Nova Cycle Supply MAX Aero Fork Kit and the usual TL;DR!

Just got one of these kits from Nova the other day for the new frame I'm just about done with. It comes with everything you need and all fits together pretty damn well. Here's the semi finished product:

Only took me a couple of hours to go from the box to the flux water bath- awesome!

It currently weights in at 1.78lbs or 810 grams WITH like 12" of uncut steerer tube. Should be closer to 1.6-something once I've got it fit properly. I'm hoping they do one of their monthly sales on these bad boys cause I would def buy a bunch to build up..

As for the frame it's going on.. It's SUPER fuken funky and super close to being completed which I'm pretty stoked on! I'd just about given up with getting it done in time for the Philly Expo this weekend when I suddenly caught myself and was like, stop being such a bitch and just bang this shit out already! With that, I didn't stop all day and until I'd gotten to a good place with it. Finishing up for the night not more than a few hours ago. I was so possessed I completely forgot to ingest any sustenance the until like 10pm. WTF right? Who goes all day like that without eating?! It was totally worth it cause not only am I not stressin' as bad as the last few days, but when I finally did sit down, the greek food I ate was THE JAM..

Part of the reason why I started feeling better about things was my realization that this thing didn't have to be absolutely perfect. The design is pretty out there, the mix of tubing is equally out there, it's my first time using all new tooling/techniques and I haven't built a frame since the Yamaguchi course if you can believe that shit. I came to the conclusion that putting a ton of time and effort into the finishing work, money into a proper paint job and all new parts group etc on a completely untested funky new frame design, didn't seem like the best idea. I'm just gonna have fun with this one and see how I feel about it. There's a few pieces of tubing that I'd like to have specifically made for this design instead of my dumbass having to custom rig stuff to get it to fit right. Thankfully I was able to pull a few of my old freak bike makin' tricks out of the bag to gitrdone :-)

Having said all that BS, the frame looks super sick. I've showed a few friends and they concur. Amped to get this thing finished and all built up! All I need to do is toss on a binder bolt, finish up a couple of fillets, clean all of them up a little bit and paint da bitch. What color, I have yet to decide. I have two groups I can toss on it but am also undecided. Part of me doesn't want to put anything too funky on it. Would rather people focus on the frame itself. Who knows. That's for me to figure out tomorrow..

In any case, I'll be at the Expo Sunday. Let's hope the weather holds out cause I'm really looking forward to the swap meet and taking the new street beast out for a spin!

Nova Cycle Supply MAX Aero Fork Kit and the usual TL;DR!

Philly Bike Expo this weekend along with the Bike Jumble!

Who all's goin'?!

I'm really hoping to have a new build done in time for this weekend. However I'm currently in the midst of a bout with the flu. Of course. Because being sick all summer wasn't e-fucking-nough. I'm also pretty low on funds so I'm just gonna toss an old group on there..

I have to say though, the frame came out pretty awesome so far. Had I not been sick as a dog all day today I would've been a lot closer to having it finished. I still have to add chain and seat stay bridges. Then finish up all the fillet welds and smooth em over. I've got an order from Nova slated to arrive this Thursday with any luck. Some parts for a friends frame along with a fork set up for my current build. All I'm missing is a 1 1/8th threadless headset, which I really don't want to have to rip off another bike, and I should be good to go. I was hoping to do a proper paint job for once but it's hard to say no to a good ooool' fashioned $5 rattlecan job..

I also really wanting to get a new rack on there as well but there's just no way that's going to happen now. If I'm lucky I'll have time to build a stem. Otherwise I basically have 2-3 days to button this shit up now :-/

So yea, we'll see. Hopefully I'll have something to show off but if not, it'll still be awesome seeing everyone there!

Philly Bike Expo this weekend along with the Bike Jumble!

David Gonzales fuuuuuucking SLAYS IT..

..in his Possessed to Skate part from Thrasher:

Talk about BAH!! moments! Fucking dude wrecks so hard and slaughters everything he touches!!

Also, fuck yea Priest!!!

David Gonzales fuuuuuucking SLAYS IT..

Whether you love 'em or hate 'em..

..you have to admit Die Antwoord's new video is BAT SHIT INSANE:

I watched that when I was stoned and nearly passed out..

Kinda reminds me about how people used to feel about Primus back during their hay day. Couldn't get enough or couldn't stand em..

Anyways, really looking forward to finishing this new frame I'm working on. It's gonna be cray-cray! Front triangle is brazed and now I'm working on the chain stays. Really wish I got a few more paychecks before getting let go from my job. I would've had the tube mitering jigs from Anvil making my life infinitely much easier by now. Hopefully I can put some cash together soon and make it happen..

Whether you love 'em or hate 'em..

I'm normally not interested in bikes with plastic crates strapped to em but..

..in the case of this funky Rivendell with the home made rack, I'll make an exception:

Note the rear light bar bracket as well:

Awesome..

Seen on Lafayette in Fort Green across from Choice Market..

I'm normally not interested in bikes with plastic crates strapped to em but..

This dude is amazing!

Kinda wonder how many wheelsets, tubes and brake pads he must've gone through to make that vid..

This dude is amazing!

What's been going on lately and BITCHIN' NEW TOOLZ!!!

What's been going on is that due to a reshuffling at my office recently, they decided to give my ass the old heave ho. Which is fine since I hate doing that shit anyways, but it kinda bums me out since I was getting close to gathering all the tools I need for the shop. Few more months and an xmas bonus later I would've been set. Oh well. Aside from the Anvil mitering jigs and Park frame finishing tools, I've got most everything else I need. In the meantime:

YAY TONS OF FREE TIME TO DO COOL SHIT GET BLAZED COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT AND MAKE ARTSY JUNK NO ONE WILL EVER CARE ABOUT BUT ME!!!

Tho to be honest there's a good chance that I'll score some freelance work here and there. Still waiting on hearing back from various colleagues. The next few months are usually pretty busy in the magazine world..

In the meantime, I put a bunch of stuff up for auction on the bay. Please scope it all out and forward/reblog if you don't mind since I could use some extra cash right now:

A mostly NOS Shimano Dura Ace 10mm Pitch group set great for the track:

A Canon 24mm f 1.4 EF L Lens:

A rare first re-edition Brooks Swallow saddle:

Along with a bunch of other random stuff so be sure to check out my ebay seller list..

Aside from what I've listed there I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what else to part with. Still have a few tid bits lying around but I'm hoping I won't have to part with them quite yet. Unless of course there's a eccentric couple out there that just couldn't live without their very own Mutandem, hehe..

Anyways, some of the procede's from the sales will go towards paying the balance off on my recent purchase of a JET JMD-18 mill/drill:

There's THE most wicked tool place by my house called A.W. Meyer. It's MASSIVE and they only sell contractor grade tools. None of that low end Home Depot/Loews consumer grade crap..

This past weekend was their annual oct-tool-ber fest sale. Which sounds silly but all the vendors show up and offer 10% off their gear. Which when spending 2gs is not so silly anymore. After chatting with the Jet rep a bit, I ended up getting a $300 discount which was pretty fucking amazing of them! 

Granted I could've gotten one of those huge used Bridgeports etc, but the JET comes pre wired for household use, is small and light enough to fit through regular doors and I'll likely never have to tinker with it and search for old parts because it's been slaving in some guys machine shop for 30-40 years already. Not too worried about doing much heavier work than mitering tubes and the occasional mini tall drop out. Plus I won't have to deal with spending additional funds on a drill press which would just end up taking additional space..

Anyways, it's on back order so should be here next week. All I need now is an adjustable angle vise and a clue as to how to use it properly, hehe. Haven't touched one since high school..

Since we're on the topic of sweet new tools, I suppose I can post this horrible POS video I shot a little while back showcasing the custom anvil frame jig rolling stand I made along with a few other tools I've acquired. mmmMAN does the color ever look bad! I somehow managed to totally space out on compensating for the super bright yellow overhead light. I wanted to re-shoot it but I had THE WORST time getting a decent take for some reason. That and I'm in the middle of working on a frame now and have no desire to reset everything for it. Anyways, point and laugh all you like:

Custom Anvil frame jig stand and other new tools in the shop! from CyclingWMD on Vimeo.

uggh.. so bad..

The stand is pretty bitchin' tho right?!

Anyways.. Here's some before and after snaps of the steel surface plate when I first got it:

While I most certainly don't recommend using the above unconscionably sketch balls method of transporting a 750lbs plate by yourself through a standard size door, it was the only way I could come up with to squeeze it through..

As you can see in the first photo it was pretty damn rusty. This is after the first wire brushing by hand:

..and after a real proper power brushing and chemical de-rusting: 

Not the prettiest but it does the job just fine..

I have to say, looking at it now I can't help but notice that it bear's a striking resemblance to this..

Then here's a couple of snaps from the day I shot that dumb video:

Good shit huh? 

Pretty amped to get that mill in and set up so I don't have to spend quite as many hours on miters as I do now. There's sure to be a decent learning curve with getting used to all the new tools but I'm super stoked to have em now! Plus I know some good people who can give me the advice I need here and there to get started..

So what else does the future hold?

A visit to Colorado for NAHBS maybe? Another trip to Croatia to help harvest this season's olives?? An Austin Winter get away???

Not sure about any of that shit but the one good thing about being unemployed during the winter months is that it'll force me to stay inside and get some work done. I was really bummed about the lymes completely fucking up my summer. It definitely made a mess of things and pushed my goal to get some frames out on the streets by now way back. With any luck I'll have em out there by the start of next season. Which will no doubt make quite a few of my buddies real happy :-)  

So yeah, more soon. Now get busy sending those ebay auctions around wouldja?!

What's been going on lately and BITCHIN' NEW TOOLZ!!!