Photos of my first frame (warning: lots of pictures...)
 

Hi,

I originally posted this in the SS/FG forum, as I didn't even know that there was a frambuilders' forum here. Oops. I'll definitely start lurking around here.

In any case, I made my girlfriend a frame as a Christmas gift. It came back from being painted today, and I thought some of y'all might be interested in checking it out. It's pretty scrappy, so please keep the following points in mind:

1) Before starting to build this thing, I hadn't touched a torch of any sort since my Jr. High Industrial Arts class 16 years ago.
2) The only things resembling a "jig" or "fixture" that I had access to were a bench mounted vise and a wobbly Park stand (which received a few good meltings).
3) I made it for my girlfriend for Christmas. It has the power of love on its side. Be nice.

http://ckdu.dal.ca/~mcatano/bike%20photos/side.jpg
http://ckdu.dal.ca/~mcatano/bike%20photos/headtube.jpg
http://ckdu.dal.ca/~mcatano/bike%20p...eatcluster.jpg
http://ckdu.dal.ca/~mcatano/bike%20photos/seatlug.jpg
http://ckdu.dal.ca/~mcatano/bike%20photos/rear.jpg
http://ckdu.dal.ca/~mcatano/bike%20photos/trackends.jpg
http://ckdu.dal.ca/~mcatano/bike%20photos/bbshell.jpg
http://ckdu.dal.ca/~mcatano/bike%20photos/forkcrown.jpg
http://ckdu.dal.ca/~mcatano/bike%20photos/forktips.jpg

Here's a picture of the frame and fork, pre-paint, with some wheels so you can get an idea of the geometry and (teensy tiny) size.

http://ckdu.dal.ca/~mcatano/bike%20photos/unpainted.jpg

Tech specs:
Seat tube (c-c): 42.5cm
Seat tube (c-c): 48.5cm
Seat tube angle: 74°
Head tube angle: 72°
Tubing: Columbus SL
Lugs: Long Shen
Fork crown: Everest
Fork tips, track ends, BB shell: Kalavinka

Basically, the geometry is fairly relaxed and the chain stays are fairly long to give a nice, comfortable ride. It takes 650c wheels and has clearance for fenders (but no eyelets...). I haven't measured the angles since finishing it, so I'm not really sure how close to the intended values they wound up. Close enough, I'm hoping.

I had a poopload of fun and learned a whole lot making it and I am looking forward to the next one. Thanks, and sorry for the photo overload.

very nice!
Did you do the paintwork also? the paint looks good!
Gotta build one for yourself now! :beer:

Like I said on the SS/Fixed forum...VERY NICE!

And welcome to the framebuilders side of the house!

Wow, very impressed!

Hi, and thanks for the kind words!

I had the paint done at an autobody shop around the corner from my house. It is a decent job, but not spectacular. They covered up some of my mistakes pretty well (file marks,bondo) but there are definitely a few places where the paint went on a bit thick/blobby. Especially on the bottom bracket. Given that they're an auto place, I doubt they do a lot of work on things with as many nooks and crannies as a bike frame. I paid $100cdn, taxes in, cash, for the job and feel like I pretty much got what I paid for. I prefer the less than amazing paint job to a similarly priced powdercoat, which was the other option in my price range. I like the colour a lot, though.

Thanks again...

Nice job! You can weld me a frame any time!

That is absolutly beautiful. How much are you selling them for.

Seriously from those pictures it looks like you can make a living doing these frames.

I especially like the seatclamp area.

:d Hot :d :d

Great! Love the clean job on the drops! It's all nice.

Who quoted you 100 for powder in Canada?

Having tighter gears is an advantage, and you will probably love it in some terrible condition where you can't seem to get comfortable in what you have. On the other hand... we though 6 was amazing at one time, and keep in mind that unless you are going to brifters, who really wants to make all those changes anyway?

You're a brave man making a bike for the first time and giving it to your girlfriend! You're not concerned about the forks or the minimal attachment of the seatstays to the seat lug?