New bits from Alex Meade, originally uploaded by Xvelo Designs.

A couple of dummy axles and some head tube and bottom bracket cones for the new jig that will eventually come here. I’ll post pics as I build it.

Check out Alex if you need anything, His prices and quality are top notch.
www.alexmeade.com/Tools.htm

GIPIEMME Fork Crown, originally uploaded by Xvelo Designs.

Fork crown on the bench. This will go on Michelle’s bike when I get around to making it. I have about 4 projects before this bike but so far it’s going to be the Italian connection mixte. Lots of Italian parts with the lugs, tubes and components but it’ll be shiftable so she can haul the baby around.

This video is rad!

During — Front Wheel Build, originally uploaded by Xvelo Designs.

Decided to go with something old and something new for the front wheel. The hub is a lower end Normandy that I just bought from Ebay in Belgium. The rim is a Mavic Open Pro (Brand New).
The photo is of the laced up wheel. I’m amazed that I still remember how to do this stuff, I guess it’s like falling off a bike; you never forget how. Took a bit more than hour which is still respectable for an old man who types more than he builds wheels (someday that will change).
This post marks the change for Xvelo’s photography also. The D300s is packed and on the sales block for today. Too much $$$ invested in picture taking, I’m going to put it into shiny parts for bicycle building. All photos going forward for the blog and flickr will be from my Canon G10. Let me know what you think or if you care.

Cheers for now.

She’s pretty much done!, originally uploaded by Xvelo Designs.

First 50 miles are under the wheels (the wheels really have like 10k) but on the new frame at least. No creaks, squacks or any other kind of bad noise from the frame. The fork is definitely an experiment at this point but it’s straight and I can let go of the bars and it tracks without violent movement or even the slightest sway. Next pics will be the finishing of the frame and fork before I get it painted. By jove…I’ve built my first bike.

Another shot of the Mafac Racer, originally uploaded by Xvelo Designs.

I just can’t get over how sexy these brakes are. I would say 100% better looking than their properly functioning children Paul’s. I’m going to apply to be the PR/Marketing guy for the Mafac corporation. I sure hope they have an opening!
The bike is 95% done now, it’ll be 100% when I get a brake cable and some chain guard on it. I would have rather gone with a bit nicer components but that’s not what this one is about. It’s about building and riding, weather is nice, time to get the fuck out of the garage and ride.

Randonneur Dry Fit, originally uploaded by Xvelo Designs.

Dry fitting some of the parts before the final braze ons. I’ll be adding eyes to the dropouts on the frame and fork and some type of mount at the bb for the bottom of the fenders.
Should be riding by tomorrow. Will inundate with photographs before, I’m pretty sure that current Colorado roads after sub-zero temps and snow that’s been here since early Dec will not be kind to an unpainted steel frame. It will be media-blasted any how before powder so it should be fine.