Fork Play

Decided to clean out my tool box a bit the other day and fork these crowns in the back of one  of the drawers. Figured I would build up a couple forks for a couple of old school frames with 1" steerers. A one inch steel fork is still one of the best riding forks you can get, plenty strong and makes for a very compliant ride. I learned this a few years ago when I went to the Bicycle Tour of Colorado with one of my earliest frames, like the 5th I had ever built, and it had a 1" fork built with True Temper OX Platinum tubing and I still say it was one of my best riding frames that I have been on.  A friend of mine here in Jonesboro actually has it now.  I'm contemplating buying it back.  Anyway, gonna build a couple of traditional framesets with some good tire clearance so you can throw a 30c tire in there some everyday standard caliper brakes and roll with it. Lightweight, simple, straightforward riding. The kind of bike that will do it all and you're not afraid to go beat it up a little dirt or gravel, hop the curbs, wheelies, or whatever you feel like doing. That's my kind of riding. Probably gonna paint one in a traditional manner and the other maybe throw some swank down on it.

Doing it all by hand is where it's at. It's so satisfying.

This frame set may have a little extra clearance for a 32-35c tire. May opt for some mid-reach brakes on this one. It will be the ultimate year-round training bike.

This is when you know the crown is cut correctly. The crown race will just sort of hang over the edge of the crown and then with a couple of good hits with the crown race tool is drops right in place good and tight.

Feel free to check back in a couple of days for the finished product and the start of some new builds. I haven't been doing much other than painting here lately so I'm ready to get back to torch and files.

Thanks for stopping by!

LeTour etre!