All Road #1, originally uploaded by Xvelo Designs.

Currently working on a single/fixed gear all road type of bike. The fork will be the straight blade and have rack attached and I will rig up something for the rear. It will fit me and be ridden thousands of miles. Should be OK
The birth of the boy has slowed down production, I’m shooting to have this one done in the next month or so, we’ll see how that goes.

All for now…Cheers

Mixte Lugs, originally uploaded by Xvelo Designs.

Modifying lugs for M’s mixte bike. These are the Gippiemme lugs from Ebay, I’ve chosen to make a mixte with high range gearing for Michelle and these lugs are the inspiration. They are normal stamped lugs made for a traditional frame. To get the mixte lug, i’ve added a piece of tubing that I’ve coped to fit and brazed them together. A bit more filing and some cutting off of uneccesary metal and it’ll be done. You’ll see these on the bike in a few weeks
There will be two new bikes in the coming weeks (months really)…I’ll keep you posted as they come about, I’m guessing they’ll be way cooler than bike #1 but both will be city oriented. Look for some new Phil Wood wheels and maybe some racks and stems coming from the torch. Bamboo is on hiatus while I wait for the jig, the stuff is way to funky to deal with clamped in a vise. But those bikes are coming too, a single speed cyclocross as well as a SRAM Red road bike will be rolling the brown grass. Lots of stuff and Ideas, all will be slowed by the new boy but we’ll wait till he gets here and maybe he’s better with the torch than I?
Cheers for now…

Bamboo in Between the fire, originally uploaded by Xvelo Designs.

Ok; this evening has started the bamboo bike. I’m almost frightened but the construction of bamboo and carbon seem fairly straight forward and there is very little rocket science. (or physics)
I’ll keep you posted in useless detail until it’s done and I lose a few teeth riding it.

pancenti bits-7, originally uploaded by Xvelo Designs.

Some new shiny bits from Pancenti…The crown on the bottom and the dropouts are going together for a single speed or fixed gear road bike. Any dibs on the size??? Bueller?
Also got some rack eyes, good times…

Here is the first of the pro photos of bicycle number one done by Mark from Mark Mortensen Photography It sure is amazing what a real photog can do with some light and a lens. He made some amazing photos of the bike and I will be hanging a few of them on my wall. You can too by purchasing them from him.
I have ideas for several new bikes, bamboo and steel; I’m just awaiting the release of funds from the wife. I’m intending to make a debut at the Rocky Mountain Bicycle Show in August but we’ll see how that goes with a new little man coming into the world in the next few weeks (hopefully soon…I can’t wait to meet this dude!)
Till then I’ll keep you posted with bits and pieces and I promise not to make so many poor pictures of each bike, just the good ones.

Cheers

Bamboo Miter #1, originally uploaded by Xvelo Designs.

Had to take a break from the real job this evening and vent some frustration/creativity on some poor grass. I’m feeling quite confident that these rigs will be as strong as a brazed steel bike with hopefully cool characteristics. Weight will be similar to steel but the ride will be similar to carbon. Shall be cool…
R&D of bamboo. First miter of the 2″ down tube to 2″ bb shell. I did this one freestyle with the big drill and hole saw. It came out pretty good without files; for the first joint that won’t be attached it will be fine. I’m going to get a joint tool for the real bikes.
I’ll wrap this and a few more joints this weekend as I get some West System and fibers. I’ll give more pics then.

Cheers.

New tubes, originally uploaded by Xvelo Designs.

This is more exciting to me than getting a fresh load of steel pipes. Everyone and their pet monkey is a custom steel builder, it takes real freaks and geeks to make a vehicular conveyance out of some grass and carbon fibers.
These overgrown lawn pieces come to me from South Carolina where it apparently grows like Kentucky blue grass. All the tubes are straight and the price was fantastic, the pile in this picture should build 3-5 frames depending on waste and cost about as much as a mid-level True Temper kit. The carbon and finishing bits will cost more, I’m going to shoot for more of a refined look such as a Calfee rather than some of the hemp fiber stuff you can find elsewhere. Not that I’m dissing it, just I would like the thing to look nice and have measurable strength.