Pipe Dreams

I came to the conclusion I had to add some gussets of some sort. I was going to go with some plates, but I decided a couple tubes parallel behind the head tube would look right.

It preserved the looks of the bike, and it stiffened up the head tube really well.

The Build

I built it up to see if, and where I need to add stability. My First impression was the feeling of an old Vitus, or Alan Duraluminum frame. It's got some flexability. I might do something stabilize the head tube. It flexes a lot when I put on the front break. Enough that it concerns me so you know it's a lot. A lot if this has to do with the top tubes both diameter and their length.
I relaxed the head tube to 71 degrees. This is the straightest riding bicycle I've ever ridden. It's not a problem to take your hands off the bars.

I like the way it looks and so does everbody who sees it give it a double take. Even if they don't know anything about bicycles. They know something is wrong, but not quite sure what.

It's different, but thats the point. I'm not sure what color to paint it. Although it seems I might not be done. Another morning ride will help me decide.

Now What?

The rear wheel runs straight down the center. I didn't have to do much tweaking. That is a 28c tire your looking at for reference.



Added a couple cross tubes to the top.

And two more on the down tubes. They are spaced so I can add a water bottle later if I want.

3 Some'm In The Morning?

12:30am . . . Well . . . This thing isn't going to Braze itself. Yea well . . . I still have filing to do yet.


Viola . . . What's done is done.


3:17am? . . . Nighty Night.


8:17am . . . I still have to trim the head-tube and seat-tube. Almost looks like a steel Cormia . . . But not.

I still have some more small cross tubes to braze in to stiffen the frame, But first I'm going to file and smooth what I got done.

Der-Fender-Bender

At Worlds of Fun there is a bumper car ride called "Der Fender Bender". For some reason I'm calling this, that.

This, "that" which I speak of is a tubing bender. First we need to know the radius.


Then we need two pieces of plywood, or something that will work.


Then draw the inside and outside radius on the pieces of wood. And screw these two pieces of wood together.


The trick now it to cut the radius at an angle. I'm able to adjust my circular saw to cut at a 45 degree angle.

Now flip one of the pieces so they will cradle the tubing.

Strap on end down and start bending.

That's a piece of 1-1/8" tubing that did not bend. infact it cracked to wood where it's strapped to. For steel like this I need stronger wood, but it works perfectly for my 1/2" (Pictures to come).

Down-Tubes Days

I put the seat tube at 76 degrees. If you have been following that's laid back for me after the TT frame at 78, and the road bike at 77.


When you get it dialed in it looks like this. If I wanted 76.2, I could have done that.


and then came along "Beans". and then along with other stuff i had to do so I joined the down tubes to the head tube in the dark.


So the next morning I got this. The seat tube and head tube are right where they are supposed to be, 76 degree seat tube and 71.5 head tube angle.

The bottom bracket area should make riding in the rain interesting.

Then this is how they join to the headtube. It was a real pain the way I went about this. After mitering both tubes I sandwiched them between two pieces of steel to keep them parallel to each other.

Oooops . . . what's that? The left tube is slightly higher than the right tube. Probably took me 2 hours to get this all together, but it was late, I was tired, and it was dark . . . so that's what you get I guess.

I gophers I view at it.

Well at least I figured out what I did wrong. I was using a collar and a host of c-clamps to hold everything in place. I guessing a got the collar upside down because it has one side that is about this far off. Well like I've always said don't braze in the dark . . . Tired

I could undo it, but the seat-tube and head-tube are spot on. I would start over if I was making it for someone else, but since it's just me I'll keep building. Odds are at this point I'll just make it worse trying to fix it. I mean what's important . . . the angles of the seat-tube, and head-tube are perfect, so this mistake is more cosmetic, than academic.

Here we go again . . .

. . . another "Fixie". The seat post is done. It's cleaned up a little

Last time I used a stick of brass per, this time I uses 1 for all 4 connections. It's a lot easier to clean up. It's not totally done. One reason I still have to join the top tube/seat stays. Yea I said top tube/seat stays . . . and I'll just leave that little mystery for your imagination.

The bottom bracket. I feel two small brazes are better then one big one.

I have room for a 28c tires

One for Heenan