noglider 

I don't normally care for that style of paint job, but knowing the story and seeing it done, I think it's great. There is something heart warming about a young person getting into old styles.

inkandsilver

This story made my day. Thanks for sharing it. That is very meaningful work you are doing, with one result (very) visible and many others that are invisible.

fleslider 

That's awesome, Im glad he appreciated the frame and the unknown connection to it.

Im glad to hear that the site is being utilized, it helps knowing that its not just me!

TXsailor

I just now found this story and it warmed my heart. We plan to do RAGBRAI this year and I will definitely be on the lookout for this bike! I follow their Just Go Bike podcast and they have mentioned The Dream Team quite a bit. Thanks for sharing and helping keep young people riding.

non-fixie 

mstateglfr 

Hey great to hear you will do RAGBRAI this year! Its an absurd number of cyclists each day, but also quite spread out so you can be around as many people as you want or as few as you want, depending on how you look at it. There is an approach for most everyone from those who want to get hammered every day and ride their team's bus most of the way across the state, to families riding with their children, and many styles in between.
Its the only event i know of where you can find something so random as a 5 piece brass band playing on one street corner while a low level professional wrestling match is taking place right across the street.

RobbieTunes

I have two sets of decals, '86 and '88. He's welcome to a set.

However, since VeloCals allows customizing the colors, I think that would be really cool. Like the IRONMAN logo in red. Yeah, man, Out Loud.

Please relay this to that youngster, eh?

It would be neat to do RAGBRAI, if only for the Ironman bikes involved. I may look at one of the "ending days." I could get a banner made, and everyone would think Ironman Empire was real. To see six, seven Ironman bikes in one event.... I'd think I was back in the early 90's.

TXsailor

I am planning on riding my Purple Haze but I haven't rode it enough yet to tell how I would do on it on a really long ride. What the granddaughter rides remains to be seen probably her Fuji My daughter will ride her Cannondale.

mstateglfr 

I saw the PM too- thank you for the offer. Ill check with him. Early on we talked badging and he wanted it to stay blank- or what Chris Kvale apparently calls 'Imron Bikes' when garage builders dont apply decals.
But that was early on in the build and he may like some original looking decals now.

Ill PM you if he takes you up on the generous offer.

RandolphCarter

Good job on the build, and even better job on the mentoring.

Hopefully in a few years he'll be in a position to mentor the next crop of builders\riders.

I do have a few questions about the painting. Did you use a primer? What clearcoat did you put over the spray.bike colors?

Fahrenheit531 

Very cool. Story, bike, all of it. Well done sir.

mstateglfr 

thanks for the words! Yeah i hope he sticks with riding, but I really hope he finds how he wants to artistically express himself as thst would be a win for sure.


as for the paint, we used some spray.bike primer. I can't believe I forgot to mention that! They selln2 types and we used the stuff that's white. Just primer.
also we used spray.bike's clearcoat. It applied well.
the fluorescent colors are difficult to apply. The website warns this, but it was still surprising. The frame felt like a tennis ball the first time we did it. But with practice it applied smoothly the second time and the clearcoat was easy.

they also have clearcoat with metallic flake. I used one of these with on a bike I did a couple decembers ago. I did green flake over flat black and its invisible in shade but sparkles with direct light. Something like green flake over red or over yellow would obviously stand out a lot more at all times.

noobinsf 

easyupbug 

Wonderful work, I love it when talented people open my eyes.

Whit51