Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Mid August 2012 / Yes I'm here - what's up?

 I got Dave's 29er off to paint, and it should be back pretty damn quick as they spray black just about every day.
 So, I have had a weird deal with the blog lately - I ask how many people read it and get a grand total of seven responses in a couple of weeks, during which I actually still do a few more posts, granted, a bit spaced out from each other as I'm not a fan of this current cultured idea of posting for the world every single thing you do and eat, and have been throwing tons of pics on facebook, and for some reason people are calling me and e-mailing me about "where's the blog - are you retiring? the blog hasn't been updated in........seven days"
 To summarise, if you like the blog, drop a comment and say so. I track the #'s of views and I can see that the blog gets as many hits a day as a single picture does on FB, so if you like this resource don't just not say so as it WILL go away if I am just doing this for no one, as it does take time away from fabrication and life - I like it for a chronicle of my own deal, but if you enjoy it, say so. Thank You.
 Man, as I close in on a decade of this bikes are looking really sweet, and the signature segmented seat stays look just so.
Why do I do these this way, which adds a big chunk of fabrication time? Because they ride SWEET - stiff yet allowing good flex due to the smaller diameter lowers - like an old WTB type two fork or the same fork now made by framebuilding badass Steve Potts.
 This is at "full polish" - before I put on the braze-ons - the most beautiful stage, I think.
Coco-Motos in action here, and the new Coco-Motos are on the way which will be horizontal like these but with a derailleur hanger and a matching eyelet mirroring the top disc brake mount for the caliper adapter on the right side for clean rack mounting with discs and no brazed-on eyelets to ever tear off.
 Pre-polish, door partially closed due to blowing rain.
 Full polish signature seat tube sleeve.
 I mix my own custom fluxes. Yes I do.
 Bob G's bike at the get-go, 'm going to throw down a long day of fab on this one today and get it towards being a BLO - "bicycle like object" - on it's way towards being a complete bike.
I have also been doing mostly complete bikes this year, which takes more time as I am open to truly custom builds, but it comes out better and everything works together perfectly.
This bike will be going to New Mexico, which has always been very good to me as per bike orders and will be assembled with Sram XO, Fox fork, XTR hubs, Stan's rims, Thomson bits and a King headset - stay tuned.
 Troy came by with his old long distance / bike packing 29er with it's "custom" gear box - an army ammo can bolted to a rack I built especially for the maiden voyage of this bike, which was the entire Arizona Trail from Utah to Mexico.
 The yard is going jungle-esque with the recent rains and heat.
 I have been actually getting out riding once every 4-5 days or so, about as much as my body can really endure.
 Incoming rain and lightning.
 Favourite new shop sticker, thank you Steve Cortez!
 We do nothing to encourage them, they grow on their own
 We have been busy putting away the harvest - these are all dried peaches from out trees, that's allot of peaches...........!
 And these little orbs of goodness - dried tomatoes!
Chillin' on the porch with Aki "angry bee" on a visit from Japan.
That's it for now, folks. And as always, thanks for reading!
- Steve.

57 comments:

Steve said...

I dig the posts and it is great to see what you have going on. To be honest looking through the posts and at all of the bikes makes it easier to decide what frame I will have built when the time comes. I know writing can be a pain in the ass, but you have at least one dirtbag that enjoys the updates! Keep 'em coming man!

Steve

mhandsco said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mhandsco said...

Blog's great. FB would be fine too if you want to consolidate your social media time.

Dave said...

Steve I really like the blog. I have been coming here for a while and really enjoy your writing and framebuilding. With Facebook your post can sometimes get lost in a sea of meme and pictures of kids. Its nice to have a "destination" to focus on. Keep up the good work!

Anonymous said...

Garro - Another vote for the blog. Its content is more distilled and narrated than Facebook's plus it's a really, really cool archive of the rad bikes that form years of Coconino Cycles evolution-- something to be said for keeping that going.
- Taylor

Cyclebound said...

I like reading the blog. Seeing pics on FB are cool but I like the fact that the "info" comes out separately from FB.

Dr. Jon said...

Garro! its Dr. Jon
Blogs > FB
maybe I'm old fashioned.

Ian said...

I read your blog (via a RSS reader)... enjoy it very much, thanks!

Anonymous said...

Steve, ya gotta keep the blog. FB ain't for everyone, and I assume I am not alone.

best,
jim

Mimbres Man said...

I enjoy the blog Steve. Way more detail that fb. I enjoy your adventure pics and writings as well as the fabrication pics.
BHB

Brad said...

I too enjoy the blog and hope to see it continue.

LCH said...

I enjoy reading the blog, but you should only update it when you feel like it. I don't really use FB for non-personal stuff.

John and Tiffany said...

I enjoy the blog, dont do the facebook thing but follow peoples rss feed

John and Tiffany said...

Enjoy the blog, dont follow facebook

John and Tiffany said...

I enjoy the blog (via google reader), dont do facebook

Richardo said...

I see all this stuff in person and still read the blog...its good!

Doug said...

Hey Steve, Doug in Chandler here. We met briefly at NAHBS in San Jose years ago. Anyway, I follow your blog and enjoy seeing what you're up to...

Anonymous said...

Not a FB'r. GO BLOG!! Love reading what's up in Coconinoville!

Anonymous said...

Hi Steve,
+1 for the Blog. I love seeing the fabrication process especially when you did the step-by-step build process. And at some point I want to get one of your bikes. It's part of my daily ritual at work.
Thanks,
Justin

Anonymous said...

Dude-
the blog kills it. where else are we gonna see bikes, flowers and fish?

El Pato

Mike said...

I love seeing the blog and all the steps that go into building a frame. Even better getting your perspective on building and parts.

Anonymous said...

Steve,

Your blog is a highlight of my morning coffee, along with stuff from Rody & occasional updates from Rick Hunter. But I get it direct, via my "Google Reader" inbox. So many people probably also receive it (and have elected to do so), but don't show up as "click-thrus".

DM,

Berlin, Germany.

FTMN said...

Love the blog!

Japhy rider said...

i definitely prefer the blog. facebook is a soul sucking money machine profiting off of every one of its participants' imagination. i dropped the only FB account i ever tried within a few weeks of dabbling in it. too weird for me.

you, Steve, are only person who should profit from your creativity. keeping a blog seems like a lot better way to ensure that.

besides the adventure chronicles of the Garros make for motivating reading when i'm not working at work!

mcD

Sabrosa Cycles said...

holler!

Kyle said...

Check it often for all the goodness; bikes, beaches, fishes, flowers and everything else.

Brian Wright- said...

I follow and enjoy your blog. I am not a FB user. I found your blog from you posting on the Waltworks site. I did purchase a WW but I do enjoy you showing the fabrication process.

Anonymous said...

Please keep the blog, not a bookfacer

URBAN MOBILITY // UTILITY / MOVEMENT said...

I really dig the blog. I don't use FB, and it's also really nice to track a narrative. I run a blog of my own building adventures which Im sure gets way way way less traction than yours, but it's good I think to put process out there. It's read to see things as they progress.

Thank you,

Anonymous said...

Casey in Reno reads this blog sometimes. Casey never facebooks. Casey thinks Steve should go fishing more often.

Anonymous said...

Blog>FB, although I read both. -EP

Unknown said...

I like the blog!

Anonymous said...

Another vote for the blog man.

Kevin Steegammn said...

Hi Steve, I read almost all of your entries (follow the link from SO). I'm a CF guy that also likes steel. I like how the tubes on CF frames tend to flow into each other instead of abruptly ending at the junction. Your fillets give your frames exactly this look and makes them beautiful! Keep on goin' (and writing).
Kevin

Anonymous said...

I read the blog all the time. Part of my daily morning routine to check and see the bikes and your adventures. Keep blogging.

Anonymous said...

Big fan of your blog. Please continue to post.

Adam Sklar said...

Love the blog, Steve! I'm checking in all the time.

perryd said...

Love the Blog. Here's why: Bike building is fascinating. I can't do it, but the steps and the details are interesting. I also like reading about your overall understanding of the natural world, from flowers and trees and weather, to the people in in it. Number one reason is this: I have always liked your writing style. Until you had this blog, I had no idea that the comfortable, fluid and powerful narrative voice you have in real like is Exactly what you put on the page. That's a rare skill.
If you need to give it up, we'll all understand, but I like it plenty and, as you know, I have not missed a single installment since the day you started writing it.

Perry D

Anonymous said...

Steve...I love the blog. One of two that I check out frequently.

Larry

Anonymous said...

Aspiring hobby frame builder here. Your blog is great. I love looking at your beautiful work. Perfect mix of pictures and text in the blog. Keep it up.

Meriwether said...

The blog prevails over Facebook IMO for many reasons. I don't like FB (haha) because for one, it's not Google-able like a blog is. I am a budding builder and link to your blog since it's one of the only ones out there that I've found that documents the (your) process. It's awesome, please keep it!
(ps- i'm not a robot, but get stifled by the stupid 'recaptcha' thingy and end up not commenting many times because it's a PITA)

Anonymous said...

I check in frequently, but have not made comments. Love reading it.

Rex C

Matthew J said...

Big fan of the blog. Yours is among the more unique voices in cycling.

Love your work.

Easton Heights Blogger said...

Steve,
I love your blog! it's always informative, colorful and entertaining. that being said, you can't get hung up on not getting comments. I have a little blog w/ just 16 followers and hardly ever get comments. but my page views are always going up, so someone is looking!
I think a blog is as much or more so for the author (I know mine is) but you can be sure that you are bringing a little ray of sunshine into people's days.

Rody said...

Stevie...me likey the blog. Only get to check in occasionally, but I'm out here holding the torch with ya :)

rody

Anonymous said...

I like the blog, check it almost daily. I didn't even know you were on Facebook. JerryW

Anonymous said...

Been watching Coconino since the Bike magazine article years ago and try to read all of your posts.

Anonymous said...

I'm another who likes the posts.

Francois said...

One more faithful reader here ! I've learnt a lot by reading and re-reading your building posts, but I also enjoy your kayaking trip reports ! And your cooking recipes !
I follow you on google reader, so I don't know if it really shows on your statistics. For me FB and the blog can complete nicely.

Eric Wever said...

Another reader once or twice a month reader here... I'm a Waltworks customer and found your blog through him. Also I know a guy that knew you back in the day so, that's interesting.
Eric
Here's my bloggage if you're looking for something else to waste your time looking at...
ericsridelog.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Just another longtime lurker here. I am not on the Book of Faces, but whenever my RSS reader reports that you've got a new post up I surf over to your fascinating blog for the latest bits of beautifully-wrought steel.

Bless you for sharing the lessons and joys of your craft.

Anonymous said...

I've read every post since I found your blog 3 or 4 years ago. Keep up the good work!

off road said...

Interesting idea about the bike seat, I'll have to see how you attached it but it makes sense how it'd be easier to transfer. Love to see a pic or video of how you get it done. Right too about sitting on the 'nun hat', I'm already squashing it. I'd like to build a plastic/fiberglass/whatever box that was sturdier but maybe that's an idea I'll outgrow as I use it more. My right hand/side being much weaker, I have a bit of a problem using the right handlebar to turn when I'm cranking with the left arm. If you can fabricate something, perhaps a telescoping bar that slides into the handlebar tube to use as leverage I'd gladly buy it from you!

dan beach said...

I read your blog as often as possible. It's the shots of work in progress, insights in to a practicing frame builders thought processes and seeing your work take shape that keeps me inspired to keep learning until hopefully one day I can do the same!.

Reed said...

I like the blog and don't follow you on Facebook. I'm for you keeping it going.
~Reed

FrankOnABike said...

I only check in every month or two, but enjoy reading when I do. For me, I would be satisfied with fewer posts or shorter posts since I can never get through the whole backlog, but keep on keepin on!

FrankOnABike said...

I only get the chance to check in every month or two, so shorter or fewer post wold be OK by me, but I love to see what you're up to with bike and don't mind feeling jealous about your outdoor adventures. Keep on keepin on!