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.

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.

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 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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.

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.

Steel 29er in progress

I put up lots of photos of raw welded frames but I seldom have photos of the 'fit-up' stage. These two photos show the mitered union og the two tubes in the pre-weld state. I show this to illustrate the need for a very uniform and tight fit between the tubes. If there are any gaps there will be distortion when the weld cools. In theory, the unitform tight miter will yeild a stronger and better aligned joint. I always try for the best fit up possible. When a frame is lugged, the fit is hidden inside the lug , making it difficult to know if the fit-up was good. With a welded bike there is nowhere to hide-everything is out in the open. This is why I am puzzled why some folks consider welding less of a skill than brazing with lugs. No doubt, there are less steps with a welded bike but there is the need for precision and the margin for error is tiny.
In these photos the front triangle portion of the frame is in two sub-asseblies: Top and head tube, down and seat tube ( to B.B. shell ). This is a critical stage where if done correctly, the frame can wind up with proper angles and no twist. If the inside angles are off a little, there can be all sorts of issues with alignment, steering and stability. I take my time at this critical juncture as I have learned from many years of doing this-hurry this part and you'll wind up with a nice piece of scrap !