You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Trying to get my inspiration going for a colour scheme on my upcoming new custom steel HT (though I've not ruled out Reynolds 921 stainless yet for that matter!), so show me your custom steeds! Especially interested in MTB's (particularly 29ers) but any inspiration would be good.
Oh, and dropouts... I like a good dropout... Or specifically, I like a good 12mm bolt through axle, and would like to see what other builders are doing for holding the rear wheel in place and the disc caliper mount.
So indulge me please! Get your custom steel HT pics out... 😛
Define 'custom' please.
Sounds interesting Mark.
Sorry I've not got anything to show but my KM Ops does run Surly MDS dropouts (mine are the bolt thru option).
[img] 
[/img]
Inspiration.
[img] 
[/img]
I'd love Ian's Shand Bahookie up there whatever, but being a fellow rally fan it really is one of my favourite bikes ever.
18 bikes - 157x12 rear - haven't got a close up of the disc mount but it's very nicely brazed and flowing!
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7187/26682048102_d47bc13e1c_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7187/26682048102_d47bc13e1c_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/GDNtj7 ]IMG_20160330_073954806[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/46413317@N06/ ]Jones96er[/url], on Flickr
Edit - found a photo of the non drive side. Zoom in for the dropout.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3826/32921434382_e790d68a66_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3826/32921434382_e790d68a66_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Sa9XtC ]DSC_0066[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/46413317@N06/ ]Jones96er[/url], on Flickr
157x12 that's a new one on me.
Go on .......
Mods - can we ban Shand please? He just makes me want to give him all of my money.....
And is a very friendly and approachable guy at bike shows, even when you can't afford his lovely creations.
Chris King 150 hub basically with the extra 7mm width for a 12mm axle. Matt Bowns from 18bikes did this for me to get a short back end without using a yoke. Has an 83mm BB as well.
Define 'custom' please.
NOT off the shelf... "Built not bought" as the VW customisers might say.
Basically one offs. I'm looking for detail inspiration for my own design.
157x12 that's a new one on me.
"Super Boost" innit... Few Full Sus frames are coming out with this "standard" now to allow short back ends with 27.5+ tyres (or fat 29er rubber). Not so good for the heel clippers amongst us! I'm gonna stick 142x12 for heel clearance, should be ok as not going mega short on the cstays though.
I'd love Ian's Shand Bahookie up there whatever, but being a fellow rally fan it really is one of my favourite bikes ever.
We did a Martini Porsche one recently too. I'll see if I can find pics.
157x12 has been around on downhill bikes for years, mainly the Santa Cruz V10
We did a Martini Porsche one recently too. I'll see if I can find pics.
[url= https://scontent-lht6-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/15306690_552425808300992_6867538614792749056_n.jp g" target="_blank">
Out of curiosity, what sort of weight would a large bahookie frame come in at?
Out of curiosity, what sort of weight would a large bahookie frame come in at?
Asking for a friend?!
Just a smidge under 2kg.
SSwarf
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/344/31748077925_51c3d12b41_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/344/31748077925_51c3d12b41_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/QntctT ]SSwarf[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/8133348@N03/ ]oxym0r0n[/url], on Flickr
When it was new...
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8685/28011974224_28e50f9def_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8685/28011974224_28e50f9def_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/JFjG1Q ]Swarf[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/8133348@N03/ ]oxym0r0n[/url], on Flickr
142x12mm cowled stainless paragon sliders
And how much are we looking at for one of these natty one off Shand paint jobs?
And how much are we looking at for one of these natty one off Shand paint jobs?
I don't think we've ever charged more than £150 for custom paint.
Thankyou.
Yeah, just for a friend......
That's [i]very[/i] respectable for a steel 29er, wish I hadn't asked now. My Scandal was 'only' bang on 4lb in aluminum. Hmmmm.....
shandcycles - MemberI'd love Ian's Shand Bahookie up there whatever, but being a fellow rally fan it really is one of my favourite bikes ever.
We did a Martini Porsche one recently too. I'll see if I can find pics.
Will you just give over, there's only so much temptation I can take
Still love your bike oxymoron. Possibly the nicest Swarf I've seen still.
My only concern with your bike is the proximity of the rear tyre to the seat tube, do you find it an issue at all? Also looks like there's more adjustment in the sliding dropouts than there is air between the tyre and seat tube... Why's that? Do you only intend to shorten the stays with a much narrower tyre (or perhaps a 650b+) in place?
We did a Martini Porsche one recently too. I'll see if I can find pics.
One of my customers brought in a BMX frame some while back, they'd had a custom Martini Racing Porsche paintjob done on it. Built it up with some pretty high spec kit for them, really nice bike that one! Shame I can't find a pic...
Hmmmmm... Silk Cut Purple! 😛
Frame is a stock Surface from Chromag, submitted for the unsurpassable colorway. 😉
[url= http://i.imgur.com/mxlDpNo.jp g" target="_blank">
[img] 
[/img][/url]
Is that colour scheme inspired by a packet of Party Rings?
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
~c200[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
= [b]Pepto-Crush[/b]
🙂
Ah yes 😀
Not got any close up shots recently and it's a couple of years old now but this is mine. I came up with the general design / geometry and Rob fillet brazed it up for me. Pre-dates the current Chromag style geometry and mix of 853 and other tubes.27.5" wheels, 44mm head tube and Paragon sliding dropouts.
[img] 
[/img]
https://www.instagram.com/whishartbicycle/
Oh dear god, I do not need this thread 😐
Pipedream are doing a sale and have 853 frames (26" I think) for 199. worthy of a heads up thread??
Wasn't 157 a DH standard for a while?....seems to have settled to 150mm hubs now.
[img][url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7440/26818945250_6e65789f94_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7440/26818945250_6e65789f94_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/GRU74L ]2016-05-18_03-21-55[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinddd/ ]martinddd[/url], on Flickr[/img]
FWIW - 921 painted with some stainless detailing like the driveside chainstay, Logo etc would look good.
Made with my own fair hands.
[URL= http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u566/jon_m1981/20130930_165209_zps92ffae33.jp g" target="_blank">
http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u566/jon_m1981/20130930_165209_zps92ffae33.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
As requested dropouts can be seen here
[URL= http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u566/jon_m1981/SAM_0660_zpseab721af.jp g" target="_blank">
http://i1322.photobucket.com/albums/u566/jon_m1981/SAM_0660_zpseab721af.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
?s=140cb5e0289c22a2398b3582e2fc0b95[/img]
Some nice bikes there.
I'd go for adjustable / sliding dropouts with the brake mound attached. Gives you far more options for chainstay length and the opportunity to go boost or play about with geometry by machining new dropouts.
Personally I don't think you can beat raw fillet brazed steel with a clear coat over it.
Under 2kg is astonishingly light for steel HT. My Curtis is a small triangle 29er with 27.2mm ST and 1and1/8" HT and was 2.1kg (851/Columbus mix)
My only concern with your bike is the proximity of the rear tyre to the seat tube,
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Ha. That's mine. It's been fine for 2 and a half years.
Mainly riding this at the moment though.
[url=[img]
[/url]
Edit: bloody Flickr links.
Shaggy's pic
[img] 
[/img]
QWERTY, love the detailing on your bike. Reckon that's the most elegant and simple rear brake mount I've seen! Also you may or may not be surprised, having spent ages drawing and re-drawing my geometry, wheel size and a bit on both the seat and top tunes aside, the geometry is going to be remarkably similar!
FWIW - 921 painted with some stainless detailing like the driveside chainstay, Logo etc would look good.
The point of stainless for me is that I wouldn't have to paint it... Lazy man's option! Suitable 29er profiled chainstays seem few and far between in stainless though, which might bring me back to a mix of 853/631 and Columbus.
I'd go for adjustable / sliding dropouts with the brake mound attached. Gives you far more options for chainstay length and the opportunity to go boost or play about with geometry by machining new dropouts.
I keep thinking about this too... However. Am I likely to play with chainstay length? If I know roughly what works for me already, am I likely to want to tweak it much? Also it would add cost (though decrease complication of build slightly), a small amount of weight, and those M8 bolts are never easy to undo once they've been done up for some time even if properly threadlocked!
Qwerty, what's the seatube made from? Just a generic bit of carbon tube or something custom?
I'd go for adjustable / sliding dropouts with the brake mound attached. Gives you far more options for chainstay length and the opportunity to go boost or play about with geometry by machining new dropouts.
I can see your point, but surely the idea of going custom is to get it exactly how you want it? An off the shelf frame might need to cater for upteen different standards, but for a custom bike you already know exactly what hubs, pannier racks, guards, etc you want and don't have to compromise.
To clear up the 157x12 hub mentioned above, 157 is to 150 what 142 is to 135, it's just a cowled version of a normal 150mm hub. That frame was made just as boost was announced and I would now use a 148 hub and 73mm shell instead to achieve the same clearance but with greater hub/crank availability
TINAS - Thats Shaggys bike ( [url= http://www.automaticcycles.com/ ]Automatic Cycles[/url] ), i got to see it at a UKSSChimps - thats a carbon seattube ?glued? into steel tubes with some nice gucci circular cut out in the steel. Aestheticaly it resonates that [i]F A S T[/i] that Scott race bikes do !!! Shaggy will obviously be more informed than me.
I keep thinking about this too... However. Am I likely to play with chainstay length? If I know roughly what works for me already, am I likely to want to tweak it much? Also it would add cost (though decrease complication of build slightly), a small amount of weight, and those M8 bolts are never easy to undo once they've been done up for some time even if properly threadlocked!
I can see your point, but surely the idea of going custom is to get it exactly how you want it? An off the shelf frame might need to cater for upteen different standards, but for a custom bike you already know exactly what hubs, pannier racks, guards, etc you want and don't have to compromise.
Things / people / ideas change. A custom bike might be EXACTLY what you want but only right now.
Plus I thought this was a possible test mule and if you're concerned about weight then a steel hardtail really isn't where you should be looking is it?
[img][url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/583/32644138221_97e76719ba_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/583/32644138221_97e76719ba_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/RJDJZk ]Gunnar Ruffian[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/74746143@N06/ ]keithmorey1[/url], on Flickr[/img]
My Gunnar Ruffian, now up for sale, was in the classifieds last week. http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/gunnar-ruffian-29er-steel-singlespeed-19-450
18BikesMatt - Member
To clear up the 157x12 hub mentioned above, 157 is to 150 what 142 is to 135, it's just a cowled version of a normal 150mm hub. That frame was made just as boost was announced and I would now use a 148 hub and 73mm shell instead to achieve the same clearance but with greater hub/crank availability
Thanks Matt that makes sense now especially the comparison with 135/142.
My only concern with your bike is the proximity of the rear tyre to the seat tube, do you find it an issue at all? Also looks like there's more adjustment in the sliding dropouts than there is air between the tyre and seat tube... Why's that? Do you only intend to shorten the stays with a much narrower tyre (or perhaps a 650b+) in place?
Ha ha - I [i]could[/i] get mine as close as Shaggy's!
Never been an issue on mine and now running a NN in the same position. Photo was with a RR. I think it looks a little closer than it actually is. You have hit the nail on the head though - should be room for a 2.8 650+ and also aesthetically I think it would look odd with loads of dropout sticking out the back. There's still plenty of adjustment to go SS
That's 18 bikes frame looks awesome!
That's 18 bikes frame looks awesome!
Remember seeing that one in the shop and liking the curved seat tube brace
Why if going custom would the customer spec such a small frame though? There is soooooooo much seatpost showing that Thomson must be right on the min insertion line
^ Yeah I thought that. Great looking frame and interesting features, but you can't drop the post down very far anyway, and there is so much leverage on the seat tube and top / seat tube brace. Conventional wisdom says that the seatpost should go down at least to the bottom of the top tube (the real tube, not the brace), and I've seen a variety of frames ultimately fail when this isn't adhered to. Granted, this is 853 so pretty strong. /armchairengineer.
If I remember rightly, the seat tube length on that frame was an aesthetic decision, the point of custom is that you can have what you want, in this case it was a small seat tube in other cases it might be a long one, as long as the customer gets what they want, I'm happy
As an example, my frame was designed around a 170mm drop reverb and getting overlap with the top tube as mentioned above, it's ended up with a seattube that's about 16" and I'm 6'1", make of that what you will
Why if going custom would the customer spec such a small frame though? There is soooooooo much seatpost showing [b]that Thomson must be right on the min insertion line[/b]
Would you ask your tailor to make you trousers 2" too long, or would you have them cut to your exact leg length?
Why if going custom would the customer spec such a small frame though? There is soooooooo much seatpost showing that Thomson must be right on the min insertion line
Would you ask your tailor to make you trousers 2" too long, or would you have them cut to your exact leg length?
This.
I bet if it was a 27.2 seatpost he was also going for max flex off the seatpost for a more forgiving ride.
On a side note I've had a few Ti custom frames built for me an TBH unless you're a real odd shape and size or looking for something that no production frame even comes near to you'll just be waisting money and time...