Essthreetee

I purchased this from @pcb here (GREAT GUY and very generous...thank you!!), and it was set to deliver today. First thing this morning I get an email from UPS saying delivery attempt failed because business was closed....WRONG!!! So I call them and they tell me that schools are closed this week ...WRONG!!! So I was able to convince the woman to try to find the package in the trailer as it wouldn’t be until Monday if it didn’t happen today.

Well...about 10 minutes later she called and said she found it and that I could come pick up.

I immediately drove in and picked up the box, came home and it was like Christmas. This thing was so well packaged!!!! Protected from movement. Protected from scratches. Protected from Nuclear War...I think.

I unwrap it and proceed directly to the build up. I am going retro-roadie on it (like all of my others) with SRAM Rival 10 speed Double Tap. I got as far as I could today, now I have to wait for cables to deliver on Friday, take it for a test ride to make sure of placement and then wrap the bars. Then go for a real ride.

Cant wait, but in the meantime...here are some pics.

juvela

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Thanks very much for sharing this beautiful new arrival.

Looks like you got a fairly "normal" one; sometimes he would get whimsical and and do things such as employ fork blades for chainstays & chainstays for fork blades.

If you notice an asymmetrical swirl on the bottom bracket shell this is one of his signatures, which he refers to as "the stray pubic hair."


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Essthreetee

No stray Pubes.....unless I am just not looking in the right place.

But it I am enjoying the build and I really hope to enjoy the ride.

unworthy1

Super frame by an under-appreciated Bay Area builder! I like the details like the chrome chainstay and those extra-long "fishmouth" ends on the stays-at-DOs. Did I mention I knew the graphic designer who made the logo for Bernie? yeah I probably mentioned it at least 3 times...same guy also made Ed Litton's (a very different style logo). Both guys are still building high-quality frames AFAIK and only short miles away (Alameda and Port Richmond). I'm sure you'll be stoked with this frame (assuming fit is all good) thanks for sharing!

Essthreetee

Made some progress today. Received the cables and wrap in mail yesterday.

Here’s the build list:
SRAM Rival (Carbon levers) Double Tap 10 speed drivetrain (11-32) & brakes
SRAM Apex GXP 175 cranks (50-34)
Salsa Cowchipper bars
Specialized Comp stem
SR seatpost
Koobi Alpha PRS saddle (on everything I own)
Mavic Aksium Wheels
Jagwire Racer cables
Continental Tires (not matching currently)
Soma wrap - Black (to be installed)
I am thinking about changing bottle cages to white...thoughts?

Essthreetee

Got it all done and buttoned up this morning. Took it out on its maiden voyage to my favorite local photo op. Took tools for any minor adjustments....none were needed!!! Comfy, smooth, PERFECT!!!

Thanks @pcb

pcb 

Beautiful frame, and a beautiful build. Couldn't have a more perfect restomod build, it all fits together so nicely!

As much as I always miss the stuff I sell off, seeing them get built and ridden feels so much better than seeing them hanging on a hook in my basement/garage. Dogs gotta romp!

I do tend to overpack, one of the reasons I'm always telling folks "it ain't quite done yet." FWIW, the 2 or 3 paint chips on this frame were from underpacking on the shipment to me. I wasn't very tweaked, figured it took the fear away that I'd put on the first chip, but the previous owner was pissed. He did a fair amount of buying/selling, using his longtime LBS to do the packing. When I tried to reassure him it was OK, he said: "No, it's not OK. That's what I pay them to avoid." That stuck with me. There's only so much you can do, but you damn well better do it.

Essthreetee

Well, just wanted to report back. I have put over 70 miles on the Mikk since completing the build...and I can say, for me, that it is absolutely the most comfortable bike I own. This bike was not built specifically for me...but it might as well have been. The fit feels like it is absolutely perfect. Combined with the SRAM drivetrain and I can’t wait to get on it again tomorrow.

Here are are a couple of pictures from today’s ride.

unworthy1

Keep the black WB cages, looks great as-is.

Kobe 

Mikkelsen seems to have built a lot of taller bikes, but that probably is normal for taller guys to go custom.

I have the Sram 10 speed on one of my bikes mainly because they were the only ones that made an affordable 180mm crank. Started off hating the double tap but now it is second nature and like a lot.

Essthreetee

Ok. So I messed with it a little more, but I think I am done.

Essthreetee

Ok. So after painting the lug lines, I was given some very good insight and removed them...also received the painted to match pump.
So here is the Mikkelsen in what I think is completion.

What do you think?

pcb 

As we used to say in my younger days, sano.