Friday, May 22, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Price Page
Having recently updated the price page, I thought I would go over the changes, and explain what is now standard on a Wolfhound.
There are a few options that seem to be added on every bike I've been building, so I thought it might eliminate some confusion by taking them off the options list, and making them part of the base price, those being:
- Headtube rings, all my mtb headtubes are now custom machined with the reinforcement ring integrated, available in all sizes (10mm increments).
-Integrated seat post clamp and hand carved (yes they're still handcarved) W into a signature Wolfhound seattube lug, as shown on this frame.
Also standard now, are stainless or brass faceplates to be polished and masked for paint. These have also been custom cut and will now appear on all drop-outs and brake mounts, adding a classy touch, while providing a solid metal to metal contact in places where paint can become a problem. As an example, I'm posting a couple pics of my new SS drop-outs. These were designed by me, drawing inspiration from many different drop-outs, and made by Noah at Paragon Machine works. A more thorough description will follow soon.
There are a few options that seem to be added on every bike I've been building, so I thought it might eliminate some confusion by taking them off the options list, and making them part of the base price, those being:
- Headtube rings, all my mtb headtubes are now custom machined with the reinforcement ring integrated, available in all sizes (10mm increments).
-Integrated seat post clamp and hand carved (yes they're still handcarved) W into a signature Wolfhound seattube lug, as shown on this frame.
Also standard now, are stainless or brass faceplates to be polished and masked for paint. These have also been custom cut and will now appear on all drop-outs and brake mounts, adding a classy touch, while providing a solid metal to metal contact in places where paint can become a problem. As an example, I'm posting a couple pics of my new SS drop-outs. These were designed by me, drawing inspiration from many different drop-outs, and made by Noah at Paragon Machine works. A more thorough description will follow soon.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Eric Wilmann's Double TT 96 Mtn. Caddie
This one specializes in Mountain cruzing pimp style. This thing strays so far from the norm, it's almost hard to explain. Double curved TT, 96er, internal brake line, designed for a 110mm travel suspension fork AND a suspension corrected rigid fork (made by me =) which will also hold a 3" Endomorph snow tire, integrated bar stem crafted by Paul of Rock Lobster, extra long chainstays for rollin large on swoopy singletrack and exploring miles of mtn roads.
Obvioiusly this is the first one like this I have done, it is sort of a curvy evolution of this bike
The end result is rewarding, but this is no doubt the most time consuming frame I've ever built, as well as the most difficult. To be honest, I don't know if can charge enough to make building another one like this cost effective. There are so many ways this frame was harder than any other, mitering all of the small tubes at tricky angles, then brazing around them in tight places. Followed by the longest, most challenging step of all - finishing them all down smooth with out butchering the frame. I'm by no means complaining, there is just so much more work in this frame than it looks, even to me after doing it.
Please contact me personally if you have interest in a frame like this beyond enjoying the pictures, I'm not sure this one will be on the price page.
Obvioiusly this is the first one like this I have done, it is sort of a curvy evolution of this bike
The end result is rewarding, but this is no doubt the most time consuming frame I've ever built, as well as the most difficult. To be honest, I don't know if can charge enough to make building another one like this cost effective. There are so many ways this frame was harder than any other, mitering all of the small tubes at tricky angles, then brazing around them in tight places. Followed by the longest, most challenging step of all - finishing them all down smooth with out butchering the frame. I'm by no means complaining, there is just so much more work in this frame than it looks, even to me after doing it.Please contact me personally if you have interest in a frame like this beyond enjoying the pictures, I'm not sure this one will be on the price page.
Hello Again
Hi. Sorry it has appeared that I quit. I really haven't, and there's plenty of cool new stuff going on:
An upgraded blast cabinet with built in storage/shelf
Some improved organization
And now it's getting real exciting, a new custom bender made by Erik Wiesnenburger of Portland ME! This baby bends 5 different tubing diameters, in a 16" radius, which more than doubles my bending capability. I finally got it set up and anchored down, but have only just begun to work with it. Erik tested all sizes and sent samples before shipping out this bohemeth, so I know what it can do, just looking forward to putting it to use. Please note the craftsmanship, this was all done in his basement.
So far, the only example of the kind of bends this beast makes, is the light blue 29er (built for Erik's wife, Liz), shown below in the "In Their Element" post. It's the only one so far, but I think it's a great example. Note the difference in the curves on that bike, bigger bend radius, more swoopy and graceful. This is going to put some beautiful curves in seat stays.
Now the really, really exciting part,
A floor repair and reinforcement,
To make room for my new combo vertical/horizontal milling machine!!!
This is something I have wanted since I started making bikes. Up till now, I've been doing it all with a drill press, grinders, and hand files. This thing makes me feel like my shop is complete, at least as far as major tooling. As mills go, this is a pretty light weight one, but still weighs 2400lbs, which is just about all the floor of my trailer-shop can hold.
I've never used a machine like this before, but after the initial learning curve, this baby will open some new doors for me, and more importantly, speed me up!
An upgraded blast cabinet with built in storage/shelf
Some improved organization
And now it's getting real exciting, a new custom bender made by Erik Wiesnenburger of Portland ME! This baby bends 5 different tubing diameters, in a 16" radius, which more than doubles my bending capability. I finally got it set up and anchored down, but have only just begun to work with it. Erik tested all sizes and sent samples before shipping out this bohemeth, so I know what it can do, just looking forward to putting it to use. Please note the craftsmanship, this was all done in his basement.
So far, the only example of the kind of bends this beast makes, is the light blue 29er (built for Erik's wife, Liz), shown below in the "In Their Element" post. It's the only one so far, but I think it's a great example. Note the difference in the curves on that bike, bigger bend radius, more swoopy and graceful. This is going to put some beautiful curves in seat stays.
Now the really, really exciting part,
A floor repair and reinforcement,
To make room for my new combo vertical/horizontal milling machine!!!
This is something I have wanted since I started making bikes. Up till now, I've been doing it all with a drill press, grinders, and hand files. This thing makes me feel like my shop is complete, at least as far as major tooling. As mills go, this is a pretty light weight one, but still weighs 2400lbs, which is just about all the floor of my trailer-shop can hold.I've never used a machine like this before, but after the initial learning curve, this baby will open some new doors for me, and more importantly, speed me up!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
NAHBS 2008!!!
Yes, I am still here, sorry for the long lag in posting for those who have been checking to see if I'm doing anything. I've been busy all right, just spent the last two months letting NAHBS prep consume me, I was kind of trying to keep it quiet and create the whole yahoo-thebig-debut effect with my display stand and the bikes hung in it, and more importantly, make show prep in years to come MUCH easier. I wanted to make a stand that would hold up for a year or two and allow me to display four complete bikes, well lit, with a photo friendly backdrop. As to be expected, what seemed to be a simple structure relentlessly continued to mutate as I attempted to build it, the next thing I knew I had a vision that was finally coming clear, but in the form of something I was spending a grotesque amount of time on, which would eventually require it's own hauling vessel. So anyway, I actually got it all done in time and it all worked - really well, it made me feel just a little better about all the production time I lost, and hopefully I won't ever have to worry about that part of showing again!
The show was awesome and the turn out was seemingly everything the hype predicted, I believe somewhere around 7000 folks wondered through. The bikes displayed were also as expected, stunning and apparently ever improving, this year unveiled some very impressive budding talent from several first time exhibitors. I did my best to get a picture of something from every booth, but failed miserably, there was just too much surrounded by too many people. The most disappointing being the lack of a picture of my friend Sam Whittingham's bike from NAKED custom bicycles, which won People's choice, President's choice, and Best in Show!! And oh yeah, just happened to be the bike that Lance Armstrong fell in love with at first sight and purchased from Sam on Saturday! I had the opportunity to meet Sam and his wife Andrea at last year's show, it takes about 10 minutes to tell that they are about as genuine and kind hearted as it gets. Yet another accolade, they have both set land speed world records on bikes built by Sam, this is one of those things you seem to have to ask about before they will talk about it, so I didn't know at first. Apparently, Lance knew nothing about this when he bought the bike, he just knew that one was for him. Sam wasn't even in the booth at the time, Andrea had to keep her cool and pull the sale all by herself, though I don't think it took much of a pitch. I don't know exactly where to direct someone to see this fine machine, but I'll bet it won't be too hard to find, unfortunately no photos of it here.
This is a strange time in the year in that it is when I post pictures of other builders' work and talk about how cool I think it is. At a glance this may seem like poor business move, but I must disagree because what I'm really trying to show is how much passion there was under one roof. This industry exploding is the result of good change, if we keep the experience positive, there should be no problem finding room for everyone. There were so many incredible works of art that I either missed completely, or only got one shot of, but here is a look at what I was able to capture.
The show was awesome and the turn out was seemingly everything the hype predicted, I believe somewhere around 7000 folks wondered through. The bikes displayed were also as expected, stunning and apparently ever improving, this year unveiled some very impressive budding talent from several first time exhibitors. I did my best to get a picture of something from every booth, but failed miserably, there was just too much surrounded by too many people. The most disappointing being the lack of a picture of my friend Sam Whittingham's bike from NAKED custom bicycles, which won People's choice, President's choice, and Best in Show!! And oh yeah, just happened to be the bike that Lance Armstrong fell in love with at first sight and purchased from Sam on Saturday! I had the opportunity to meet Sam and his wife Andrea at last year's show, it takes about 10 minutes to tell that they are about as genuine and kind hearted as it gets. Yet another accolade, they have both set land speed world records on bikes built by Sam, this is one of those things you seem to have to ask about before they will talk about it, so I didn't know at first. Apparently, Lance knew nothing about this when he bought the bike, he just knew that one was for him. Sam wasn't even in the booth at the time, Andrea had to keep her cool and pull the sale all by herself, though I don't think it took much of a pitch. I don't know exactly where to direct someone to see this fine machine, but I'll bet it won't be too hard to find, unfortunately no photos of it here.
This is a strange time in the year in that it is when I post pictures of other builders' work and talk about how cool I think it is. At a glance this may seem like poor business move, but I must disagree because what I'm really trying to show is how much passion there was under one roof. This industry exploding is the result of good change, if we keep the experience positive, there should be no problem finding room for everyone. There were so many incredible works of art that I either missed completely, or only got one shot of, but here is a look at what I was able to capture.
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