toe in the traditional style of lug brazing. I don't want to do too much of it- it's a really long process.