Walrus Vibra-Gate

Good improvisation. Thanks for the linkage.

That's incredible. Bang on my size too if you ever wish to sell it, though I hope you don't have to.

First test ride tonight, I didn't fall off, it didn't break.

It's now painted, and has a brake and a saddle and peddles and stuff. Pictures soon, but my camera battery is out and my phone camera is really, really out of focus lately.

It works! It fits! I can get in the drops without it hurting!

Nooooooo, the tease! Pics or it didn't happen

I'm just worried that I'm going to hit a hole, bump down hard on the saddle, bend the seat stays and the end section of top tube.

I was going to shape the extra sleeve tube that connects to the seat post to give more support along the extra top tube. Not sure how/why I forgot about that until now.

Oh well, if the worse happens, I'll just have to start over.

That is really nice. Hopefully the problems you described above won't occur (touchwood). Looks brilliant.

Really cool frame to build yourself and very suitable paint and finish!

You ca be proud of the bike

Stunning work as ever.

Love this. Who did the paint for you?

I feel that we often underestimate the strength of steel, I don't think you need to worry about it breaking easily, unless there's a worrying amount of flex on the rear when sat on the bicycle.

Thanks, chaps.

Paint was by me. Just rattle-canned to get me through to spring when the weather is a little better for proper painting, and to make sure the colours I think I want work. Gold lug lining mostly worked, but I'm still in two minds about the head tube lugs where the lining is a bit thick.

Ed, I think you're right, it feels pretty stiff, but you never know the forces involved in a really big pothole, but any bike can break. Feels good so far anyway :).

This is brilliant - really interesting build. Definitely makes learning frame building appealing, especially if you can build anything you imagine.
Excuse my dodgy photoshop, but did you ever consider a design like this ( i know it takes the gate part away)

Tempting! I've not seen standard seat stays and a triple-triangle together - probably due to extra weight + redundant strength, but I quite like it. maybe needs bendy top-tube and lo-pro-ness too.

Now that would be ace!

Surly there wouldn't be any use for the extra chain stays rendering it a hetchins. I think this is brilliant, awesome as it is. Although it needs some proper brake levers! Hetchins bendy lo-pro, now that would be incredible.

Very nice work! I've read about this frame design a bit, but I'm not totally clear on the "why". Is it just to achieve a slightly shorter wheelbase by tucking the back wheel in?

I think it's perfect as it is, much more unique than the curvy seat tube.

It goes against every principle I have ever held dear and every fibre of my body to agree with Ed, but I do. It is perfect just as it is! There doesn't need to be a 'why?'.

Very nice work! I've read about this frame design a bit, but I'm not totally clear on the "why". Is it just to achieve a slightly shorter wheelbase by tucking the back wheel in?

I'm sure there were technical reasons, but I think at least part of it was it's recognisable shape - at the time the amateur TT'ers couldn't have any advertising on their frames but a flying gate was so distictinctive it got around this.

This is a glorious build.

^this same principle with the hetchins. Not sure on any other wacky frame designs that emerged because of that rule.