Bicycles!

[alex.s]

the last molds are printing now. so once they're finished i'll do the headtube and interface parts and do the real assembly of the front triangle. after that i need to figure out some kind of jig to position the dropouts in the correct position (probably just some way of securing the wheels in the correct positions) and then i can glue the rear end all together. it's been a ton of work, way more research and reading, lots of errors. but i've almost built a bike. its got an oval crank with praxis chainrings in a pressfit shimano bottom bracket. 41mm by 86 long (i believe they call it bb86 or something), 105 brakes and cassette, 105 deraileurs and brifters. ritchey fork and headset.

[Flying]

Originally Posted by alex.s

the last molds are printing now. so once they're finished i'll do the headtube and interface parts and do the real assembly of the front triangle. after that i need to figure out some kind of jig to position the dropouts in the correct position (probably just some way of securing the wheels in the correct positions) and then i can glue the rear end all together. it's been a ton of work, way more research and reading, lots of errors. but i've almost built a bike. its got an oval crank with praxis chainrings in a pressfit shimano bottom bracket. 41mm by 86 long (i believe they call it bb86 or something), 105 brakes and cassette, 105 deraileurs and brifters. ritchey fork and headset.

Nice! What's your process? Is it entirely wet layup into bagging or do you have parts using prepreg/infusion?

[choneofakind]

He's making molds on the 3D printer and doing wet layups. Something I thought about at school but never got to testing out. It's pretty slick.

Also, holy giant pictures, batman!

[sharky nrk]

completely badass alex

[JohnnyBravo]

[alex.s]

still trying to perfect the process. water soluble PVA is printed for the inner "plug" and then wrapped with a wet layup and then placed in the outer molds which are printed in PLA. the downtube i tried with a vacuum bag but dont like the inconsistent surface. anyway, unfortunately this morning i sorta had a lapse in thinking and blew about 30 hours worth of printing in roughly 5 minutes because i was impatient and forgot that heat melts plastic.

[alex.s]

[choneofakind]

Here's a couple relevant videos from a discussion we had a while back about material choices for frames. Take it for what you will, GCN is not always spot-on perfect, but they're not going to intentionally spread schmuckery.

Link to original page on YouTube.

Link to original page on YouTube.

[Brother Michigan]

So why did you decide to go with aluminum (I'm assuming) seat stays instead of making them out of carbon as well?

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by Brother Michigan

So why did you decide to go with aluminum (I'm assuming) seat stays instead of making them out of carbon as well?

it's 100% carbon.

[Brother Michigan]

Huh, they just look much "cleaner" than the other sections I guess. Have you done some finishing to the seat stays that you haven't done to the other sections yet? Or are they just easier because they're round?

[choneofakind]

I'm stoked. Today I broke a barrier that's been eluding me since I started riding. I finally averaged more than 20 mph in a 40k, and this was with 1500' of elevation gain. I'm pumped!!! 1:13:09 for a 40k effort at the beginning of my ride. My legs feel so good right now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/714525488

Next goal, get that down to 1:10:00

Also, last weekend, I partook in my first MTB race. I got a horrible start and got caught up in traffic, so I sat back and started chatting at people as I passed them. It was wet and slick and muddy and I didn't see a single face without a grin plastered across it.

One of the guys I ride with won the beginner class I was in at a pace I've beat before in the dry. Oh well, next time! I'm hooked.

[CaliGrrl]

Nice job!!!

[alex.s]

seat stays are pullstruded 3k twil rods that i bought. 3d printer doesnt like printing long skinny things like that.

[JohnnyBravo]

Sweet whatever that is alexsssssssss

["A"]

My winter project:

[choneofakind]

A couple friends and I met up for a lunch ride, snagged some pictures. This one came out well. I've been working on jumps. This is a nice step down jump, so the table is sloped downward. The landing lip is about 2' lower than the take off lip. It's also at a spot on the trail you consistently take at 19-22 mph. So... this is like 3' of air at 20 mph. It's a fun one!

[CaliGrrl]

Nice!

[Apex]

I love this thread.

[choneofakind]

Here's a quick video of the more fun jumpy lines at our newest trail. There was an old golf course that went under, so the city bought it out. My local IMBA chapter has been hard at work building trail on it. It's about 100' of climbing per mile, but the jumps and lines are worth it. Not technical at all, but flowy and fun. This is just the beginning. There's 3.5 miles total, and they've only built the land that used to be 5 holes or something.

For reference, the biggest table in the first clip is about a 5-6' table top, likely 4' tall at the take off lip. I cased it a little here, doing about 18 mph.

The big table on the second clip is likely only a 4' long table top, but it's a tall one. If you stand in the lowest point before the take off, the top of the table is at my neck level, and I'm 5'10"! It's slow and poppy, good fun!

Link to original page on YouTube.

[allanoue]

Looks like a lot of fun

[choneofakind]

OHHH! I found a new bicycles. It's time

I had it down to a Giant Anthem SX or a Norco Optic. Both 27.5, similar geometry, 130mm front travel. 110 or 120 rear. I liked the Optic better after some demo rides. The rear felt better to me. Both climbed and pedaled really well, but the FSR rear end on the Norco felt better under braking to me than the Maestro on the Giant. Don't kid yourself, both were amazing setups!!!



So I'm pretty much set on the Norco. Likely a medium 650B frame. I'm debating buying the aluminum model and swapping parts/selling off the factory parts I don't want or just buying the carbon frame and building up. The test bike I rode had GX and I was impressed. Definitely better than the X5 I had before. But Shimano XT is such great bang for the buck and I'm really impressed with Shimano brakes. Guides are great too (demo had them) but they're EXPENSIVE compared to XT. Not worth almost double in my books.

So it's either Aluminum and swap/sell parts to reduce cost or carbon and build up but spend more. I've never ridden carbon off road and I crash a lot. I know they're both equally durable, but I can't seem to wrap my head around carbon and rocks.

["A"]

I got T-boned on my bicycle, riding on pedestrian crosswalk to cross a street.
Granted that I was suppose to walk my bike across the street.. but it was heavy rain, around 7 PM, after sundown.. but there were street lights and I had flashers and headlight flasher going.
Hit on the right side, landed on my left side.. my bicycle suffered frame damage, beyond repair.. RIP Bike Friday Tikit.. my trusty daily commuter.

[choneofakind]

Forget the bike, how are you doing? Everything working alright?

["A"]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Forget the bike, how are you doing? Everything working alright?

Muscle ache & soreness, no major injury... Takes more than a SUV to knock me out.

Driver was distracted, not paying attention to where they are going.

Time to shop for replacement commuter bike.

[Apex]

I'd be so ticked if that happened to my old Trek MTB I ride everywhere on.

[Panda]

Glad you are ok and you didn't get more banged up.

Something I have on my bike that you may want to consider.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brightside-.../dp/B01ANW2YB2. It gives me greater confidence people are going to see me from the side.

[CaliGrrl]

The link doesn't show for me but I'm guessing it's something to light up the rims? I've seen some of those that work really well.

["A"]

Well, the driver's insurance company cut a check.. well compensated for the damages.. bike shopping time.

[CaliGrrl]

I'm glad they gave you a good check. How are you feeling?

[choneofakind]

Lol nice. I've heard that's common

If y'all are looking for a screaming deal on a used bicycle, check out some of the swap meet and for sale pages on Facebook. I'm on a couple, just looking for deals on parts or the right bike. Lol

[MrAtom]

I went to my local bicycle shop to buy some grips to replace the crusty, nasty foam ones that were on the bike, and I forgot what a pleasant little place it is and how personable and knowledgeable the owner is. I haven't been there in a few years and I seriously hope they stay open for a long time. Going back soon to get my wheels trued

[CaliGrrl]

Giving your local shop some business is certainly a good way to help them stay in business. I'm glad you have a good one!

[MrAtom]

It's all I can do after my favorite local skate shop went out of business. I don't skateboard anymore, so not much I could have reasonably done about that. If I can buy it for a few bucks extra down the road from a guy like him instead of going to WalMart or buying online, I will. But I keep it within reason. If the markup is ridiculous or if the people are rude/try to upsell on nonsense, I won't buy from them.

Support your local businesses!

[JohnnyBravo]

I shop local an hate Christmas because I know some people shop at walmarts.

How hard is it to claim Jewish? I'm really trying to get outa Christmas

[JohnnyBravo]

Originally Posted by alex.s

seat stays are pullstruded 3k twil rods that i bought. 3d printer doesnt like printing long skinny things like that.

Did it work?

["A"]

Found a unicorn.. Bike Friday Sat-R-Day with Rolhoff 14-speed internal geared hub.. redeemed my cash rebate at the end of the year... will be my travel bike for Hawaii.

[CaliGrrl]

Cool! And it looks like it folds up for travel.

["A"]

Originally Posted by CaliGrrl

Cool! And it looks like it folds up for travel.

Yes, it fits into its own Samsonite along w/riding gear; which is convertible into a trailer to tow behind the bike.

[Apex]

My full suspension MTB needs some TLC. I need to clean the drivetrain, service the chain and test it out. It has been sitting for way too long.

It is nice riding a comfy bike like my Hi-Fi.