Donhou track

Interesting pedals, though I see there are also new ATACs that look less dorky than the old ones and weigh about the same as those LOOKs:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/mtb-pedals-from-look-and-time-just-in-36154/

The LOOKs do, er, look better, though.

Those Pacentis look very promising, let us know how you find them.

One of the fun things about working with Donhou is that the dude is a designer, he's not just some guy that happens to be useful at welding tubes together. And like I said, I'm enough of an aesthetic poseur that I'll reject a custom bike because of the fonts used on the seat tube. At one level that sounds pathetic, but at another level, it's a custom bike, obviously aesthetics are going to play a big part. And if you're not thinking about one of the key things that defines your brand to strangers, what's going on? Anyway, rant over, Donhou has a good font ;)

So we start talking about the colour scheme and look. I'm a minimalist at heart, so straight away I name-drop Dieter Rams and Jony Ive. Now here's where every designer goes "Rams, Ive, can you get any more obvious?" And they're right, but my point is that we're designing a bike and this builder is well-versed enough in the lingo to probably know more about the subject than me.

Months ago we were thinking about a raw stainless frame, but that option really isn't practical for a variety of reasons. But we both wanted something that referred to that original look So I talked about some pretty metal things that I liked which we could use as a starting point for reference.

The Leica M camera:

http://asia.cnet.com/story_media/62218751/leica_m_silver_600x450.jpg

http://en.leica-camera.com/assets/gallery/1575.jpg

The Lockheed Constellation airliner:

http://www.aeronautic.dk/HW_Lockheed_Constellation_Starliner_L-1049_Lufthansa-2.jpg

The Hasselblad V camera:

http://www.bythewei.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Hasselblad_V2.jpg

The Global knife:

http://www.lordsofnottinghill.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/g/l/global_knives_g2_20cm_cooks_knife.jpg

Me: "but that's just a starting point, we'll need a bit of colour here. And I don't want to be one of those motor heads that wants you to copy their favourite Porsche or whatever"

Tom: "yeah instead you'll ask me to copy your favourite camera..."

Touché, point taken, tail between legs.

But anyway, in a couple of days he figured something pretty cool out!

That rims look awesome, wider and as light as the A23, great choice.

Following this with great interest - great photo's unsurprisingly...

Does the black rim + silver sidewall/breaking surface not bother you? I wonder if there is anyone that can ceramic coat them (as anodising/paint wears and looks ugly) ala the old Mavic ceramic rims (which also work better in the wet than standard rims)

ps. any plans for a book of After the Fall?

Following this with great interest - great photo's unsurprisingly...

Does the black rim + silver sidewall/breaking surface not bother you? I wonder if there is anyone that can ceramic coat them (as anodising/paint wears and looks ugly) ala the old Mavic ceramic rims (which also work better in the wet than standard rims)

ps. any plans for a book of After the Fall?

Hey Dan,

Yeah I think the sidewall thing bothers me slightly but I'm not aware of any practical options for alloy rims. My black Archetypes and HED C2s suffer from the same problem (and to be honest, I'd prefer a silver braking surface as opposed to worn-off anodisation).

And yes there is definitely a plan for me to make a book around that work. I need to stop sinking the proceeds from print sales into custom bike frames first!

Indeed - I don't know that there are any practical options about getting items ceramic coated - it was just me thinking aloud really - One of the reasons full carbon rims appeal is the lack of silver sidewall - but not really practical for clinchers.

I look forward to the book!

Coming together!

Sweeeeet! Lockheed constellation ftw too!

will the head tube be cutted???

will the head tube be cutted???

Ya a trim is required!

As of a few days ago, it's brazed up.

Seatstays and seattube:

Hot.

Seatstays and seattube:

Real nice!

superb

I've been shooting in Taiwan for the last couple of weeks so I missed Bespoked Bristol, but this is what it looks like in its current state. I need to black out all the logos on the bullhorns and yes unfortunately a front brake will be installed.

Photos from Headset Press:

Superb

Ah, that was yours, I was wondering. Looks awesome.

yes unfortunately a front brake will be installed

Never apologise.

Very sexy bicycle, congratulations. What bars are these?

Cinelli MASH

cheers

nice forks. 40mm?

nice forks. 40mm?

Yeah that's an Enve 2.0 with 40mm rake.

Having not ridden a bike for the last three weeks I'm kind of dying to get on it to be honest and check out the little details. The custom Busyman saddle, the Royce-hubbed wheels, the semi-raw frame... all things that may not make any kind of difference to the actual ride quality, but which I've lusted after, rightly or wrongly.