Talbot Frameworks custom road frame

Despite having owned a slightly excessive number of bikes, I've never actually had a new frame or one that entirely fits my t-rex like proportions.

So when Matt of Talbot Frameworks told me about his new venture http://www.lfgss.com/thread105252.html I decided this was finally the excuse I needed.

As I quite like taking photos (I took a bunch of framebuilding ones for http://www.talbotframeworks.com a few weeks ago) and as Matt has promised to keep sending me pictures, I thought it would be a shame not to document the whole build.

After initially getting carried away with thoughts of stainless and disc brakes and so on, I then decided that with my limited budget and other financial considerations (like a 6 week old baby) I was better just sticking to 853 and re-using the groupset from my current road bike for the moment.

I've always suspected that a frame built to the correct proportions for me would be approximately a 58cm seat tube and a 54cm top tube. Which, after measuring turned out to be pretty much spot on. In order for it not to look too odd Matt's going to extend the seat tube and head tube above the top tube. It's going to be fillet brazed and I haven't quite decided how to get it painted yet. As with the red Talbot frame on the site, it's going to have an EC90 fork painted to match.

Anyway, on with the photos...

The tubes arrive:

My dropouts and wishbone

More soon...

Jealous! Nice!

Mmm, wishbone looks skinny. I like.

Sounds like its going to be a sweet build.

(also congrats on the baby)

Sounds like its going to be a sweet build.

(also congrats on the baby)

Thank you.

So, Matt sent me some more photos...

He's working on the rear end today...

well jell

More...
(guarded by Matt's 3 legged dog)

Matt's been making rapid progress - so rapid that I need to start making my mind up about paint urgently. Clean-up in progress.

Very jealous.

Very jealous.

The wishbone looks so good when there isn't a brake cluttering it up. I'd imagine a track frame in this style would look amazing.

My thoughts as well. I am sorely tempted for a track build..

awesome, love the skinny back end

If ever a frame was crying out for a chainstay mounted rear brake caliper...

I was thinking "disc braked road bike"

I was thinking "disc braked road bike"

Don't make me regret staying with rim brakes... I was seriously tempted, but in the end decided that I'd just re-use my old road bike groupset and save a lot of money.
I'll go for a stainless, disc equipped frame for my 50th birthday... assuming hover bikes don't exist by then.
(this one's a 40th birthday present to myself).

Nearly there... hopefully off for painting this week.

Not actual wheels or fork...

That wishbone really is lovely.

That was absurdly quick.
Looks amazing.
Jealous.

That was absurdly quick.
Looks amazing.
Jealous.

I think initially I was running a day or two behind on posting pictures and then caught up, but yes, it has been very quick - so quick that I haven't actually had the chance to go over and take photos of Matt working on it as I originally intended.

So the frame's finished and looks amazing...

Wishbone porn...

and I went over with Matt to see Vaz and choose a colour.

I've been very indecisive over this, in the end I went for a red that's just a touch darker than Matt's red frame - the red on the right here, which is a flamboyant red over a gunmetal base.

am very excited to see it when it's done.
(at which point I'm going to spoil it by building it up with my outdated 8 speed groupset, though hopefully it won't look too weird).

Frame & fork ready for painting:

EC90's ?

I knew that Coldharbour could knock up a frame quick time and good looking - but this is ridiculous.

I so want a cyclocross bike but just can't justify it.

EC90's ?

Yes, EC90s, which should look great once painted to match.

I've probably made it seem a little quicker by being a bit late posting the first photos, but the speed he's done it at (particularly considering the quality of the fillets) is amazing.

Disc braked cross frame would look great...

Looking really good and quick too.

Also the 853 for £853 deal is increadably good value.

and we're nearly there...

I was originally going to build this up with a mixture of new, modern silver bits (seatpost, stem, headset) and then just re-use the groupset on my current road bike, which is 7410 Dura-Ace. Was hoping this wouldn't look too odd.
However I'm now weighing up the idea of selling that and buying a classic looking modern groupset - silver Athena seeming the most likely option.