Archive

Archive for August, 2011

Build

August 28th, 2011 Comments off

I’ve had quite a bit of practice at putting this machine together, so it didn’t take too long to get from a box of parts to this:

Next I’ll apply the graphics, then restring the chain and add some pedals. Below, closer views of the front and rear.

Paint Job

August 27th, 2011 Comments off

Back in the paint shop – black and yellow topcoats drying in the sun.

The black went on nicely, and looks OK. The yellow – not so much. Getting a decent finish is hard, and demands skills and patience that I don’t have. It looks just passable from a distance, and I’ve no appetite for sanding it down and starting again. Next time I’d take more time, and maybe not go with such a light colour. Perhaps there’s a reason so many home-built bikes are full flat black.

That tiny red dot at the top of the seat tube is a 3 ball. Along with the carefully designed seat it’ll help when manhandling the bike. It adds a little retro chic too.

This picture also shows the ‘fade to black’ effect I attempted on the frame. The curve in the main tube is no optical illusion. I don’t know if it got that way from post-welding contraction (visible here?) or overloading while riding. It’s not getting measurably worse and there’s no cracking so I’m not unduly concerned.

Watching paint dry…

August 3rd, 2011 Comments off

Quintessentially dull, but I’ve been looking forward to reaching this stage for quite some time. Here are some freshly primed parts hanging in the high-tech paint shop: