You don't have to be a frame-maker to decide whether these details are correct or not. People buy custom bikes for a wide variety of reasons. One is certainly fit. Another determiner would be certain "specific" ride qualities. While yet another might pay very close attention to details such as laboriously thinned lugs. There are custom builders springing up everywhere, and not all of these craftspeople will survive the long haul and reach a Sacha White, Carl Strong, David Kirk, Richard Sachs, Dario Pegoretti, or a Chris Kvale status. It is the combination of many qualities that gets me excited about a custom builder. Just because I don't happen to like a white band around a down tube doesn't diminish that this Mike Terraferma built frame is obviously well built and engineered for the new owner. I happen to go ga-ga over different details, and that's really ok. Like a beautiful thin tapered lug on a Chris Kvale frame, or on the Curt Goodrich I provided a link to above. I can place "my" order for a frame with a builder and have it built just the way I want it. I'm sure others may have some criticisms after it is complete, and I will take them with a big ol' grain of salt.

Origin 8, believe it or not. I was skeptical when I first saw it, but it looks and feels very nice.

I've seen barcons routed both straight out the bottom, and next to the lever. I debated on the best method during the build, and settled on the upward curve so all the cables would converge in roughly the same place. Routing them through the front would not have looked as good.

Back in '03 or '04, I learned of a local framebuilder through the LBS's - took about 6 months before I finally found one that had his number (his website doesn't come up in the search engines that easily). I was considering having the '61 Paramount's seattube swapped out for a proper restoration at the time (I ultimately left the bike as it is).

Jan Heine criticized the lug thickness as well, though I disagree in this respect. The Ephgrave lugsets were born from an era that wasn't known for lug thinning as much as the investment-cast era.

Personally, I feel that thinning Les' lugs would destroy much of the homage it pays to the pure English 1950's look - simple, clean, and baroque - without being outrageously pretentious.

That said, I don't particularly care for excessively thinned Nervex Pro lugs either. Granted, they are finished absolutely slovenly from the factory, and require thinning at any rate, but too much thinning takes away from their stateliness (I'm thinking of Mercian here). YMMV.

PM sent.

-Kurt

I LOVE that Suntour group...I think they made the best stuff IMO...

Quick question, how much does it weigh? True Temper OX and Superbe Pro I can't imagine it weighs a lot.
-Gene-

That they did.

Get a load of the front derailer - it has an adjustment bolt at the top that allows you to set the toe-in/toe-out. Fantastic stuff!



-Kurt

*Jaw Drops*
-Gene-

I didn't check it. I assume its weight is reasonably typical - probably around 20-22 pounds. The BB, mind you, is also an Ephgrave, and is comparatively thick in comparison to an investment cast piece.

On the short test ride (around the block) I took it, it rode pretty fast off the line. Very stiff, quite responsive, and extremely stable. It reminded me of an SLX Eddy Merckx frameset I rode last year, though I didn't have enough time with the Terraferma to take part in the finer differences of its ride quality.

I'll ask Mike if he can weigh it tomorrow. I'll have some studio photos to post of it as well, once it has its official photographs taken on Sunday.

-Kurt

Sick...

Just got the official Terraferma photos in:



















-Kurt

Wow!

That is a very nice bike. It excites me more than a Hetchins. I even like the graphics. The scheme is kind of inspired by early Merckxs and early 70's Holdworth Professionals except with different colors.

Hat's off to Mike for an outstanding frame and to you (Kurt) for a perfectly executed build with the Superbe Pro group. Those closeups and final series of photos are fantastic. I pick up more details each time I view them. Any chance of uploading high res versions?

BTW Kurt,

I just recalled that the brakes came with the tire guides pointing outwards. I see you flipped them. I did the same with my set when I first installed them on my Vitus. I did so because I felt it looked more pleasing to the eye. Likewise?

That bike is destined to be a modern classic, I have a space in my livingroom for my "Holy Grail" which is a Hetchins Magnum Opus but I would be more than happy to see the "Terraferma" there (dont think the "Wife" wud tho).

Thank you - I'll forward the compliments to Mike as well. If you right-click the images and copy/paste the link, you'll get a 1600px wide version of the photo.

The pads came mounted on the pedals like that - straight out of the box.

-Kurt

That's a pretty bike, but I have two set-up criticisms: the small-small chain placement upsets my sensibilities (and makes it look like no one has ever ridden the thing), and it looks like the QR on the rear brake is in the "release" position.

Neal

Both Q/R's are released - I assume they were left this way when the photos were taken. (I didn't take the second set, and the wheels had been removed in order to fit the bike in Mike's truck).

I generally store everything in the small-small combo. Eliminates chances for chain stretch and return springs are less likely to weaken.

-Kurt

I agree that these wouldn't be lugs that you'd attempt to make as thin as Kvale's, but my personal tastes would have had them thinned somewhat - especially on the longer points. Seeing as this was a custom, that's not a fair criticism anyway, as the client's preferences would have dictated.

I still think it's a stunning bike. Perhaps someday I'll be able to get a custom bike made.

Great bike, lovely build (I would have chosen DT shifter though) and superb pics!

RE: lug thinning. I agree that a bit of it would have been nice. But I'm certain it was a concious decision as Cudak was saying, because of my Terraferma the lugs are nicely thinned

Chain stretch is a misnomer(sp?), chains do not stretch, they wear with use.

Jesus - I meant to say "cable stretch."

Been reading too many textbooks recently - my head is swimming.

-Kurt

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