Friday, December 16, 2011

Busy/Sick/Mega-Post + current build queue

CP's frame all prepped - what a damn nice frame, and I really like the color! As you can see, it's mega-winter conditions here, and in keeping with the season I'm super sick - forced office day today as just working through it out in the shop is just not working out.
I need an office day very badly anyway, as monthly taxes are due, the inbox is full of receipts that need filed - there are many hats to wear as an independent custom made-to-measure bike builder.

booty shot - niiiiice.............


DH's touring bike just showed from paint, I have not had time to prep it but once I do I'll post more detail shots of it, as I said I need to stay out of the shop today & get better.

I am not exposed to many people in my life as I live kind of far from town, don't see many people as I do not have a big peer group and mostly work all the time, especially in winter - so I think that makes me susceptible to germs & viruses.
But, what a beautiful frameset! British Racing Green with S&S couplers, allowing it to be broken down into halves for travel - more when i get decals & a headbadge on it. Back to work tomorrow regardless of how I feel, I can't afford more then one day out of the shop. Damn work ethic.


almost done, but I forgot the centerloc/6-bolt adapters. Dang.

On the way........What a sweet ride, huh?


I dug up this old pic of me racing back in 1990.


Frame repair/disc brake modification.

I built this frame as the 92nd frame I sold, almost seven years ago. It needed a downtube replaced and while it was here got the canti mounts removed and a disc mount added. It's interesting to see how different my bikes are now from this era! They have come a long way to be what constitutes a "Coconino" now.

NO - I do not do frame repairs on anything i did not build - sorry!


Looks like JR really like to hit this part on rocks - now that your brake is here you may want to stop! There's four dents there - ?????

For what it's worth it was this kind of thing that lead to me creating my signature seat stays, I used to use Columbus seatstays (this whole bike was made from Zona) but it was way too "dent-y" whereas now my bikes are made largely from True Temper, 4130 & Dedacciai.


On the left is a finished fillet I did seven years ago, on the right is one I just did but did not file at all. How about that?

This was after 100 bikes, and I've built a few hundred since. There is no substitution for experience.


BR's frameset on the left, JR's on the right.

I did not consider that my dummy couplers would be at paint because the bike on the left will be an S&S bike, and that kind of set me back, but there is always something to do!


Tight & right.


Untouched silver brazing on my seat tube 'lug" - check out how the silver follows the lateral striations from cleaning with emery paper - that's why you do it that way - the silver follows it into the sleeve as well.


BR's seat tube - a pretty small frame.


BR's fork, just needs canti mounts.


Fork crown detail.


I actually got out on a ride! It was cool!

In all of November I got out for two hours of exercise - TOTAL.

I did go paddle the Verde a few times, but that doesn't come close to the burn from off road handcycling - nothing does.


Conditions were absolutely stellar.


A Christmas Cholla - one of the biggest I've ever seen - usually they are small & hidden under trees. A really cool cactus.


One of my favourite rides now.


Not many people back here. Hard to find in the red rocks anymore.


What it's like in Flagstaff right now! Cold!


Right on - thanks for reading. Sooo busy.

Anyhoo - here is the current build queue - whoa.

On deck - Beth R/Jim R - AZ, Mark W - UT, Hunter S - NV, get ahold of me or get bumped! Brett M - AR, Chris N - NV, Melissa F - AZ, Greg B - CO, Noah C - AZ, Michael L - ?, Nick King - AZ - get ahold of me! Rex C - CA, Ted M - AZ, Eric P - AZ, Dave B - AZ, Barin B - Venezuela, Peter F - England, Bill S - NM, Jon B - CO, Jason C - UT, Dave B - AZ (3rd bike!), John L - AZ, Eiji S - Japan. Super Missing - John A, MD.

- I think that's it - Steve.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

great shop photos, enjoy seeing how the frames are built. That shot of you racing, you look like the terminator, hair straight back! Hope your feeling better and have a great christmas
Dave Stewart
Kamloops

Anonymous said...

"There is no substitution for experience."
Amen to that!

-Alan

Mimbres Man said...

Good post. I know you have high praise for Prestige tubing but I found it "denty" as well. My Prestige frame didn't last too long which lead ultimately to me going with titanium for all these years. Looking forward to going back to steel with my pending Coconino.

Anonymous said...

There's definately a British theme going on here lately - 'British Racing Green' - Mini Cooper Ice Blue...

The red frame is simply stunning!

Take it easy Steve

Peter - England