Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Scandium 'cross frame for Illinois

 Truly a dying breed-as a matter of fact the scandium frames are going to be removed from my pricelist until I can get a source for more tubing. What I have left is really only suitable for lighter riders. This guy is all of 135 lbs. so he's right in there.
 The conventional threaded BB and head tube combine to make this one of the lightest 'cross frames that has ever left my shop. It is 2 lb. 11 oz, what I can 'crazy light' for a non-carbon frame.

Monday, February 25, 2013

29er for Montana

 I'm on to aluminum for the next two weeks after building in steel since the first of the year. I think I might have done a small batch in January of aluminum frames but for the most part 2013 is shaping up to be the year of steel. That said, I'm always happy to change materials for awhile and this frame represents the first in the batch. If they all come out like this one I'll be very happy.
 This is a hardtail 29er with the Ahrens upper yoke and a tapered headtube for a hidden headset. I have only built a few like this so far but it makes a for a good small bike. The hidden headset allows for a longwr headtube without raising the handlebars too high. This frame should be a downhill screamer as it has a dual-slalom type front end. I'm liking this geometry more and more-the bikes just carve.
The frame is not made for big tires as this rider is like me, preferring the ease of acceleration with the smaller tires. The frame is 3 lb. 12 oz. and is made for a 5'6" rider.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Single speed CX/Road/Commute sttel frame

 This bike will see varied road conditions...gravel, a  bit of dirt and some possibly choppy pavement so the ability to have big tires will be a plus. The tubeset is again, a mix of S-3 ( yes, I do build frames from other tubing.....just not so far this month !) Nivachrome , and some other OX  True Temper tubes.
 The frame will be fitted with an Easton EC70X fork. This fork is unusual as it has an aluminum steerer....not a thin wispy one, a real piece of pipe. These forks don't jutter as much as the lighter carbon forks.....there's a weight penalty but with this 3 lb. 9 oz. frame, I don't think it will matter. Single speeds are always pretty light bikes.
Last but not least, I added some fender eyeltes to the dropouts and one under the seat stay bridge. Easton was smart enough to have eyelets on the fork as well so this bike can be winterized.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Another S-3 road frame

 This one has Paragon dropouts ( the non-stainless ones) and Paragon cable adjuster bosses on the down tube. The top tube is a round S-3 tube rather than the teardrop version I have used earlier this month.
 This frame is about 3 lb. 10 oz. very light for steel and should wind up being a pretty light build.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Used MTB on consignment

 Yes, the rare occasion where I have a used bike for sale is here. This 7005 hardtail cross country rig is perfect for a 5'7" rider. It has Mavic crossmax wheels, the rest is XTR. The fork is a Fox F-80 RLC and the bike has Easton EC-70 XC bars. It is an amazing deal for $ 1,000. The bike has V-brakes but the frame, fork and wheelset will take Discs.Here's an opportunity to get a bike that normally new would set you back over $ 4,000 -it is in showroom condition. Call me weekdays at 831-429-8010 if  you want to check it out.


Friday, February 15, 2013

29er single speed for Fairfield, Calif.

 I'm waiting on a custom order 80 mm Fox fork for this one so I figured that I should put up some photos before it goes away. This frame is a cross country version.....it won't see huge tires.
 The frame has a host of Ahrens design parts-the sliding dropouts and upper yoke.
I'll bet that this bike will build up pretty light. the frame is pretty light but not fragile by any means.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Steel 29er for bay area

 It was late in the day and too dark to take photos of this one outside. Hopefully you'll get the idea from these dimly lit photos. I think this one ranks up there in terms of execution....at least for me.
 It's amazing how replacing and/or cleaning lenses in the welding mask can open up new ( or old ) levels of precision. In other words, welding blind is not the best procedure. The slow degradation of my welding mask didn't really become obvious until recently.
 Now I feel like I really can see....I thought that I might have been going blind or having macular degeneration. Turns out that I'm not that kind of degenerant....maybe another kind altogether.
I didn't weigh this one...suffice to say that it is sturdy and should be hard to hurt. Should steer nicely, too.