that rafael is ***ing hideous.

Saw this on eBay: Bike polo 1947 style

I think that Benotto would look better with two brakes. Those bosses on the top tube just look lonely.

IM not sure that should be in this thread.

^ B:H Blue/Orange Bike = Pretty

that blue and orange bike is ugly. Very gaudy. Those lugs annoy me.

yeah, stupid Sachs Newvex lugs on a real hand-made track bike with Kaisei tubing.

Nervex lugs annoy you? You may be in the wrong thread, then...

yes, those lugs are hideous. I don't like them on any bike. Definitely not a track bike. Also, why the hell does that bike have a threadless stem? The whole thing is just fail.

Nervex/Newvex on a track bike?

....only those crappy builders of track bikes like Paramount used them

I'm an Illinois alum, so I'm naturally drawn to blue and orange.
I like Mike Terraferma's work too. He's going to be blowing up in the future, he's too talented not to.

That said, though, I'm still not crazy about this build. I like the pictures of the frame, but not the whole bike.

the blue and orange bike is amazing. finally a good porn post.

So because a lot of people like those lugs that means they must be good looking to everyone? I think they are hideous. Also, many great track bikes didn't use those lugs. More high end track bikes are built with normal or no lugs than those which are built w/ nervex lugs. Besides, even if every good track bike used those lugs they would still be hideous to me.

i think lugged steel frames are the best

Nothing wrong with not liking lugged frames. Lugged frames, however, both generally require a good deal more work and create a more pleasing, complex shape than a TIG-welded frame. (Fillet-brazed frames are purely gorgeous, but are also rarer.)

Once the builder has gone through the meticulous filing, cutting, fitting, brazing, more filing, thinning, more filing process and he or she has done a good job of it, you something very special on your hands, that someone spent a lot of time on. Not only that, it's very easy to screw up, resulting in something that's functional, but ugly. (Look at some of some Peugeot frames that are made with no artistry, but are nearly indestructible.)

A TIG weld is different. Generally speaking, if you've done it badly, you have to start over. There's not as much middle ground between "it's good enough" and "this will crack and kill the rider". True, there are masters of the TIG torch, like Pegoretti, who achieves the perfect 'row of quarters' look to his welds, but they are few and far between. People generally don't gravitate towards welding as an art like they do with brazing.

That, after all, is ultimately what makes a bike porn-worthy: the care that the builder and owner takes in looking after each detail with a purposeful eye and making sure it's both functionally perfect and aesthetically pleasing. Construction, paint, component selection, and build: mess up anywhere and you go from porn to 'meh' or worse.

smooth-filing the track ends may be done to look smooth, but fillet brazing is done for a lot of other reasons than just to look smooth - in this case it may have been chosen because it's more flexible than lugged construction, in terms of geometry and tubing shape.

It isn't the lugs that are ugly and guady, it is the paint job that is bothering you. Or you hate orange. I'm not a fan of the paint job, or orange in general, and that stem is wrong too, but otherwise, that's a nice frameset. Sach's does great work and I'm looking forward to seeing him do more lugs like this.

I love lugs

That bike is above your comprehension. I bet you dislike everything you don't understand.

I was thinking the same thing.

How the hell can you NOT like lugs man??? It's like saying you don't like the CHROME on classic cars. It makes a frame extra extra special. But yeah as howl said, its way above your comprehension.

Huh? The guy is saying he doesn't like those ornate intricate style lugs. Not that he doesn't like lugs at all.

Doesn't seem too dumb to me. I understand completely the work and craftsmanship that goes into, for example, a Hetchens, but that doesn't mean that I love the look.

Two totally different techniques and skills, many TIG welded frames likely took longer to make than many brazed frames, as well as vice-versa. Strong welds his frames in a precise manner, taking into account expansion and changes in the metal to end with a perfectly straight and measured frame. Plenty of bikes are constructed with brazing and lugs that will never see this attention to detail.

Some builders spend an incredible amount of time and effort on constructing perfect frames. This is true regardless of material, style, construction, etc. Some view it as an art, other's don't. Not saying you're wrong at all, just saying that it's true of all types.

Pegoretti builds mostly in aluminum, so it's not exactly a direct comparison, TIG welds on steel better look better than a row of quarters. He also builds with both TIG and lugs in steel.

Vintage porn... mmmm !

Always love to see that bike.

Stunning.