Building better than riding
03-11-19, 06:45 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Building better than riding
Building a fourth frame and am starting to think I like building frames better than riding. I just get into this time and reality warp when filing away on a lug or drawing out a design. Never thought anything could replace riding, but perhaps frame building is the one thing that can. Wish I had known this when I was 20. Nah, I was too busy racing and living the life.
03-11-19, 07:35 PM
#2
Interocitor Command
I've never built a frame or anything, but I certainly do enjoy buying a used bike, stripping it down to the bare frame and building it back up with some modifications and customizing it to my liking. I find it very therapeutic. 
I guess the real term for that would be assemble rather than build.
I also like to assemble my own computers and modify guitars too. I just can't leave well enough alone. It's a sickness.
I guess the real term for that would be assemble rather than build.I also like to assemble my own computers and modify guitars too. I just can't leave well enough alone. It's a sickness.
03-11-19, 09:09 PM
#3
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With the lousy weather we've had even in California (yeah, I know, stop whining) I've been enjoying working on the bikes more than riding. A $20 Raleigh Super Course project came along at just the right time. I mentioned it to a bike club buddy the other day, and he said, sometime you have to stop polishing and ride! Almost there.😀
As bought.
Getting there.
As bought.
Getting there.
03-11-19, 10:39 PM
#4
Sunshine
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I am working thru how to build my 2nd frame- itll be a gravel frame with disc brakes and a carbon fork.
I keep going back and forth between a 1 1/8 steerer as i know how to build that with lugs bit with a carbon fork that is limited to a 40mm tire with at dropouts, and building with a 44mm head tube to use a tapered steerer fork that will accomodate a larger tire and have thru axle.
to build the second setup, I will need to learn fillet brazing and figure out how to align it.
I absolutely love the learning, planning, and execution processes.
...but it's limited to seasonally when I won't ride. Still love to get out on the paved and gravel roads!
I keep going back and forth between a 1 1/8 steerer as i know how to build that with lugs bit with a carbon fork that is limited to a 40mm tire with at dropouts, and building with a 44mm head tube to use a tapered steerer fork that will accomodate a larger tire and have thru axle.
to build the second setup, I will need to learn fillet brazing and figure out how to align it.
I absolutely love the learning, planning, and execution processes.
...but it's limited to seasonally when I won't ride. Still love to get out on the paved and gravel roads!
03-11-19, 10:40 PM
#5
Sunshine
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03-11-19, 10:56 PM
#6
working on my sandal tan
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Building a fourth frame and am starting to think I like building frames better than riding. I just get into this time and reality warp when filing away on a lug or drawing out a design. Never thought anything could replace riding, but perhaps frame building is the one thing that can. Wish I had known this when I was 20. Nah, I was too busy racing and living the life.
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People in this forum are not typical.
03-12-19, 07:42 AM
#7
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Thread Starter
I am a horrible guitar player, and have been plucking the strings for 40 years. Just suck at it. Building an instrument has always interested me, but something about working with metal is in my bones. Odd man out in the family as I have one brother who was a custom furniture builder, two that are home builders, and my dad that was a hobby wood worker with a fully equipped shop. The brother that built custom furniture also enjoyed metal work and is the one who got me started on this bike frame building kick.
03-12-19, 07:53 AM
#8
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I used to own a model train. Built the wooden structure for a landscape, but never actually implemented landscape or houses. But the electrical control systems were complete and fancy. Now, I have been studying electrical engineering for about 10 years (it's time to finish though 
).
Letting the trains roll? ....happened 'from time to time'.
).Letting the trains roll? ....happened 'from time to time'.
03-12-19, 08:04 AM
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Although I can braze effectively and have the machines to build frames, I just have too many other irons in the fire. One thing that I am considering though is to get some custom parts made so that I build my own bamboo bike. I have a very good stand of bamboo in the back yard, I just need some metal parts to put it together.
03-12-19, 09:48 AM
#10
Happy banana slug
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Building a fourth frame and am starting to think I like building frames better than riding. I just get into this time and reality warp when filing away on a lug or drawing out a design. Never thought anything could replace riding, but perhaps frame building is the one thing that can. Wish I had known this when I was 20. Nah, I was too busy racing and living the life.
03-12-19, 11:04 AM
#11
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Building a fourth frame and am starting to think I like building frames better than riding. I just get into this time and reality warp when filing away on a lug or drawing out a design. Never thought anything could replace riding, but perhaps frame building is the one thing that can. Wish I had known this when I was 20. Nah, I was too busy racing and living the life.
He's never ridden a single mile. He's deathly afraid of riding them.
But he LOVES designing and building them.
So you're not alone.
03-12-19, 01:39 PM
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Im in a simular boat. Multiple bikes in different levels of made up and fixed up. I like rescueing old frames, and lifting parts off damaged bikes. But I gotta go test each new thing. Yesterday I did 40k to make sure I liked my new bar tape!
03-12-19, 11:06 PM
#13
Senior Member
During the winter months, I go around and ask people if I can do a tune up on their bikes. Not so much in the summer as there is too much yard work to cover
03-15-19, 03:24 PM
#14
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Apparently I have the builder gene.
As a tyke I was making "airplanes" from coat hangers and tissue paper.
Went to college for 4 years then took some aptitude tests that said I should be a craftsman. 3 more years of History grad school and I became a carpenter.
Carpenter, cabinet maker contractor, superintendent for 40 years and now I work on bikes all week for the Bike Exchange.
I do ride about 6 miles to and from the ymca 3 days a week to go swimming but my knees (and lots of other body parts ) are pretty worn out so no centuries for this boy (until I get the knee replacement one of these days soon) .
I really do like to dig through the pile of bikes at the Exchange for discarded and neglected gems and take them home for a make over, often including new paint and "custom" upgrades.
As a tyke I was making "airplanes" from coat hangers and tissue paper.
Went to college for 4 years then took some aptitude tests that said I should be a craftsman. 3 more years of History grad school and I became a carpenter.
Carpenter, cabinet maker contractor, superintendent for 40 years and now I work on bikes all week for the Bike Exchange.
I do ride about 6 miles to and from the ymca 3 days a week to go swimming but my knees (and lots of other body parts ) are pretty worn out so no centuries for this boy (until I get the knee replacement one of these days soon) .
I really do like to dig through the pile of bikes at the Exchange for discarded and neglected gems and take them home for a make over, often including new paint and "custom" upgrades.
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Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
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