Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Steel 'cross frame with fender room


This frame and fork are the "Euro 'cross" style of frame I offer except that the rear chainstays are a little longer for the 700x35 tire and a fender. This bike will see 60% trail riding but also be used as a race bike when the fall arrives. The customer specifed no rack mounts, only fender eyelets. I guess he has another bike fully outfitted with racks so there's no need to encumber this bike with that.



It's a trick getting a 395 axle-to-crown fork to have fender room. I had to put the fork in the mill and machine off the last bit of excess steerer hanging down below the blades. I missed cutting into the weld by a millimeter !

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Low standover 'cross frame and owner


Here's the completed bike ready for the first ride. The bike will get broken in on the local trails.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Team Carbon , newest edition


This is the 2011 version of the Team Carbon. The front triangle is Easton Scandium and the rear stays are Columbus " Super Muscle", the top of the Columbus carbon line. This is pretty much the top of the line racing frame that I build , although it is less expensive than either the lugged or fillet brazed " Signature" steel frames that I build. Soon I'll put up a photo of the fillet version in 29er form.
The stays are not glued in yet, just put in place for the photo. The fitting of the stays is critical for alignment and durability. I used to get really nervous when I built these frames for the first time.
The materials on this frame are the best I can get and the cost is not low for all this fancy stuff. The result is a sub 3 lb. frame that really goes well on all day rides but still feels like a full-on race bike.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The 2010 'cross season is a wrap

Here's the front der. after the last race and after the bike wash. The hose didn't have enough power to cut through the Watsonville turf.
If it looks like the chain is stuck , it is pretty much stuck. The dried mud is still on there even after turning the hose on it twice. I'm going to have to use a screwdriver to get it all out. The bike really felt a lot heavier in the last two laps when I had to carry it up the run-up.
For reasons unknown, I was extremely successful this season finishing no worse than 6th in any race and getting onto the podium 13 times in 18 races. It isn't my job to be a good racer , just a good bike builder. To my surprise I was able to do both this season. Hooray for me ! Don't blink, you'll miss my microsecond in the sun.

Scandium BB-30 'cross frame for Ohio


Yes, it's never time not to build 'cross frames, at least not for this frame builder. This one is bound for Parma, Ohio-the city of one of my suppliers Bringheili bikes , purveyors of everything Dedaccai.


-It's new......it's big......it's BB-30 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

26" wheels....at last !


This may look a lot like the previous frame but it is not the same. Because the proportions are really similar along with the features it would be hard from a photo to tell them apart. This is an actual 26" wheel mountain bike frame-yes, I do still make them. I still ride them and do not own a 29er, at least not yet. This frame has some US made True Temper OX tubing and a little bit of some specialty stuff from Nova Cycles supply. Nova is the only company bothering to have steel wishbone seatstays made-a good thing for me as this style of stay hs been a feature of my bikes for 24 years.
This frame is going to live in Chicago. I have no idea where the trails are near Chicago but I'm sure this bike will be up to any abuse it is put through.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

29er ready to ship to the powdercoater


I know....the photos aren't very good but sometimes I finish late in the day and the result are these odd images of a completed frame at sunset. If you look carefully you can see the guides all lined up on the top tube. Once they are welded on, they are there.....straight or not ! This time I got it right.
These chainstays are gigantic....I hope the front derailleur dosen't hit the drive-side stay. It shuldn't as this bike will be 2x10 and have a higher fr. der. position than a micro drive triple.

Too bad the flash washed out all the detail as these welds were really nice. I'll do better next time with the camera.