As of yet I’ve not made the same bicycle frame twice. Many have been for the same purpose and fit similar parts but with each bike built individually and currently solely utilizing hand fabrication techniques the frames have all had a unique geometry with substantial variation in their construction. If demand arose for a repeat of any of the iteration I’ve produced all the frames have been drawn and saved to precision on the type box here.
So basically I’ve made a number of prototypes that have been designed to integrate as well as possible with mass manufacturers components. It is in the parts that will bolt onto the made to measure frame that I value invariability. As of yet I’ve not been let down by an off the shelf fork to deliver the performance that I want from it when it is right for the design. Every once in a while though a design will have criteria for the front end that can’t be met in a mass market fork and it was for these occasions that I wanted to be able to offer an option of a custom fork to go along with a new frame or replace something that has become hard to find for an existing frame. It is a set after all, none of the figures that are made for the handling characteristics of the frame will come to fruition unless the frame and fork are in concert with one another.
The time was right then to make some freaking forks then when I took an order for a track frame set this fall from a local scholar: but boy did it blow my time frame for getting him out there enjoying the frame I’ve made for him this semester. Going about the design of the first fork I’ve built in a little while from the ground up meant that a surplus of time was spent pondering the best way to go about making the parts the design requires and to make sure it results in a product that is repeatable.
I’m happy with what I’ve come up with and am glad to finally have BBW producing a full frame set. The fact that the blades are 1″ too long making the first one the correct fork for my cannibalized 2nd Cross Bike rather than the frame I have waiting for it is entirely too convenient for me not to take the appropriate honor of riding the prototype myself. Now I’ve a template to build the one I’d intended and it will be better for it.
A happy accident and a call to action to start cutting some parts.
Pics later, 14 hours at hard labor at the day job has my bed calling to me tonite.
