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Saturday, November 28, 2009

Bicycle Project 2, day 10

Final day of the frame building course.


Alignment of the rear triangle checked with a wheel in place.




Seat stays measured.




Seat stays slotted for the rear dropouts then mitered with mechanical precision.



If it’s not already obvious, this is not the standard frame-building course. I cannot replicate this frame (well, maybe after 15 years experience...) and David made it clear that he would have to play a significant role in the build. And that the frame would not be complete within the 2 week allotted period...


Nonetheless I was able to understand the process of building a frame and thereby deepen my appreciation of the craft. To (ultimately) end up with a custom bicycle frame, built to a superb level of finish, and to say that I had some role in its development, then all the more sweet.


Seat stays in position (well we nearly got there...)



Approximately 250 people attend bicycle frame-building courses in the US every year and the vast majority never plan to build a bike again. I’m no different from the majority except that I wanted a certain frame that I could not build on my own and few people in the world could teach me this.


In the process I have had a great time, tempered my bicycle cravings and gained a whole new perspective of the industry from the engaging & enlightening rants of a master frame builder.




Cycling jewelry in an S&S coupler. Nice to see such craftmanship still being practiced in our increasingly impatient and indifferent world.

www.bohemianbicycles.com


I will post pictures of the completed bicycle when I receive it in February 2010.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

What a great experience! Dave is unique, and has huge respect in the framebuilding world. Good luck with the finishing.
Craig

Richard Meier said...

Great work!

Dave, was it possible to use this s&s coupler in a bike frame?
I am planning to buy a tandem with S&S couplers and if it is possible to prettify them, why not to have a s&s coupler from you!
Thanks
Richard