This year's winter project...

[echelon_john]

Well, here we are. New Year's Eve. It's been a pretty mild winter so far in VT, but it's still been rollers for me. Most years right around now I start thinking about the next summer, and dreaming about a new bike project. This year is no different.

This one's going to be another one from a 'bucket list' builder (I hate that term); someone I've respected for a long time, who doesn't show up online too much, but whose bona fides include building for some of the biggest names in the 90s and oughts...he's more of a 'doer' than a talker, and I'm 100% good with that.

Aluminum, no-nonsense road bike. Big-ass downtube (and whatever other tubes he wants to plus-size for my fat ass), geometry we both like, and Mavic yellow finish. Ultegra 6800...longer cranks for my tall (as well as fat) ass. Probably Thomson setback post; normally I don't like these, but for a sloping top-tube aluminum road bike, it seems to work. X4 stem--only a 25g penalty over X2 and much burlier), wheels TBD, but probably HED C2+ or similar.

Will post as this develops...Happy New Year, all.

[thirdgenbird]

Nice. My shortlist includes oversize alloy as well. Here would be my build:
Thomson setback post
Thomson stem
Ck headset
Deda Newton bars (classic shallow bend)
Praxis cranks
Ee brakes
2015 chorus ergos and derailleurs
Wheels undecided, Maybe ck to archetype

[echelon_john]

...

[buldogge]

FTW?

-Mark in St. Louis

[echelon_john]

Man, you guys are good.:hello:

[dave thompson]

FTW is one of the originals! Aside from wanting a bike by him, I'd like to share beers with him.

[Matt-H]

Man I'd love one of those. I still regret not buying Ergott's.

[sandyrs]

FTW is definitely on the shortlist. When I ride my aluminum Merckx into the ground he'll probably build its replacement.

[Black Dog]

Some of the best Al welds I have ever seen! :eek:

[echelon_john]

And on mine he'll have a lot more head tube to work with! ; )

[rwsaunders]

Here's 10 minute video about Frank that I saw a while back. Watch it and you'll want to get immediately back in line and buy another bike from Frank.

http://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/The-Welder-The-Story-of-Frank-Wadelton,27321/LeeDevelopment,27698

[tumbler]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing.

[echelon_john]

Almost done!

[Black Dog]

Ohh, so very nice. How much tube shaping is going there?

[echelon_john]

A lot! ; )

Everything but the HT...


Ohh, so very nice. How much tube shaping is going there?

[Black Dog]

Even more niceness. Is he hydroforming or drawing and swaging or all three?

[echelon_john]

"manual manipulation" ; )

Even more niceness. Is he hydroforming or drawing and swaging or all three?

[weisan]

Almost done!
It better be, winter's almost over...Spring's coming baby!:banana:

[echelon_john]

Maybe in Texas! We've still got a foot+ of snow on the ground!? : /


It better be, winter's almost over...Spring's coming baby!:banana:

[Black Dog]

"manual manipulation" ; )

Sounds dirty...;)

I am with you John. Looking at a foot of snow on the ground here too. At least the sap is running and I am making maple syrup. The roads are clear and have been out for a ride and should be able to get out again today.

BTW...did winter even start in Texas?

[weisan]

>>BTW...did winter even start in Texas?

Dog-pal, here we called it "a cool front" is comin' in. :p

[Gordito]

Tasty frame and build sheet.

Big alu pipes, Thomson stem, Chorus, Praxis yummy

[Black Dog]

>>BTW...did winter even start in Texas?

Dog-pal, here we called it "a cool front" is comin' in. :p

Haha. I thought that temperature in Texas was measured in the amount time it takes to fry an egg on the sidewalk. Here we measure it by the amount of time it takes to freeze the chicken. ;)

[Black Dog]

Back on topic. John, what is the paint on this sweet ride going to look like?

[echelon_john]

Ral6027

back on topic. John, what is the paint on this sweet ride going to look like?

[Black Dog]

Ral6027

Well played sir.

http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Rocketraz1982/IMGP1085.jpg

[echelon_john]

Yours? That would be too funny!

Well played sir.

http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss236/Rocketraz1982/IMGP1085.jpg

[echelon_john]

Very close!!!

[rePhil]

That's nice. What wheels are you building for it?

[echelon_john]

Going to try some DT R460s. Hope Mono hubs; 135 11sp rear.




That's nice. What wheels are you building for it?

[Black Dog]

Yours? That would be too funny!

No, this one belongs to the internet.

[Black Dog]

Let me know what you think about building the DT R460's. I just built a set and posted my feedback here:

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=165274&highlight=R460

[Black Dog]

Very close!!!

Nice. :)

[echelon_john]

Picking up tomorrow...last pics from Frank!

[echelon_john]

Thanks for that. I was curious to try them because I've only built the higher end DT rims. Will be putting them together this weekend. The rims seem decent out of the box and on the surface place, but I agree with you about the finish quality being a step down from the rims you mentioned. I'll write a review in your thread once I build & ride them!



Let me know what you think about building the DT R460's. I just built a set and posted my feedback here:

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=165274&highlight=R460

[echelon_john]

Picked up the frame yesterday. Frank's a hell of a nice guy, and it was great to see his shop and meet his son Matt who's working with him.

I'm adding him to my list of 'no-bull····' builders; like Roland Della Santa, Frank is just a low-key, smart guy who gets stuff done. Amazing value for the amount of thought that went into it; lots of tube shaping and little details.

Was going to wait until I build the wheels to start building it up, but couldn't resist throwing a few parts on it last night. Blacked out ENVE 2.0 fork, Ritchey cockpit, Chorus drivetrain. Settled on Hope Mono hubs—good 135mm 11sp option—and will try the DT R460 rims.

More pics over the weekend when I have time to finish it!

[thirdgenbird]

It keeps getting better.

[eippo1]

I was gonna say that your FTW is a perfect no-nonsense, simple bike, but I would be wrong. There's so much subtle goodness going on with that frame that it deserves a 2nd and 3rd glance. Keep it coming.