Okay so it will be exactly 15 weeks since I ordered my first custom frame and today is the day I finally get to see it!

A Carl Strong foco/spirit steel steed in midnight blue. Added the gold plated head badge (that is the point my wife freaked out..."How much was that?...It was how much!?")

Going to dress it with a Chris King headset, Phil Wood BB, Chorus friendly bits and my trusty Zonda wheels!

You will be posting a PIC, right?

You will be posting a PIC, right?

You know that sister or friend or brother that has a new child and everytime he sees you he shows you the "new" picture that is only 3 days newer than the last friggin time you had to sit through the photo show? Well I am that guy with my dogs and new bikes! ;)

You know that sister or friend or brother that has a new child and everytime he sees you he shows you the "new" picture that is only 3 days newer than the last friggin time you had to sit through the photo show? Well I am that guy with my dogs and new bikes! ;)

I'm sure I speak for all us crankheads when I say we can totally relate! That's one of the great things about bikes, we get to be kids on Christmas morning all over again! ;)

You know that sister or friend or brother that has a new child and everytime he sees you he shows you the "new" picture that is only 3 days newer than the last friggin time you had to sit through the photo show? Well I am that guy with my dogs and new bikes! ;)

There a few things in life more exciting than getting a new bike delivered...

Okay..maybe kids being born or getting married might be more exciting but getting a new bike ranks right up at the top ;)

The greatest invention of the last 25 years in my humble estimation is package tracking that returns the answer "out on truck for delivery."

Post some pix, can't wait to see it. Carl's an artisan, I love my steel Strong.

There a few things in life more exciting than getting a new bike delivered...

Okay..maybe kids being born or getting married might be more exciting but getting a new bike ranks right up at the top ;)
Although I still have a frame that I have not finished building yet... I'm having withdrawl symptoms already.... having 10 bikes already doesn't make it any easier either... but then there is terry b ;)

Okay so it will be exactly 15 weeks since I ordered my first custom frame and today is the day I finally get to see it!

A Carl Strong foco/spirit steel steed in midnight blue. Added the gold plated head badge (that is the point my wife freaked out..."How much was that?...It was how much!?")

Going to dress it with a Chris King headset, Phil Wood BB, Chorus friendly bits and my trusty Zonda wheels!

Cool. So how much was the head badge?

Let us stop for a moment and pay homage to UPS trucks everywhere.

The greatest invention of the last 25 years in my humble estimation is package tracking that returns the answer "out on truck for delivery."


I remember four months ago when the DHL truck pulled up with my C50 from Europe. I almost fell over going out the front door to meet him!
:D

Cool. So how much was the head badge?


The site lists it at $100

Although I still have a frame that I have not finished building yet... I'm having withdrawl symptoms already.... having 10 bikes already doesn't make it any easier either... but then there is terry b ;)

I have one in the works too - a single speed MTB that has made it as far as having the seatpost inserted and locked in the shop stand.

Part of the problem is it took me a while to come to grips with buying a flip/flop rear wheel and what cog/freewheel to buy. The other problem was the major cracks I discovered in the fork crown (parting out an older bike to build this one) when I was redoing the seals. But the biggest problem is that it's 120F midafternoon out in my bike house and I get tired of my latex gloves filling up with sweat that runs down my arms.

Ah, the problems we have. :D

The good news is though - Brown arrives tomorrow with the wheel and the cogs and it might actually be below 99F outside this weekend. Bike house, here I come (maybe.) ;)

It has arrived...

I have one in the works too - a single speed MTB that has made it as far as having the seatpost inserted and locked in the shop stand.

Part of the problem is it took me a while to come to grips with buying a flip/flop rear wheel and what cog/freewheel to buy. The other problem was the major cracks I discovered in the fork crown (parting out an older bike to build this one) when I was redoing the seals. But the biggest problem is that it's 120F midafternoon out in my bike house and I get tired of my latex gloves filling up with sweat that runs down my arms.

Ah, the problems we have. :D

The good news is though - Brown arrives tomorrow with the wheel and the cogs and it might actually be below 99F outside this weekend. Bike house, here I come (maybe.) ;)
I work on my bikes in my basement which is at least a few degrees cooler than the rest of the house... thus the chill is the problem for me. :D

Actually the frame in the works is my 2nd MXL... I have all the parts laid out: Chorus dbl everything plus Record triple cranks, BB, FD as option... it's just that don't have a whole lot of time right now to spare as well as I am busy ridin when I do have some time...

I also have a $20 flea market special old lugged steel Fuji (Monterey?) to turn into flip/flop single. I'll have to figure out the details as well... so far I've collected a proper size quill stem... I might be able to use the existing cranks as this thing actually rides very smooth although drive train is all gunked up...

I'd be happy to be back in the land of basements. Heck, I'd be happy to have a garage. The climate around here (NM) is so mild that for a long time I had my stand set up on the front porch. Problem there was dirt. And once I crossed the ten bike threshold, storage became a problem. So I had a little (10x16) building built out back. It's a great place to work, but if I don't get out there by 11 and start a cross-breeze with a fan, it literally does hit 120 inside. No amount of Fresca can make working in those conditions fun.

You need to get cranking on that MxL. Mine came up in the rotation this weekend and every time I get on it, I really enjoy the ride. Everything about that bike is perfect. Unless you're a weight-weenie of course. :rolleyes:

2 of them would be more than double the fun!

Let us stop for a moment and pay homage to UPS trucks everywhere.
I hate to tell you this but FedEx has a much better reputation for delivering packages undamaged than does Brown.

Although it isn't on Brown out for delivery, it is at the paint shop and is almost done.
custom steel crosser S3/Foco mix. S-bend stays and tucker orange in paint, Chris King, true Temper alpha Q fork, ksyrium ssc wheels Dura 9speed drivetrain with an FSA SLK carbon crankset and paul neo brakes. I can't wait, I'm going insane. I'm afraid I won't love my other road bikes as much! Please, Please, as a fellow strong customer, post PICS!!

First pics of the new edition...

First pics of the new edition...
Very nice! I like the logo graphics. Keep the pics coming.

Ummm.... I noticed the pants on the chair. I hope you didn't hurt yourself. :D

First pics of the new edition...

Why is his name on the top tube? Your name should be there if anything. Unless your name looks a lot like Carl Strong.

Very nice. Great pic on tube set, I guess the foco is for the stays. What does the frame weigh?

I dont understand why more frames dont have the cable stops on the head tube.

Why is his name on the top tube? Your name should be there if anything. Unless your name looks a lot like Carl Strong.

I am assuming for the same reason that Ernesto's name is on every one of his top tubes...?

I am assuming for the same reason that Ernesto's name is on every one of his top tubes...?

Yes, and Sacha White signed the TT on my Vanilla as did Bill Davidson on my Davidson (makes sense :D )

The color is nice, Carl's using Spectrum again as I understand it, I have two frames done by them and you simply cannot get a nicer finish.

The bike looks great, can't wait to see the finished product.

Are you going with an overall orange scheme to match that HS? Great looking frame, btw.

The greatest invention of the last 25 years in my humble estimation is package tracking that returns the answer "out on truck for delivery."


The worst invention is the tracking system that says "In Transit" for days on end.
My new bike was put on a truck in Houston, TX August 1. Scheduled to arrive in Arlington, VA August 5 - Today! No updates have been posted since August 1. I know. I've been checking every 15 minutes since August 1. It's August 5. It must be in Arlington by now. This is KILLING ME!
At this point, I'd rather be in the dark and just have it show up one day.

The worst invention is the tracking system that says "In Transit" for days on end.
My new bike was put on a truck in Houston, TX August 1. Scheduled to arrive in Arlington, VA August 5 - Today! No updates have been posted since August 1. I know. I've been checking every 15 minutes since August 1. It's August 5. It must be in Arlington by now. This is KILLING ME!
At this point, I'd rather be in the dark and just have it show up one day.

Waiting sucks..."Grimey" ;)

Lampshade...not going for an orange thing...but just wanted some flecks of color to make people think...what was he thinking?

Lampshade...not going for an orange thing...but just wanted some flecks of color to make people think...what was he thinking?


the combination of orange, gold, and blue looks beautiful. i can't wait to see the full build. hurry up already!!!!

the_dude

The worst invention is the tracking system that says "In Transit" for days on end.
My new bike was put on a truck in Houston, TX August 1. Scheduled to arrive in Arlington, VA August 5 - Today! No updates have been posted since August 1. I know. I've been checking every 15 minutes since August 1. It's August 5. It must be in Arlington by now. This is KILLING ME!
At this point, I'd rather be in the dark and just have it show up one day.

Hodgkins, ILL

The place where all UPS packages heading to my house go to wait.

Actually, it's something I find amusing about UPS tracking - clearly they could get it to you faster, but if you paid for ground, you're getting ground. I've seen things sit in ABQ for days waiting to be put on a truck. UPS doesn't seem to care about beating their delivery estimates, they only seem to care about meeting them.

But still, it beats sitting on the front porch for a week waiting and hoping.

Hodgkins, ILL

The place where all UPS packages heading to my house go to wait.

Actually, it's something I find amusing about UPS tracking - clearly they could get it to you faster, but if you paid for ground, you're getting ground. I've seen things sit in ABQ for days waiting to be put on a truck. UPS doesn't seem to care about beating their delivery estimates, they only seem to care about meeting them.

But still, it beats sitting on the front porch for a week waiting and hoping.

I've tracked FedEx shipments, seen that my package was on the truck, seen the truck go by, checked again and found that since I hadn't paid for fast delivery they weren't going to deliver it early even though they were right in front of my house. Other times they will have tried to deliver, no one is home, so they put it back on the truck and leave a note that I can pick it up after 5PM. Of course, the driver doesn't really return until 6:30, so I end up trying to decide whether to go home or wait. I've learned to bring a book. I much prefer UPS, but neither outfit is a joy to deal with.

I dont understand why more frames dont have the cable stops on the head tube.

My understanding is that is has to do with the front brake cable.

I thought I read this from Llewellyn's site but couldn't find it: The cable routing on Shimano brakes interferes with the other cables if the cable stops are on the head tube. Apparently with Campag the problem does not exist.