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Unfortunately I've fallen off it so can't ride at the moment but I'm still dead chuffed with mine. I wrote some more words and there's plenty of pics.
https://paul4stones.wordpress.com/2015/10/16/crash/
Yawn... Oh, is this on again?
You don't have to read any of it boblo; there are thousands of other threads for you to enjoy.
Paul4stones; thanks, that's a great article. Really sorry to read about your injuries, hope you heal up quickly. Your bike is very close to the kind of thing I'm planning. What's the maximum tyre width you can put in there? I know that a lot of carbon forks are quite limited. Where did you have the frame made?
Do you find the bike excels at any particular type of riding, or is it pretty good for most things? On Sunday, I concluded that it will need to be pretty capable off road, but out and out speed isn't a major consideration. Comfort over performance there. The bars look interesting, what are they?
Shedbrewed; interesting to read your comments about Burls re the welds. Aesthetics are important to me, so that's an area I want to be beautiful as well as functional.
Thanks, I'm healing well hopefully!
It's a Pact, designed by Brant, my cousin 🙂
Basically a cyclocross type geometry but with clearance for much fatter tyres. I can put 650bx2.2 or 700x40 in there easily. Because those two sizes have the same circumference I can swap wheels (discs of course) and change how the bike is in terms of tyres. The fatter 650b ones make it much more comfortable off road but handles exactly the same.
It's possible to ride quite technical terrain on it in the same way it is on a 'cross bike but more slowly than on a FS or hard tail. For the majority of off-road stuff I do round here it's perfect. Incidentally, I was riding while my son was sailing. Came round the corner to see all the boats were off the water, ie I was late so pushed on a bit and covered the segment on strava only a few seconds slower than I've ever done it. That on 650b tyres. They're not for road racing but they don't hold you up that much! Anyway, stuff strava, steady and circumspect for me now!
On one Midge bars at the moment - may change. I think it's good at most things and better than a cross bike at many things. Can't wait to get back on it!
It's a Pact, designed by Brant, my cousin
Ha ha ha, brilliant!
Not trying to hide anything 🙂
bartyp has already established to their own satisfaction that brant is incapable of designing a bike frame because he'd never run a steel works so can't understand anything about the material or something.
Yes, I know that but he still seems to like my bike!
[URL= http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/firestarter4075/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_263931647053464_zpskhr5n3d1.jpe g" target="_blank">
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/firestarter4075/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_263931647053464_zpskhr5n3d1.jpe g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
[i] I know that but he still seems to like my bike! [/i]
there's nothing worse than an inconsistent troll 😉
If you're going to take a position at least stick with it.
whose eaten all the biscuits
Nice. So is it a little longer in the top tube than a standard CX bike? Looks like it is, but hard to tell from the pictures. I've worked out I'll need a longer ETT than most off-the-peg designs seem to offer.
For the record; I have nothing against Pact, and I'm sure their customers are very happy. But they don't offer quite the service I want, as I've already stated. There are other considerations, such as aesthetics and small details, which Pact won't be able to give me, hence why I'm choosing a UK builder. I'm more interested in what people have had custom made, and the thoughts and requirements that shape their decision making. If I'm going to invest a not inconsiderable amount of money in a bicycle frame, I'd quite like to try and get it right!
One idea someone suggested to me recently was to have an extended seat tube, which would do away with using a separate seatpost, but I'm not so sure it would work well in Titanium, and may present other long-term issues. But I'm open to suggestions and it's nice to consider options.
I did become a little distracted by the idea of having Anodised graphics, a la Firefly. Expensive, and utterly useless, but hey, why not? 😀
[img] 
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My mate had a frame years back that was ti and glass iirc blasted after being built but the graphics were brushed ti finished it looked nice
[i]I'm more interested in what people have had custom made[/i]
you know paul4stones bike was custom made (like designed and built just for him, not part of a series production run), don't you?
whose eaten all the biscuits
Sorry; I've just finished a whole packet of Maryland choc chip cookies. Very greedy of me I know. 😳
If you're going to take a position at least stick with it.
I'm quite amused with your consistent failure to understand that it's actually MY bike I'm planning to have made, and therefore I'm allowed to make MY own decisions.
bartyp has already established to their own satisfaction that brant is incapable of designing a bike frame because he'd never run a steel works so can't understand anything about the material or something.
For MY bike frame, I'd like to be as involved in the process as possible. Which is why I'm going to go with a builder who can accommodate that. Brant, by his own admission, can't offer the service and product that I want. That's fine. I can chose someone else. How you arrived at the conclusion you did, I really don't know.
Now if you have something positive to input, I'd be interested to read it. If not, would you mind just ignoring this thread from now on? As it serves no-one to descend into petty bickering over nothing.
Thanks.
Now if you have something positive to input, I'd be interested to read it. If not, would you mind just ignoring this thread from now on? As it serves no-one to descend into petty bickering over nothing.
You're new to the internet aren't you?
[i] As it serves no-one to descend into petty bickering over nothing.
You're new to the internet aren't you? [/i]
Oh no he's not!
As wwaswas says my frame was made for me to my measurements. The ETT will be appropriate for that so how it compares to a standard cx bike is neither here nor there.
Aesthetically with hindsight I might have gone for a tapered HT rather than x44 but you know, functionally, it's grand. The welds are lovely and apart from that I'm not sure what else could be achieved aesthetically. Beauty in the eye of the beholder, etc
One idea someone suggested to me recently was to have an extended seat tube, which would do away with using a separate seatpost, but I'm not so sure it would work well in Titanium,
[url= http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=332798 ]Like this?[/url]
Personally I think it looks gash but it's your choice. The Ti anodising is gorgeous though. You can do it yourself fairly easily, I've always meant to try it out on a Ti stem spacer. See work by Leni Freid for ultimate examples.
[url] http://www.titaniumarts.com/anodized.html [/url]
One idea someone suggested to me recently was to have an extended seat tube
Had that someone any experience? From what I've seen it is a bad idea unless you have a very experienced builder, ideally with fatigue tests to back up his opinion.
It is a highly stressed area with a big cantilever bending moment. The point of maximum bending has a big change in stiffness and a stress raiser.
So they sometimes break. Partially extended seat tubes like that English also have a habit of breaking. Partially extended ones with a bracing stub also tend to break unless very careful about the design of the brace and how it is attached.
A standard design seat tube clamp area with small diameter aluminium seat post will be the most reliable and comfortable option (a lot of stiff carbon frames are going back to 27.2 seat posts to increase comfort).
The ETT will be appropriate for that so how it compares to a standard cx bike is neither here nor there
I wondered if you'd specified a longer ETT than what Pact would use for a CX bike. IE, if you're using flat bars (or similar) then you'd have a longer ETT than if using drops. Your bars look somewhere between in terms of reach. If I bought an o-t-p CX frame, I'd need to use a very long stem as they are 'short', which would be unsuitable.
I'm not sure what else could be achieved aesthetically
Well, plenty I'm sure! That looks quite 'plain' and functional. Which is fine, but I'd like something a bit 'different'. Things like little details, braze-ons, dropouts, lugs, tube profiles etc. It might end up looking 'gash' to others, but as you say, beauty, eye, beholder and that.
Personally I think it looks gash
From what I've seen it is a bad idea
I agree with both of you. For the same reasons, pretty much. Plus packing the bike for travel is more difficult with a long seat tube sticking out. But I think it's good to consider all sorts of ideas at this stage. Currently, I'm erring towards what's more 'sensible', but I see nothing wrong with a bit of quirkyness. A custom one-piece bar and stem is an option; a very expensive one though. And I'm not convinced it wouldn't be significantly worse than using standard easily available parts. Fun to think about though.
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[b]Paul:[/b]Basically a cyclocross type geometry
It's not. I may have told you this, but it's not.
[b]Paul:[/b] I can put 650bx2.2 or 700x40 in there easily. Because those two sizes have the same circumference I can swap wheels (discs of course) and change how the bike is in terms of tyres. The fatter 650b ones make it much more comfortable off road but handles exactly the same.
We had to do some buggering around to get all that to fit. Something that fits 700x40 won't always fit 650x2.2 of course.
[b]Paul:[/b][u]Aesthetically with hindsight I might have gone for a tapered HT rather than X44 but you know, functionally, it's grand.
I think aesthetically it's good with X44. Tapered longer head tubes can look a bit gash. And they do only come in a certain number of lengths whereas I can offer X44 in any length.
[b]Bartyp:[/b] I wondered if you'd specified a longer ETT than what Pact would use for a CX bike. IE, if you're using flat bars (or similar) then you'd have a longer ETT than if using drops
He didn't, but naturally yes, that would be the correct thing to do if that's what you wanted clearly. It's one reason why drop bars on mountainbikes doesn't work well.
stop with the
alreadygash
Integrated seat posts are ok for smaller bikes and can look good if executed well. But, there is more stress on the top of the weld between the top tube and seat tube so I don't offer them for bigger/heavier riders.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/titchmarsh/21902928264/
I would build you a frame barty. Maybe something with flat mount discs when I can get hold of a through axle flat mount cross fork next year sometime?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/titchmarsh/22338449639/
Sorry, can't figure out how to do the photos.
www.titchmarshcycles.com
Thanks, Titchmarsh. I've a few other bits and pieces to sort out first (like making space for a new bike by selling others!), and am a massive procrastinator, so I hope to get in touch soon. Thanks for coming on and posting.
This is gorgeous!
This is gorgeous!
No, [i]THIS[/i] is gorgeous...
[img][url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3720/13882750754_293e397c7d_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3720/13882750754_293e397c7d_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/n9LJ8C ]Custom CNC Machined 17/4 Stainless 15mm Maxle Dropouts[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/titchmarsh/ ]Dan Titchmarsh[/url], on Flickr[/img]
[i]A standard design seat tube clamp area with small diameter aluminium seat post will be the most reliable and comfortable option (a lot of stiff carbon frames are going back to 27.2 seat posts to increase comfort).[/i]
Agree, except substitute a carbon seat post for the aluminium one.
Before going to droppers I ran a 27.2 SDG carbon seatpost in my 456Ti, loads of comfort especially when run with a SDG I-Beam flex saddle.
[quote> https://www.flickr.com/photos/titchmarsh/22338449639/
Sorry, can't figure out how to do the photos.
http://www.titchmarshcycles.com
Some lovely stuff on there, beautifully engineered and made 🙂
Cheers, Rich
Thanks for the kind words!
Salesmanship is not my forte barty, just give us a shout if you want to discuss anything. I would think after market flat mount forks will be available early next year so could be worth the wait..
2 things:
Isn't there a touring bike equivalent of STW that this can be moved on to?
Can someone please email a link to it to all the custom builders likely to be in the frame so they go into it with their eyes open. This could be a challenging assignment and best they're all aware of it's potential.
Speeder; feel free to do that yourself, if you feel so strongly about it. 😕
Salesmanship is not my forte barty, just give us a shout if you want to discuss anything.
I'm more interested in someone who knows what they're doing, than simply someone who just talks about it! And thanks, I will do. 🙂
I'll see what I can do 😉
I'm more interested in someone who knows what they're doing, than simply someone who just talks about it!
A bunch of us know what we're doing - the question is, after 7 pages, do you know what you want?
That's also something a good talk with a proper framebuilder can help with, of course 😉
Why not consult with one of the American Ti builders, or even the Russian company (their name has slipped my mind) they will have built hundreds of frames rather than in the UK where you will be paying someone who has built one or two frames out of Ti and therefore your project will be as much of an experiment for them as it is you.
If memory serves the two companies Enigma and Nerve who have made lots of titanium stuff probably are too far removed from your specialist desires.
I have read through some of this thread with interest, I have just bought an off the peg titanium bike which hasn't been mentioned.
Obviously I'm very pleased with it, but it might or might not fit what you are after, worth considering though.
It's the 2016 Charge Plug 5, titanium frame, discs, 1 X 11 drive chain, 42mm tyres for a very comfy ride. Mudguards eyes, rack eyes.
I've been around frame building for 30 years, so it's hardly an experiment. I've also taught some of the 'proper' frame builders to TIG weld. But thanks for your concern.
I'm personally not concerned but it might help your sales pitch if there's more to look at than claims on a forum.
30 years of building, would that make you 45 or 50 ? Or is it one of those borderline credibility things where companies claim "combined 129 years industry experience" or magic a reputation from the two things they made once upon a time.
I'd be really interested to see all those Titanium frames you know perhaps like Moots, Merlin and Firefly clearly have out there. 🙄
This really is the thread that keeps on giving.
I don't have a sales pitch, I just rely on people being able to tell the difference between shit and clay so to speak. Obviously you go off the number of frames you can see instead, which is the wrong metric to judge me by, but a useful one in most cases I give you that. FYI I'm 39 and am the second generation of frame builder in my family. But, comments like yours really make me question whether I should bother working in this industry and instead work for other engineers who respect my efforts. Anyway say what you like I'm out.
Why not consult with one of the American Ti builders, or even the Russian company (their name has slipped my mind) they will have built hundreds of frames rather than in the UK where you will be paying someone who has built one or two frames out of Ti and therefore your project will be as much of an experiment for them as it is you.
If you'd read the thread properly, you'd have seen that I've decided to have a frame made here in the UK, for a number of reasons. As for an 'experiment'; have you bothered to research Titchmarsh's work at all? If you had, you'd have seen that Dan has actually won awards for his stuff! And has clearly got some experience at bicycle frame building, in steel as well as Titanium. Which is why we'll be having a conversation. I'm really not sure why you've chosen to challenge him in such a manner. 😕
A bunch of us know what we're doing - the question is, after 7 pages, do you know what you want?
I had a pretty good idea at the beginning, yes, and despite the best efforts of some individuals, who seem to think they know more than me about what I want and need (and getting a bit arsey because I dared disagree with them), I'm closer to knowing exactly what I want.
@phillxx. We'll that was unnecessarily rude. Have an opinion by all means but try not to behave like a dick when expressing it. Would you talk to a stranger in the street like that? Probably not unless you were fully expecting a poke in the eye as a response.
Silly boy.
Indeed. I've just read an email from Dan, and it is pretty clear he knows his stuff. I asked for people with experience of Titanium frame building to comment on here, and so far, I think he's the only one who does actually do this. So it's fantastic to have such knowledgable input.
Philxx; what experience of Titanium frame building do you have?
Philxx; what experience of Titanium frame building do you have?
I personally have made 0 but then I'm not pitching my services.
I own a few custom frames from companies who have made thousands. And I did that because there were 0 companies in the UK So obviously my experience is having frames made for me,
Judging by 7 pages of your expertise I can honestly say based on actually having dealt with a framebuilder or two that a lot will do well to avoid your custom.
I personally have made 0
Ok.
I can honestly say based on actually having dealt with a framebuilder or two that ,a lot will do well to avoid your custom.
😆
Funny how frame builders are actually emailing me with information, then. Or spending 20 mins or more on the 'phone, happy to discuss things. Fortunately, it seems frame builders themselves are people who are passionate about taking on fresh challenges and exciting projects. You see, I have a pretty good idea of what I want, but not the skills needed to turn those ideas into reality. Hence why I need to employ somebody else to assist me in that. Hence why this thread is very useful to me. And whatever you may think about my 'attitude' or whatever, I am concerned only with having a bike made for me, not for anybody else. That's why it's important for me, to find somebody who is willing to listen to what I want. Of the people I've spoken to so far, most are just that. People capable of listening to a customer's needs. That is the kind of frame builder I want.
I'm curious why some people seem to have an issue with that.