if you’ve found this blog recently you’ve no doubt been directed this way from the nahbs show guide. not sure why they published this blog address instead of the normal web url, but i guess that’s that. please visit ciclipolito.com for some more information about the frames i make, or check out flickr for some photos of my work: flickr.com/photos/ciclipolito

thanks

not talkin bout bas-ket-ball . . . but speaking on leon’s new wheelset that showed up at the shop today. white velocity b-43s laced to phil wood. they really do feel bomber, and if leon doesn’t get down here within the hour i’ll be far too tempted to take them out for a spin.

i’d like to thank boltman over at velocity, all at phil wood, and the other folks who helped make this wheelset happen. leon’s going to be crushing them all over town on his new ride (currently at paint), and i can’t think of a better city or a better rider to run these things ragged.

the velocity synergy’s, in both 650b and 700, have never done me wrong so i’m looking forward to riding these rims for a bit. please leon?

Some ciclisti conoscenti may debate whether lugs have all the soul*, or whether fillet brazed frames looks too mean,* but I like to think that as a framebuilder it’s my job to use an appropriate joining method and make the frame look nice. I like and use both disciplines.

Leon’s track frame is constructed with some shaped aero tubes, so fillet brazing was certainly an option. A lugged frame was also an option, but would have to be fabricated around sheet metal “lugs” due to the profile of the top and downtubes. This approach works well, as everything from early clunkers to Mark Nobilette MAX masterpieces have used some sort of stamped, sheet or roll-formed lugs. In order to keep the cost down, and to make for a more timely delivery, this frame is being fillet brazed.

On account of the tubing profile, it’s pretty clear where each main tube stops and the headtube starts. I wanted to try and make this transition a little more smooth, so I used a little larger (and taller) fillets than I typically would. This will give me more surface area to work with when filing away, so I can try to get a gentle sweep from tube to tube rather than an abrupt edge.

This tubing is Dedacciai Zero LTP (dt), Columbus Mega (tt) and Dedacciai ht. on account of the thin walls in the tubing, heat control was paramount to not cooking these joins. I used a harris 205 tip to preheat each joint, then switched to a 203 for adding the filler. “flow the tack and go” as Dave Kirk would say.

i’m happy with the results. Leon came over to check it out as well, and it was great having him down at the shop. Some Phils are on their way to Velocity, and they’ll be meeting up with the B-43s like a “missed connections” ad soon!

*actual conversations I overhead at NAHBS

Leon was down in the shop while I was working on the curved seat tube frame for NAHBS, and we talked about the history behind that particular frame design. As a culmination of our talks, a fitting and going for a ride or two, Leon’s frameset is going to approach a similar design from another trajectory of cycling.

I found much inspiration from Masahiko Makino and Emiliano Freschi for Leon’s frame. Bikes from both makers resonate similarly to me, and I’m referencing that strong beauty they both possess.

I’ll be posting updates to my flickr account tomorrow of the main triangle, if you care to follow along.

Lastly, the new website is coming along great and will be up soon.

a new website will be launching really soon, within a few days.

i really enjoy going to NAHBS each year, and the awards ceremony is necessarily part of the event. that being said, the reason i enjoy going has nothing to do with seeing who gets what award. richard sachs; stephen, bob and carl from bilenky; drew and ed from engin; curt goodrich; jordan hufnagel; dave from ellis; mitch from MAP; jason sanchez; mike barry; adam hammond; these folks (and others who i’m forgetting to mention) are the reason i go.

hats off to don walker and the NAHBS support crew – until next year.

Getting all sorts of things ready for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Indianapolis.

Included among the run around will be the launch of a brand new website. In preparation I brought a few bikes into pete jenning’s photo studio on the near west side (birdtown). The shots looked great in the studio, and I can’t wait until the new website gets up and going.

Also included on the new site will be an integrated blog, so I’ll have easier access to update information and (hopefully) more frequent updates. As usual, most activity is on the flickr page, at http://flickr.com/photos/ciclipolito

Take care, and hope to see some of you in Indy.

here are the three newest pals; hardinge HSL-59, steinel SV4, elgin 2nd op lathe (no model number indicated).  they are sitting in my father’s garage in suburban cleveland (thanks dad) until the new shop is worked through.  much more news on that front later, once everything is finalized and i can share the details.

for more photos, and to see a bit about how you actually go about moving a mill, check out my flickr page at http:// flickr.com/photos/ciclipolito

alignment via headtube on the flat plate.

alignment mark II – note necessary accessories

working hard to get that extra little fillet in there for you

here is a whole frame and fork shot.  the frame was designed to be a fast commuter for typical cleveland riding.  it also has eyelets on the fork and an undercrown mounting for a rack, not shown.

demi-lams (wish i coined that one) turned out looking nice after paint.  i think i’ll play with this design again sometime in the fiture.

and lastly, the whole kit

this bike was great fun to build, and i’ve seen skip tearing around downtown on it the past few days.  i can’t quite catch up to ask him, but it looks like he’s having fun.  there are many other shots in the flickr set linked above, but these are a few of my favorites.

stay tuned for some forthcoming exciting news from the shop!

and finally in the jig