So right now I’m working on a Ti Cross frame for Tom P in PA. I’ll be taking this frame to the show to exhibit in my booth. So far I’ve welded on the dropouts, Bottom bracket and seattube collar. I’ve also turned the headtube and bent and mitered the seatstays.

I turn all my titanium and aluminum  headtubes off axis. This allows me to leave material on the back of the headtube where the toptube and downtubes will be welded on. I also leave bands on the top and the bottom for headset reinforcement. I leave a larger band on the bottom of the headtubes because more forces are applied to the bottom of the  headtube then the top. I don’t  turn steel headtubes because they are so thin that it doesn’t really make much of a difference and you can’t really see the work. In some case on steel headtubes I’ll make and braze-on headtube rings.

On this frame I’ve bent the  seatstays, I call them “swoop” stays. They are more for looks than anything but I suppose you could argue they add compliance. These are tough to do. You have to get the bends perfectly matched, you also have to make sure they are exactly the same distance off the center line and then on top of all that you have to get the miter’s right. They don’t really fit in my mitering fixture so I have a lot of extra effort to get them mitered. Also because of the steep angle between the stays and the seattube welding is a lot more difficult because access and visibility are limited. Check back tomorrow for progress, I hope to have the front triangle welded and aligned and depending on progress may also have the rear welded up.

Here are some frames back from Spectrum that will be or have gone out this week. All three are very clean and very different types of frames. Mickey’s is a 650b MTB, Doug’s is a Cross frame with clearance for 40mm tires and Gary P’s frame is a classic “Stage Race” road frame. Like they say “variety is the spice of life”. Keeps things interesting around here for  sure. The one thing they all have in common is that they are steel. Funny but material seems to come in surges. Some weeks it’s nothing but titanium and others steel. Currently I’m working on a titanium cross frame for Tom P out of PA so look for images of the work in the next couple of days.

I just wanted to remind everyone that I’m placing a jersey order next week. The deadline for receiving orders is 2/15. If you want to get in on the order you can place your order here:  http://www.strongframes.com/store/jerseys/. The jersey are expensive but I’m only charging exactly what I’m paying plus, of course shipping/handling to you. Unfortunately I don’t buy large enough quantities to qualify for any type discount so I pay retail just like anyone else would.  The main purpose of these jersey is for a local team but I figured if some of you want one I’d make it possible for you to piggyback on the order. Please be sure to contact me if you have any questions.

So as you may know, Montana winters are long and cold. I commute year round on my bike no matter the temp. Ice is the biggest problem, especially in the dark at 5:30 AM when I’m coming to work. I haven’t broken down and switched to studded tires yet. I’m trying to be a tough guy although I may regret it. At any rate, the roads are starting to clear, at least for the time being so I’ve been getting out and doing some road riding.

Last week the temps were in the mid 30’s and the sun was out. Not ideal for road riding but if you dress right not bad either. Thursday my good friend and fellow frame builder Dave Kirk (www.kirkframeworks.com) and I got together with our buddy Pete and went out for a while. It felt really good. Dave and Pete are great riding partners, no half wheeling and lot’s of good conversation. Now, as I’m writing this I’m looking outside and it’s snowing. Oh well, we are in a ski town.

Like I said the other day I’m new to this so it’s not surprising that I didn’t even know there were comments I needed to approve and respond to, Sorry. My “webguy” Todd pointed them out to me this morning. I’ll check them regularly now that I know about them. If you do comment I’ll try to respond within one business day.

Here is what’s in the shop today:

I finished Oumar’s frame and it ships to paint.

I’m also am finishing up Ryan D from VA’s frame today and it goes off to paint as well. Ryan’s frame is a super light 29er SS with sliders, built around a Reba. As it sits it’s just over 3.5 pounds. Not  bad for a steel 29er.

I also just received a tracking number from Spectrum telling me that Mickey’s frame is on the way back to me. I’ll post pictures just as soon as it’s here. It’s a 650b rear and 29er front. Should be very cool.