853 'cross frame

It has been a while since I have built an 853 frame. I must say, these tubes feel different just pulling them out of the box. There's a perceptable 'solid' feel.....maybe I'm crazy , but the high surface hardness of these tubes seems to be something I can feel just picking them up. O.K., I am crazy......nobody can feel that-jsut the same, the tubes are really round, ultra finely finished and just reek of quality. I now have a renewed enthusiasm for using these tubes, even if the price is a little steep. Maybe my next hardtail MTB will have a set. This frame is going to a local rider who will probably be riding trails more than racing. I built it solid so that it will hopefully last a long time.

I can put a few extra bends in the seatstays on a larger frame such as this. It's a nice look and makes for a more interesting appearance.

Al Carbon for Santa Barbara

This frame is one of my more popular styles. The 7005 aluminum provides a very quick response to the pedals while the carbon seatstay keeps the ride from being too rough. My newest personal road bike is very similar to this one. The long head tube is to accomodate a higher handlebar position in accordance with the customer's instructions. I feel that most cycling related body ailments can be traced to the handlebars being too low, too close or both.

Rita gets a bike

Only two of the photos I took of this frame were in focus. It's too bad because the welds on this frame were about as good as I can do. The tubeset is mostly Columbus Life....I don't use it much as it is a little light for riders about 150 lbs. but this rider is well shy of that. The result is a steel 'cross frame that is 3 lb.s, 11 oz. , not much more than the weight of an aluminum frame. The difference will be a bit more compliance in the ride and a little more shouldering room as the tubing is much smaller diameter. This is one of the few frames I have left to finish before 2010.

Accessorizing....white is the new black.

I'm so embarassed-Iv'e fallen prey to superficiality assembling this bike. Yes, it's really light, 15 lb.s , 15 oz. Yes, it's all the new stuff for the most part. And yes, I did pick out much of the components based on a color scheme. I'm still waiting for the white Easton stem. I had the shoes first ( Mavic ) and had to wait six months until the bike was built before I wore them. Today I'll debut the whole mess on the lunch ride. If I get dropped, I'll at least look fast all by myself on this white rolling fashion statement.

26" single speed for 140 mm shock

I was fortunate back in 2002 to get a huge stash of USA made Easton Elite 7005 aluminum tubing for MTB frames. When I got it I thought that it was unlikely that I would ever use it all. Now I'm finding that I am starting to go thrugh it rapidly as the hardtail revival has really come to my shop in a big way. of the last nine frames I have built four of them are 7005 hardtails, two 29ers and two for 26". This one has the full ADG kit. To explain for those who don't know, Mike Ahrens in San Jose designs the yokes and slider dropouts in this frame. He also designs all sorts of frames as well. Without Mike's frame hardware, this kind of frame would not be possible for me to build in any solid repeatable way. Mike's yokes and dropouts are US made ,complimenting the rest of the materials.

7005 Easton 29er

The welder was not fighting me today so I thought I would put some photos of this nearly completed frame up. This frame is #7 out of 12 that I am attempting to build this month before going back to steel for the remainder of the year. Being a framebuilder means that I get to see everybody's frame when its in its shiny birthday suite. I haven't a clue what color this one will be but right now I like looking at it just the way it is. Too bad about corrosion......

It's a new model......really !

Here it is, fall and all the big bike companies have already shown the world all of their new stuff at the big trade shows. I'm too broke and too busy to go to any of these shows but that won't stop me from coming up with a new 2010 road frame with features not seen on my bikes until now. This frame is scandium with a carbon seatstay...something I have done for years but this time there's an integrated headset and a BB-30 shell. I'm hoping to get it built and rideable in the next week or so. The frame weighs a scant 2 lbs. 11 oz. so the whole bike has a good chance of being down in the 15 lb. range with the components I have to put on it, mostly 7900 Dura Ace. I had to modify my Paragon dropouts to take the carbon wishbone but it came out pretty clean.Reynolds does not make this seatstay wishbone any more so I'll have to source something else, possibly Dedaccai or Columbus. I'm hoping that this combo makes for a smooth ride without sacrificing the front end rigidity that I like so much.In case you are wondering , yes-I did put the frame on the floor to photograph it. Don't worry, it's my frame and it didn't get scratched....yet !