20140731

Takhion Alert!

Just popped up on the bay!

Just the frame, bars, BB and crank for sale though.
It's a Super Sport, Columbus SL, 58cm.  Looks to be authentic, and has definitely seen some action!

They're getting more expensive every time they pop up, that's for sure.  I am seeing them a lot less often though. 

Hope it goes to a good home!

20140728

Takhion Bar Plugs: The Second Prototypes

It's only taken me a year...

Original orphan bar plug on the left, and the reproduction on the right.  
I just got the latest prototype tonight and snapped some photos before it got too dark.  Unfortunately I wasn't quite fast enough and didn't get one of the plug actually in the handlebars - but it does fit!  Perfectly!

There are a few small changes that need to be made, some of which are visible in the photos.  I instanced the original Takhion logo from the headset cap model, which needs to be adjusted a bit.  The diameter of the top can be increased and deepened by a millimeter, and I need to re-check the proportions of the circles surrounding the logo.  Small changes, but they'll make all the difference and can be done quickly.  The next iteration should be the last!

For those of you wondering about plugs that support cables: once these pass inspection I'll modify the model to allow for brake cables.  

It's really hard to get a good focus on these tiny details.
If all goes well, these will be for sale sometime in August!

20140720

Brazin'

After obtaining a loaner regulator while mine gets sent back to Craftsman for repair, I was able to do some external brazing.

I'm still fighting with temperature control a bit, but I feel like each time I pick up the torch I get a little better.  

Head tube fillet!
These dropouts were so thick it was difficult to heat them without overheating the chain and seat stays.  
Figuring out how to miter these by hand was interesting.
Bottom bracket, and a nice view of the fancy bent chainstays!
Suddenly, a bicycle.
Having the loaner regulator seemed to make a huge difference - I think my oxygen regulator wasn't really doing a great job of, well, regulating.  Hopefully when I get it back it will work just as nicely as this one.  

Once I clean up the flux, I'll double back and fix any holes or weird areas on the fillets.  Then it's time for braze ons!  

20140713

Coming Soon To Pursuit Bars Near You

I went to do some final brazing this weekend and discovered that my oxygen regulator had decided "nah."  Since Amazon doesn't consider oxygen regulators worthy of same day delivery service quite yet (apparently that's reserved for "essentials," like "food") I figured I'd tackle another project that's been getting finished way too slowly over these past few weeks.

Disregard the funky artifacting.
This is undergoing a test print at the moment, and after any additional edits I'll make the modifications for cable routing.  Hopefully I can have these for you guys by the end of summer! 

20140708

Loose Goose

Brad Marshall, a pretty incredible industrial industrial designer and overall cool guy, created this masterpiece recently.

Photo via Cycle Exif
The whole write up and a few more stellar photos can be found here, and if you're anywhere near Brisbane you'll be able to see this bike in person at Pushies Galore this coming weekend.  Aside from the design being modeled after other similar style pursuit frames, this bike is made even more special by the fact that many of the parts were 3D printed!

I remember those bars!  Photo via Cycle Exif.
Seeing this bike finished is extra cool, as I found out that Brad was up to something when he inquired about these bars.  I got to see a sneak peak of some of what he was working on, but when this popped up today I was blown away.  I'd love to see this in action at a velodrome...and even though it looks quite too large for me, I'd love to ride it! 

Brad, if you're reading this, I sure hope you have more bike related projects in mind for the future :D!!
Template developed by Confluent Forms LLC; more resources at BlogXpertise