Archive for December, 2009

Single Speed Cyclocross

Dec 21

Posted by Erik Rolf in Bikes, Frame Building | 3 Comments

I finished a new cyclocross bike this weekend.  I think that this style of bike works great for getting around from one place to another.  It’s just a basic cross bike set up as a single speed.  Throw on some fenders with a mixed bag of old parts, and you’re ready to ride. 

I had to recycle all the parts off of my first bike.  I really wish that I could keep riding that bike, because it works so well and it’s a lot of fun.  It’s hard not to become nostalgic over my first frame, but I need to keep building bikes.  My first bike had a nice patina going too!

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Some build photos

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I packed a walloping one degree of slope into that top tube.

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The stats on this one are 572mm top tube, 600mm c-t seat tube, 425mm chainstay at the most forward position, and a 110mm stem.  Full OX platinum tubeset, except the chainstays.  The bike also has full provisions for derailleurs. 

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The fork is built with a 400mm axle to crown height for a little more clearence when the tires have snow on them.

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New Commuter

Dec 7

Posted by Erik Rolf in Frame Building | 4 Comments

I completed the fork for my new bike earlier last week.  I used  28.6mm/20mm tapered True Temper fork blades.  This bike will have disc brakes, so I wanted a fork that wouldn’t chatter under hard braking, but also had a nice ride to it.  This fork sits in the middle of the three common sizes for unicrown blades.  

The fork blades have been mitered to width and are roughly mocked up for length.

Next, I miter the steer tube to match the radius of a fender.  It also looks better than a square piece of tube sticking out.

 

The fork has been fitted for length, width, and rake.  It’s ready to tack and weld.

Last week, Carl decided the alignment table needed a little bit of love.  I stripped it all the way down and polished off all of the surface rust and grim.   At this point, I’ve removed most everything and polished it twice with a 3M pad and some cleaner.

I gave it one more polishing and then waxed it to seal the new finish.

 

I went skiing at Big Sky on Saturday for my brothers birthday.  It was great conditions  for early season.  I snapped a few photos that look out into the Gallatin Crest area.

 

I was going to ski again on Sunday, but I stopped listening after the snow report stated -10 degrees at mid mountain.  So instead, I went into the shop and built the frame to go with my new fork.  It’s built with mostly OX Platinum, except the chainstays, which are 3/4 inch 4130.  The down tube is 34.9mm, top tube is 28.6mm, 28.6mm externally butted seat tube, and 16mm tapered seat stays round out the package. 

 

Front triangle mitered and tacked.

Checking the head tube for twist midway thru welding.

Chainstays tacked, just need to miter seatstays and then weld the back half.

Almost done, except for bridges, braze-ons, and a rear disc mount.