Ti Finishing 101

I use a number of methods to put the finish on a ti frame. First I use a bristle disc to texture the weld/joint area on Mark’s cross frame. A Scotchbrite belt on a Dynafile is perfect for putting the first layer of brushed marks on the frame. I usually hand finish the frame with a Scotchbrite pad. In total the brushing takes me around 1.5 hours to complete. After the ti is brushed this frame will go to the painter for the final clear coat on the carbon rear end.

Andrew’s lugged fixy frame in now ready for paint. The appearance of this lugged build is extremely clean. The lugs aren’t ornate but have very nice curves. I think the lugs will be highlighted with paint. I didn’t use seat stay eyes on this frame. They always look too heavy with this style of frame. Instead I have brazed them on and blended the fillet with the lug shoreline.

I managed to get a start on Jay’s club bike last week also. It will be ready for paint by the end of the week. I am in the process of designing Brad’s 650B tandem right now. Brad already has had me built a performance version of a Kogswell road bike. The geomety of the tandem will be very similar to the racing tandems built in the 1950′s.

Posted in Custom Frames | 3 Comments »

XTR 29er

This hardtail 29er will be racing the Ontario cups.  The frame is built from True Temper OX Platinum tubing and matched to the 80mm travel DT Swiss fork.  The bike is built up with XTR drivetrain and disc brakes, a Chris King headset and a Thomson Elite seatpost.  The bike rolls on the new Shimano tubeless 29er wheels.

Posted in New Bikes | No Comments »

Cyclocross Racer

Just in time for the upcoming cyclocross season, this versatile, custom ‘cross bike is for a very small rider. The frame is True Temper S3 ultra-light steel with a carbon fiber rear end. The frame is matched to an AlphaQ CX20 all carbon ‘cross fork and is painted deep candy red – a red clear-coat over a metallic gold base layer. The drivetrain is an XT/105 mix with versatile gearing combining a compact crank with a MTB cassette. Paul’s canti’s provide the stopping power, and Shimano’s ST-R600 reach adjustable shift levers are matched to a Salsa Short and Shallow bar for a set-up friendly to small hands. A Fizik Vitesse saddle, carbon seatpost and the FSA Orbit CX headset finish off the package.

Posted in New Bikes | 2 Comments »

Commuter Bikes

Here are some pictures of a couple of ‘all terrain’ commuter bikes we’ve made recently. Both of the bike feature strudy steel frames with 700C wheels and room for cross tires or commuter tires and fenders. Both bikes are built with eccentric bottom brackets and the Shimano Alfine 8 speed internally geared hub. The Alfine hub is the Nexus Inter-8 hub with a disk mount. This hubs span a useful range of gears and work beautifully.

Posted in New Bikes | 4 Comments »