Custom Orlowski Workhorse

I've had the same bike (my only bike) for four years now, a Dolan FXE, and we've had some incredible times together. It's been my commuter, my track bike (on the rare occasion I make it down to HH), my tourer (including a year travelling Canada, America and Mexico, and many other smaller jaunts) and for the past year and a half my daily courier steed.

Over the past year I've settled on (what I deem to be) a pretty dialed, comfy position but would still feel pretty beat up after long days in the saddle. I started looking for a new steel frame and almost settled on a steamroller but was heartbroken at the thought of hanging up my beloved FXE with something as ordinary and sluggish as a Surly (I know a Dolan ain't exactly exotic but it's my Dolan that I have a hell of a lot of history with).

This thread will be be a parting love-letter to my Dolan/document the coming together of the new bike.

First the old Dolan in few places and in different guises (in chronological order):

The one at the back, in brakeless commuter mode

In late 2011 I flew to Vancouver and embarked on a year long solo cycle adventure. I left Canada mid November straight into the cold and wet of the Pacific North-West winter. It was about 4/5 weeks of pretty testing riding and conditions to Northern California where I spent the Christmas and New Years period. From then on I didn't see rain for about 5 months as I continued to head South to Mexico. I rode the whole Baja peninsula, about a month of sleeping on beaches, getting chased by wild dogs, putting in the longest day rides of my life and generally enjoying the kind of freedom that only comes with that kinda of desolation. I then took a cargo ferry over to mainland Mexico and headed north back to America, over Arizonas high plains until I hit the Grand Canyon. From there west through Vegas and Death Valley to the Sierra Nevada valley. I rode North along the Sierra Nevada's until I got to Lake Tahoe then west downhill (literally about a 200mile decent) back to North California. I spent about 2 months living between San Francisco and Santa Rosa, cycling between the two every few days.

Here's a rough elevation profile of the entire trip. I include it just to show that it is absolutely possible to tour mountainous areas fixed.

Broken down somewhere along the Oregon coast. A proper wild and rugged, storm battered area. It was around the time that this pic was taken that I got caught in a Hurricane (80mph winds). I camped out for two nights having to get up every 5mins to re-peg my tent and couldn't face a third day of cabin (tent) fever or another sleepless night so made a move. I pushed into a direct and unrelenting head-wind all day, taking many involuntary U-turns as a gust would hit me and send me back the way I came. I was one of the hardest days I've ever had on a bike and I managed the sum total of about 30miles, that's not to say it wasn't a thoroughly enjoyable struggle.

Many months and many thousands of miles later I was finding myself in places like this. If that's not a picture of paradise and tranquility, I don't know what is. Baja, Mexico is so empty and sparsely populated that I had my own private beach most nights.

Although if you're lucky you can stumble upon luxury accommodation like this

This photo was taken near Flagstaff, Arizona. It's high up for hundreds of miles around, the air feels thin so I was puffing and panting and struggling with energy but you become accustomed to it. Then when you get back down to sea level the air feels thick and luxurious and you feel super strong.

I felt, after such a trip, that it would be too much of a come-down to fly directly from San Francisco back to London so I flew to Dusseldorf, Germany, and cycled home from there.

Upon arriving back in London I started working as a cycle courier. Here's the bike as I rode it for about 6 months.

Summer 2013. Me and a friend flew to Berlin and cycled home from there.

And finally after work today. Four years later and it's riding better than it ever did.

Repped, love the sentiment here.

That's an absolute beaut!

The new frame:

I decided I wanted something a little special to begin a new journey with but not something so flashy I couldn't leave it locked up wherever or bash it about without being too precious about it. This and me being 6 foot 4 basically meant custom.

Sadly (or not, looking at the finished product) British (especially London) builders were ruled out due to budget constraints and long wait periods, so I started looking elsewhere and after seeing numerous awesome Orlowski's and hearing of his stellar reputation I sent him an email.

I explained that I wanted a road-fixed frame with mounts for brakes, 2 bottle cages and a rear rack and that I wanted frame that would soak up more of the road buzz without feeling too noodly. This is my rough geo drawing:

After numerous emails back and forth we settled on tubing: Columbus Zona and geo:

I should add at this point that Jacek has been perfect in terms of customer service and communication. He's always been prompt to reply, offered his thoughts and advice whilst accepting my points and has (when in any doubt) asked for exactly what I thought or wanted (when I'd been vague or forgotten minor details).

Subbed, great story.

Have you considered a build suited to running a front lowrider rack to take the panniers there?

I've no idea if it's workable on fixed/SS, but it's very popular on geared touring bikes.

Thanks for the kind words people

Have you considered a build suited to running a front lowrider rack to take the panniers there?

I've no idea if it's workable on fixed/SS, but it's very popular on geared touring bikes.

TBH no, I think I'll be going the bikepacking route for future trips (so bar-bag for the luggage upfront), just wanted the rear rack mounts there "just-in-case" as I want this to be a bike I'll ride for the rest of my life

Colours: I remember going to a bike shop when I was a little kid and loving this bright yellow bike but it being an adult bike (and me being about 7) I ended up coming home with a red one. So my first thought was "custom bike, yellow paint!" but as when I'm working it's left all over London I decided something a little less shouty would be better.... so matte black powdercoat....with bright yellow decals.

And about 8 weeks (since my first enquiry email to Jacek) later:

stunning.

thats the black effect I wanted for my talbot, much jealous

Absolutely love this! My new favourite thread. Really looking forward to the end result. I dig the story about the Dolan. Exactly how I feel about my pre-cursa.

stunning.

thats the black effect I wanted for my talbot, much jealous

Cheers, though I've seen your Talbot, it's a beaut, don't think I'd be jealous of much if I had a bike like that

great to see another great orlowski. reading and pictures are great too. curious about the next steps and final
build.

Repped and subbed.

Nice one! Look forward to seeing the build.

Blimey, it looks great.

great to see another great orlowski. reading and pictures are great too. curious about the next steps and final
build.

Yours (being one of the few recent Orlowski's I've seen) was what led me to getting pulling the trigger on one.

I'll hopefully be building it up tomorrow evening for a weekends riding :)

Sadly though that means I may never work on the Dolan again, I'll have to put it through it paces, give it a proper send off

Yours (being one of the few recent Orlowski's I've seen) was what led me to getting pulling the trigger on one.

I'll hopefully be building it up tomorrow evening for a weekends riding :)

great to hear that. i would always suggest jacek for custom frames again.

Walked past the Dolan and you yesterday back of St. Pauls I was on the phone otherwise I would have said HAI!!!

Is Columbus Zona a kind of 531st equivalent?

more like 631

Ah I see. Even better.

Without being rude would you mind sharing the cost of the build? Just intrigued as i'm weighing up a few options myself for a steel road frame.

Walked past the Dolan and you yesterday back of St. Pauls I was on the phone otherwise I would have said HAI!!!

Next time eh, won't be on the Dolan though...

Without being rude would you mind sharing the cost of the build? Just intrigued as i'm weighing up a few options myself for a steel road frame.

Not rude at all, I paid what amounts to £438 for Zona smooth welded frame, paint and shipping included.

Got it up and running yesterday, not the smoothest build process, had some tense moments involving Omniums and an angle grinder and second hand ebay headset is far from perfect.

However went on the first ride yesterday afternoon and had an absolute blast, expectations completely surpassed for ride quality. There's no sway in the BB at high speeds (which was something of a problem before) positioning feels perfect and road buzz is greatly reduced compared to the Dolan. It's also quite a bit lighter than I was expecting for such a big frame too, I've very pleased with every aspect of it.

Pics etc to follow

Nice story about your dolan. Looking forward to see pics of the Orlowski. Did you buy a steel fork as well?