Monday, December 19, 2016
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Little Gravel Road Side Project
Been casually working on a gravel road bike with flat-mount brakes. I've been softly filing away this chain stay to make the brake mount fit. This is one of the trickier pieces that I've had to make fit and you definitely need to have your head on straight (not building a house) in order to get it right. Needless to say, it's still not done and won't be for a few more weeks until my head gets back to Planet Bicycle.
At first it seemed a little hard, or rather dangerous, to eliminate this much of the chain stay however when you look at the thickness and weight of the piece that will be brazed in I don't think there should be a problem. Even with almost half the tube filed out, it still seems rather strong.
Paragon top-shelf componentry.
They now have dropouts with the flat-mount already built in however when I started this frame they did not. And to be perfectly honest, I've just kinda been making this thing up as I go. Initially I wasn't planning on flat-mount style brakes but after looking into it further it seemed like the way to go.
It's close, but I'm not lighting any cigars yet.
Few more pics of the carbon frame I finished up a while back. I may have already posted these. I can't remember, much, of, anything, at all, these days. I'm secretly hoping that the part of my mind that has been taken from me over this last year will somehow gradually start to come back. Some people have told me it won't and to let it go, but you know me, I like to dream. Just remember, as the once famous Jack Handy wrote, "If you're ever walking around the rim of a volcano, and you drop your keys down into the molten lava, just forget'em man, cause they're gone."
Dedacciai carbon dropouts.
I had to look at this for a while before I even realized what it was. Have fun.
This turned out nice.
I'll probably be away for a while but I'll try to come up with something to post. It'll probably be something like a Santa riding a bike because at the moment I've got nothing.
Thanks for stopping by.
Friday, December 16, 2016
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
I Can See Daylight Up Ahead
I know it's been a while since you've heard from me and I'm not about to say that I'm back just yet but I just wanted to share this antsy feeling I have right now. I'm guessing you all thought I had abandoned building frames since it's been so long since I've posted anything. The house that we've been working on for the better part of 2016 is almost done. It's been a nightmare as far as I'm concerned. I know in some ways we're very fortunate to have the opportunity to build a house and for that I'm thankful, however, it also feels as though I've been robbed of my creative spirit and I've definitely felt the effects both physically and mentally, mostly mentally since I'm a pretty mental type person. What can I say? When I'm on, I'm on, and when I'm not, well, it can get ugly real quick. Is the suffering real if it's only in your head? Is a dream only a dream? All I know is that I'm doing the best I can to get back to bicycle frame building. I almost feel as if I'm gonna have to start my business from scratch because it's all but dissipated. I've got a couple of projects to finish and paint that I've been toying with during this whole house building nightmare. I just wasn't able to build a house and bike frames with any sort of efficiency and so I just quit taking orders. I'm close to having a new shop (our old house) that is heated and cooled and I will be able to paint year round without issue. I'll have a stove to cook on and there is even an indoor toilet to use on the really cold days, although I still like peeing outside on occasion when nobody is looking. I've missed blogging and didn't know if I would ever get started back, but I've already written more this evening than I had planned to so that's a good sign. I even feel obligated to find a picture or two to post.
For anybody out there who may still be listening for a whisper on the jungle drum, I'm happy to have you here. I hope to get back here real soon. Give me a couple more weeks and I'll see if I can start taking some steps to resurrect MEECH Custom Bicycles. Thanks for stopping by.
MEECH
No press-fit, BB whatever crap here. English thread, creak-free titanium bottom bracket. Sometimes I think about picking up a modern carbon frame to ride, mainly just Time, but everything has the new style bottom brackets and after talking to so many mechanics, who have all told me the same thing, I can't bring myself to do it.
Been so long since I've been here I'm not sure if I posted these pics or not.
This frame is sitting out in the shop waiting on nothing more than a headset, but I've been waiting
to build it up because I hoped to get it painted first before riding.
I can't wait to test it out because I plan on building more of these in the future.
Also, I'm in desperate need of a new bike. Hard to imagine I know but it's true.
I've actually gotten back in to motocrossing a small bit this past year. I think I bought
this thing in order to feel like my old self. Spending so much time doing things that I'm not accustomed to
all the while not doing any of the things that I have done my entire life started weighing heavily on me. This was
an outlet for me. It's been proper therapy. I might even have another bike hidden at Yancey's house in Austin. Those
are the perks when you're a full-time factory MEECH rider.
Hopefully this spring I'll get to see it. I plan on doing a little RM 250 restoration project.
Not a great pic as my old iphone was worn out. Jack had thrown it too many times.
Anyway, the little man has grown, with an attitude as well.
S.O.S.
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Jubail's Gravel Road Racer
Finally got Jubail's frame finished up with the exception of the head badge and headset, which hopefully they're both in the mail. This build has taken way longer than I ever imagined for a whole list of reasons. Not gonna bore you with all the details but this frame build was a real learning experience. From my first steel disc thru-axle fork to the rear stays, I worked and re-worked to make everything fit. Even though this frame looks so sweet and innocent sitting here relaxing in the shade, under that French Racing Blue and Light Argent Silver is a beast of a frame that bent, molded, and whipped me as much or more than I did it. It was a pretty even match up though since we're both made of steel. Truthfully, it wasn't that bad. There were just things that I was unfamiliar with, things I overlooked, and just lots of things in general to do that keep interfering with my focus. I was looking back the other day and reminiscing about all those times I used to get on the blog and ramble on and joke around and just have a jen-u-whine good time. Now I feel bad for neglecting this place so much. It was like sitting on the porch step with friends in the evening. I feel so short of time these days that I can hardly see straight. My bike hasn't been washed since last fall, and my dog has pee'd on the wheel a couple of times. The chain is so stretched out that there are gaps between it and the sprockets so big that you can stick your finger through, but I wouldn't try to do it while you're rolling. Ever done that? You know I have. Still remember the first time on that old Schwinn Scrambler I tried to put the chain back on without ever stopping. All I can say if you're gonna give it a dig is that i admire you for trying and I feel your pain. I can still remember laying on the ground on my back in front of the bicycle while my hand looked like it was still trying to put the chain on behind me, with a couple of sprocket teeth biting into my fingers nontheless. That was the most messed up party I've ever been to.
Let's go take a look at this frame because I've wasted enough of Jubail's time. He has been extremely patient and laid back throughout the whole process and I thank him. I've always had the best customers in the world and that's why I'll never quit building frames. Vamos amigos. How bout that Giro de Italia?
Everyone loves a sexy rear end. This rear end didn't look like this in the beginning. I tried using straight stays at first only to find out that the disc caliper wouldn't fit. What do you do when that happens? You cut 'em out and custom bend some new ones and make it work. And this is the result.
French Racing Blue in the sun.
French Racing Blue in the shade.
Handmade carbon chainstay protector just for your bike and no one else's.
Like I said, the head badges are in the mail.
The brake housing runs throught the fork leg and this is our exit port.
After building the first fork I found out that the larger diameter fork blades necessary for disc brakes didn't leave enough space for the rotor. So here was my custom cutout.
All of this work made one whole millimeter. Just try and find another fork like this in the world.
Subtle touches.
Random photo.
This little man right here is the reason I'm not getting to put in as much time in the shop as I need to. You think that's not a hard head? Oh well, he's worth it. Man, just as soon as he gets old enough I'm gonna put his little hiney to work. I'm gonna make him file fillets with 400 grit sandpaper.
Thanks again for the patience Jubail.
MEECH Custom Bicycles
Handmade in
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Friday, April 15, 2016
Update on Jubail's Frame
Here are a few pics from the most recent work on Jubail's frame.
The main reason I like disc brakes is because I get to use my Anvil Post Punk. This tool is flawless.
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