Dont really know how to start this thread so here goes. Apologies if i offend. I have seen it being implied that other forum users may be niche whores as they have a bike that is an expensive custom one off or is different from anything else thats about on here. Well i guess i might be one of them as i am fortunate enough to have a Kent Eriksen Titanium hardtail. I sold almost everything bike related that i had (you would be quite surprised how much all the wee bits you have add up to) plus I work long hard hours and spend over half the year in a dangerous environment away from my family and friends so dont really care what some people think as i have earned this bike.
As you dont very often see these bikes out on the trails i was hoping that the other forum users who have bikes like mine would maybe display them in my thread. So can i please see some Indy Fabs, some Moots, Sevens, Eriksens, Steve Potts, DeKerfs, Vicious, Carl Strongs, Crisps etc etc
I'll start it off with a couple of pictures of mine. It has undergone an almost full spec change since these were taken to be honest so doesnt look much like this anymore but i am away from home at the moment and thus cant take any fresh pictures.
thanks in advance 😉
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4088/4845048717_30b66f68e3.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4088/4845048717_30b66f68e3.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stewno1/4845048717/ ]dsc01826_142[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stewno1/ ]stewartmckinven[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4145/4845048927_5404e86001.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4145/4845048927_5404e86001.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stewno1/4845048927/ ]dsc01828_826[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stewno1/ ]stewartmckinven[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4130/4845667188_4baff98139.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4130/4845667188_4baff98139.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stewno1/4845667188/ ]dsc01835_243[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stewno1/ ]stewartmckinven[/url], on Flickr
cough/spacers/cough
My Independent Fabrication:
[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3032/5817192395_6384fbba62.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3032/5817192395_6384fbba62.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/33251520@N07/5817192395/ ]IMG_2430s[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/33251520@N07/ ]eddkh[/url], on Flickr
BB looks a bit odd in the Eriksen, is it press-fit?
Top photo makes it look rather short and upright, but suspect it's the angle.
What we have here so far is a collection of normal looking bikes with a fancy name on, no PRON as you say.
defintely the Roberts and the Vicious qualify, forgot about the custom british lads here as well and the Roberts in all its fillet brazed glory should definitely be included. so are there any Shands, Hammoons and Demons out there
DeKerf is a big yes but as proven already not a strictly Ti party as one of the main reasons for me starting this thread is my lusting after an Indy Fab Steel Deluxe and the desire to see more of them
sorry about the spacers 😳 😳
What we have here so far is a collection of normal looking bikes with a fancy name on, no PRON as you say.
if you say so.
oh Gil that Dekerf is nasty looking! 😯 it's that brace i think and you go and highlight it?!! is it an old photo?
forgot to say my bottom bracket is BB30
I agree with the sentiment, I get that people live their expensive bikes, fair do, but proper bike pron is the uber expensive, rare bikes, ones worth truely salivating over. I have an ibis bowTi (rode it just yesterday) but have never figured how to link pics but I think it fits the category 🙂
Dekerf is basically a Ti version of the very under-rated 853 Implant and that gusset is there for a very good reason...
It's for riding, not looking at 😀
Porn? If there is actually such a thing as 'bike porn'. Sounds a rather odd fetish. So far just pictures of average looking bikes.
go on then...
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6526421481_8e9c9903f8_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6526421481_8e9c9903f8_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/theflatboy/6526421481/ ]Pink is so now, darling[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/theflatboy/ ]theflatboy[/url], on Flickr
mine's the one on the right. 🙂
some plain bikes that are just that.
except the dekerf which looks pony.
I have an Indy fab deluxe hanging on the wall, its a nice frame, but not porn, I prefer my kinesis Xc130.
True bike porn IMO
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by [url= http://www.donhoubicycles.com/ ]Donhou Bicycles[/url]
odd place for a bunch of big holes.
CaptJon - Memberodd place for a bunch of big holes.
My thoughts exactly. Tidy work mind.
Thats very nice, lovely attention to detail painting the inside of the holes too. I think the problem is none of the original posts contain very good pictures and its obvious the bikes are used, both things that detract from the 'pron' quality.
[edit] tho i have to give gil credit as thats a nice photo of the dekerf, just shame its ruined by possibly the most hideous cranks ever to bear the name shimano.
+1 Those Donhou Bikes.
Frame cost ?
Apologies if i offend. I have seen it being implied that other forum users may be niche whores as they have a bike that is an expensive custom one off or is different from anything else thats about on here. Well i guess i might be one of them as i am fortunate enough to have a Kent Eriksen Titanium hardtail. I sold almost everything bike related that i had (you would be quite surprised how much all the wee bits you have add up to) plus I work long hard hours and spend over half the year in a dangerous environment away from my family and friends so dont really care what some people think as i have earned this bike.
Not sure why you think you should need to apologise or justify owning an expensive nice bike. After all you've probably spent less on that than plenty of normal people pee up the wall in depreciation every year in order to own a new Mondeo. I own a bike which cost more than most on this thread - though I'm not going to post, as it's just a high spec but boring carbon full-sus - but I get the point of owning something special.
Not that there is a lot on this thread I'd consider bike pron - definitely the non-pictured Bow-Ti, and maybe hock's (though I'd rather own some of the others).
that gusset is there for a very good reason...
Because they didn't design it properly?
Because they didn't design it properly?
I suspect they were more interested in how it rides, rather than how it looks .... silly them. Everyone knows bikes aren't for riding don't they 🙄
Love that Eriksen OP 🙂
[url= http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6187/6036086327_116cfce196.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6187/6036086327_116cfce196.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheldona/6036086327/ ]IF[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/sheldona/ ]sheldonattwood[/url], on Flickr
IF With Kent Eriksen post 😉
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4061/5129105496_614373e7c8.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4061/5129105496_614373e7c8.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheldona/5129105496/ ]IF[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/sheldona/ ]sheldonattwood[/url], on Flickr
IF with gears
Not sure whether these two are worthy?
[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3114/3088010616_753040f5f6.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3114/3088010616_753040f5f6.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheldona/3088010616/ ]The Spot (HDR)[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/sheldona/ ]sheldonattwood[/url], on Flickr
My Spot Brand
and the wifes one off Singular
[url= http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6217/6208536818_d94de21dc8.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6217/6208536818_d94de21dc8.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheldona/6208536818/ ]Mandi Singular[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/sheldona/ ]sheldonattwood[/url], on Flickr
http://blackmountaincycles.blogspot.com/search/label/What%27s%20in%20the%20stand
Black mountain cycles has more nicheness than a niche thing. Having Steve Potts, Tom Ritchey and Charlie Cunningham on the doorstep can't hurt.
so old your back tyre has rusted 🙂My 1996 DeKerf Team
i wouldnt say ordinary i would say they are understated plus how does a bike having been ridden means its not pron, surely you dont pay all that money to not ride it?
The Donhou is awesome so can we see some more pics please?
and i'm now missing my DeKerf and craving an Indy Fab 😆
Can i join in with my Blacksheep then.
Half made.
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4154/5035045433_7f684b65c7.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4154/5035045433_7f684b65c7.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/5035045433/ ]100_1052[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stu-b/ ]singlespeedstu[/url], on Flickr
Made a bit more.
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4129/5035664086_35d10b2df3.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4129/5035664086_35d10b2df3.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/5035664086/ ]100_1054[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stu-b/ ]singlespeedstu[/url], on Flickr
Finished.
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4113/5040560393_b6e56b6713.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4113/5040560393_b6e56b6713.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/5040560393/ ]100_1059[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stu-b/ ]singlespeedstu[/url], on Flickr
Built up. But soon to get some changes.
[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5098/5527186040_30a0fe41dd.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5098/5527186040_30a0fe41dd.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/5527186040/ ]2011_0314boatsanddaffs0026[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stu-b/ ]singlespeedstu[/url], on Flickr
check that out! thats no huge "Giant" factory in Taiwan full of machines and conveyer belts. Did you see what i did there? 😉 😆
Not overly feeling the expensive one-off thing. Expected more individual looking bikes.
its not so much the looks of a custom its the ride 😀 mine was designed for me so that it feels perfect,not necessarily better looking
Not overly feeling the expensive one-off thing
That's the thing with a custom build. It's what the [b]owner[/b] wants not what [b]someone else[/b] wants. 🙂
ALL of the Indyfabs are doing it for me. None of the others though 🙁
do these count?
[url= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4072/4230234601_9a5ba88627_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4072/4230234601_9a5ba88627_z.jp g"/> ?zz=1[/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/27335592@N04/4230234601/ ]DSC00784[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/27335592@N04/ ]mr_mo12[/url], on Flickr
I like and can appreciate a skinny tubed, beautifully crafted custom/limited run hardtail. Some of them are lovely (some are pretty fugly ie that dekerf).
But while they are very pricey frames they aren't significantly more than say, a carbon full sus. In fact some of those builds would be quite a bit less than a "money no object" build full sus, say a bos suspended mojo slr with carbon wheels etc, which on any real mountain bike trail should have quite a performance advantage.
And when you get right down to it, from a distance of a few feet they are no nicer than a mass produced 853 cro mo frame. In fact many of them have pretty horrible decals and finishing kit. So are they just bike porn by virtue of obscureness and minute detail?
Obviously what floats a persons boat is totally subjective, but these bikes strike me as being akin to a jag e-type replica in a world of ferrari 458s and 911 turbos.
[img][url= http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1436/5140789044_6eeb187630_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1436/5140789044_6eeb187630_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhampshire/5140789044/ ]if ti deluxe lefty 29er[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mhampshire/ ]SoFaKiNg.[/url], on Flickr[/img]
[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2705/4197291439_a6daac754c_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2705/4197291439_a6daac754c_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhampshire/4197291439/ ]phil wood 29er.[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mhampshire/ ]SoFaKiNg.[/url], on Flickr
[img][url= http://farm1.staticflickr.com/81/282231362_375b975ce1_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm1.staticflickr.com/81/282231362_375b975ce1_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhampshire/282231362/ ]IF[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mhampshire/ ]SoFaKiNg.[/url], on Flickr[/img]
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zz=1[/img][/url] [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhampshire/183490742/ ]PIC00033[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mhampshire/ ]SoFaKiNg.[/url], on Flickr[/img]
[img][url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3184/2990952715_8a7f43e80b_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3184/2990952715_8a7f43e80b_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhampshire/2990952715/ ]phil wood[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mhampshire/ ]SoFaKiNg.[/url], on Flickr[/img]
[img][url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3231/2685442768_904ce73284_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3231/2685442768_904ce73284_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhampshire/2685442768/ ] upside down indy fab[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mhampshire/ ]SoFaKiNg.[/url], on Flickr[/img]
[img][url= http://farm1.staticflickr.com/45/183490742_5c222b322d_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm1.staticflickr.com/45/183490742_5c222b322d_z.jp g"/> ?zz=1[/img][/url] [url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhampshire/183490742/ ]PIC00033[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mhampshire/ ]SoFaKiNg.[/url], on Flickr[/img]
All them bikes in that last post are fakes.
Nothing that good tbh, let me get some pics of my Five! 😀
Love Ringo's (what is it?), the Blacksheep and that pink Singular looks spot on, too.
So what's bike pron then? Being delicious? Over the top expensive? Exclusive? Rare? Exotic?
Probably craftsmanship, attention to detail, ingenuity and aestethics play a role.
Unattainability even? And yes, nice pictures help to appreciate it.
And is bike pron what you necessarily want to have in your shed? I don't know, I like the pictures but I don't necessarily want to live with them every day and here's probably a parallel to the real pron. 🙂
What I like though is that some people can still build them and that some people spend their money on it and even ride them. For us all to admire them (the bikes) and to share the enthusiasm for them.
So the picture below is not meant to be bike pron but it's probably the Cindy Crawford of my bike youth:
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Germans Team Ultrastrong (the yellow stuff is solder, it's fillet brazed, blasted and then clear coated)
All them bikes in that last post are fakes.
cheap chinese copies, just like them bikes of yours 🙂









