Monday, September 30, 2019

Frame # 4 from 1979 returns

 When I had just barely gotten my feet wet in frame building I planned an ambitious project- I would try to create something like a semi-fancy Hetchins style frame but build it with a serious nod to Bruce Gordon. I had not met Bruce at the time but I saw his work and was immediately inspired by it,along with frames from Hetchins and Art Stump. I also wanted to make the stiffest steepest road frame in Santa Cruz- maybe not the smartest plan but here it is, 40 years later and it still rolls.
 This frame pre-dates the Rock Lobster brand by about 5 years, hence the hand painted 'Sadoff" logo on the seat and head tubes. Yes, I painted it on myself-I used to know how to do that.
 I managed to get a set of Art Stump's investment cast dropouts-there are not many of these on the planet . As attractive as they are, they did not really catch on. I had to shorten the derailleur hanger to get the shifting to work properly.
 I tried to do the Bruce Gordon seatpost bolt through-the-stays binder. This one works really well, even if it isn't nearly as cleanly pulled off as what Bruce did. The seat lug is definitely a nod to Bruce as well.
The tubing id Columbus PS, the heavy track set with oversize chain stays and 24 mm round fork blades. One can really feel the road when riding this bike-that is to say that it isn't the smoothest riding bike in town. It is not unpleasant, though. When I was 24 I did ride it 135 miles in a day and survived without breaking my back. My plan is to overhaul it , throw a larger freewheel on it and ride the Eroica California in April. Seems fitting to take this bike in particular to that event-the two-wheel nostalgia parade. I'll leave the paint pretty much as you see it, rust and all. Bike and rider will look a bit worse for wear but that , in my mind is how it should be.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

7005 CX race frame going to Il.

 This is the newest version of the team CX frame- one of many I have built in the last few months. This one has a painted to match Enve fork and the new King 'dropset' integrated headset.
 The frame will also do some miles in gravel events which are becoming very popular all over the country. It seems that the midwest has a wealth of dirt and gravel roads making it a good area for bikes like this.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Small steel gravel/endurance frame and fork

 Built in a classic style with the straight steerer fork, threaded BB shell and rim brakes, this small frame has tubing diameters that suit the smaller rider. My goal was to make a frame that was not going to have a rough ride for the long miles it will be putting in. The smaller diameter top and down tube should help.
 The color is "Cascade blue", the powdercoat equivalent of what I have on my own touring bike that I displayed and the NAHBS last March in Sacramento.
The stainless Salsa dropouts have been a staple on my frames for nearly 20 years.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Team CX bike for a local

 Just got this one built up in time for the Old Growth classic, the local gravel event. Not sure where she finished up but I'm sure that the owner of this bike was in the action at the front.
 The bike is fitted with Easton cranks, wheels, post ,stem and bars- We are really happy with the support that Easton has continued to give the team since its beginning in 2004.

The drive train is Ultegra 8000 hydraulic with flat mount calipers. Other nice bits are the Chris King BB and headset in Turquoise- King has also been a steadfast sponsor of the team and this season is no exception.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Gravel/CX aluminum frame for Florida

 Here's the latest incarnation of the team issue frame- but there are some extras:
 For one, it is not in the team color. Also, the stem, seat post and a pump barrel were painted to match along with the Enve CX fork.

The other feature is the internal top tube rear der. housing ports. I think that this is the second frame I have done this on- not something I intend to have as a stock feature but it does lend to the uncluttered look of this frame- minimal guides of any kind for a non- Di II setup.