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Thanks all!

I was scratching my head wondering where on the forum this fits in...not sure it’s here but then not sure where else

The money shots

700x55

44 with guards

I'd like to share some details/parts I'm also really happy with while I bask in the satisfying glow of a project finished.

The rack

a more stripped back version of the classic Fern spoiler. I'm a fan of minimalism in design and use and as soon as I saw the original I thought "Dope! I could really see myself using that and it looks so cool!" so naturally I needed to make one for this bike. I made this late at night, iteration by iteration until arriving at the point where nothing more needed to be added and nothing more could be taken away. Once finished I remember sitting the looking at it from every angle for like half an hour just thinking "Yep"

The dropouts

Although they look simple and decidedly unfancy a lot of work went into these and I'm really pleased with the outcome: straight edges, natural curves, mechanical, functional, exposed stainless steel and paint.

The Crank

Custom anodized vintage Dura Ace, square taper BB and I've come out with a 46mm chainline and 140mm Q factor which I'm stoked on given the tyre clearance. To me it's a beautiful crank and another part of the bike that gives me pleasure to look at, particularly from above when pedalling.

Lights!


Never again having to smash myself to get home before dark because I miscalculated the ride length/daylight hours or squinting with the light on low in the hope it'll last till morning. Also stoked my boss persuaded me to add the charging port, I'm lazy and rationed "If I go on a long tour I might wire one in" and he was like "come, you've got the soldering iron in hand, do it now!" - to not have to worry about wahoo or phone charge on overnight trips in the near future or on long tours down the line is another big plus point for me.

Clearance!

700x55 with room to spare front and back :)

So pleased with the paintwork. After the debacle with my Bahnrad I was really happy to again give the painter some creative freedom and for him to absolutely nail it.

By the headtube the effect has almost completely faded to black and the fork is pure gloss black, both with the silvery oil effect logos

Around the BB and the underside of the downtube and chainstays the black is almost gone and has a mad oily chrome look. I think this would make pretty special pain job with the fade done in reverse, so mostly chrome/oil slick...one for another bike perhaps.

@alialias @matteroftaste coming up!

Minimum +17mm for slicks +19mm for tread to the underside/mounting point of the bridge

Finished:

3rd time’s (hopefully) a charm

Pretty offended but we’ve made our peace

I’ll update...but no still not finished

Lets go!

Brief for the paint on this was black...not boring black but richtig geil black.

The painters had this idea for a super cool effect where "chrome" paint is laid down, polished then painted over again with black. The black coat is then distressed through thinning, sanding and splatters so that the chrome comes through and it gives a really interesting deep, glassy, textured look.

I wanted the effect to centre around the BB, fading out to a more solid black with the logos again more extreme.

Teaser from the painter:

Frame done and ready for paint

Playing around with rack building, always in situ to get a proper view on angles and proportions. The idea was for a minimalist rear rack to complement a small front rack, bag & saddle bag combo. Just big and sturdy enough to carry an isomat, ultralight tent or similar.

Finished:

The build progress has long overtaken the thread so thought I’d stop by and update

The quality of the finish was never in question just that he’d not ticked the boxes I’d asked him to and had done a lot of things I don’t really like: stripes, mix of matte and glossy with hard edges and a gold, khaki, red, grey color scheme. Any of those elements on their own I could have lived with but they all added up to a paint job that just wasn’t for me.

I flatted it back on Monday so it’s ready for a re-do but my man is on holiday for the whole of February and has a lot to turn around before he goes so chances are it’ll be into March before I get it back...

Only took one pic:

Nothing wrong with the frame, just wasn’t happy with the paint job. I gave a loose brief and one very specific requirement, neither of which was met and it just wasn’t to my taste.

I mulled it over before deciding on a re-paint but I put too much effort into this to settle for a paint scheme that’s not to my tastes. Also from a personal pride point of view: I make custom bikes and I want my own bikes to be a good example of my work and ones that I’m proud of. It’s a shame as it means a delay, more money and I’ve had to offend a friend and collaborator.

Nah bad curveball, currently too busy reducing it to dust on the paint studio floor to post any pictures

Picked this up on Tuesday and got hit with a bit of a curveball...

Welcome!

I popped over to the painter yesterday, he has lots of urgent jobs on and this is a low priority (although I'm itching to get back on the track) so it's been pushed back a bit however primer is on and he's promised it'll be done on Monday. Excited!

Hoping to find time evenings this week to put the finishing touches on the frame and build a rack

Didn’t quite manage to get it ready for paint before Christmas but it’s almost there

Stem is done: