MikeZ is solid. The dood is just a damn good guy!

[jtferraro]

It's definitely nice having MikeZ back in New England. I purchased a cross bike from him last year but this year decided to have him add water bottle bosses to the seat tube and have it repainted a slightly different color schematic. Yesterday I met Mike at his new shop in Sutton, MA (where turd ferguson lives). Although Mike isn't fully set up there yet, I think his new digs are going to be perfect for him. He's in a picturesque New England old mill, which sits next to a roaring river, and he's on the 1st floor (ideal for rolling bikes in/out). The riding in the area is also really nice (turd hosted a spring ride that I participated in 2 years ago). Mike graciously showed me his new digs - where this machine will go, where that machine will go, where 'A' will take place, where 'B' will take place...and on a table in the corner sat some recently Aquasealed FMB's - good stuff! As many of you know, Mike is an effin' cross fanatic! Further, he's flat out an all around class act! I'm looking forward to submitting/receiving my order for some of his new Vermarc team kit pieces, as I know I'll wear them with pride.

Moving on, my frameset came back SMOKIN' hot (atmo)! Mike agrees and mentioned possibly utilizing this same color schematic elsewhere. :) Mad props to Toby Stanton of Hot Tubes too for his amazing painting skills & attention to detail!

Here's a pic to wet your whistle...more to come.

[jim d]

looks great! post some more shots please............

jim

[yashkatsumi]

I am going to be doing the same thing this month.

I need to add bottle mounts to the race bike since I am not racing anymore and would like to use this amazing bike for more than just a one hour ride.

Looks great!

I will be seeing Zanks smiling face this weekend.

[jtferraro]

Thanks for the kind words guys. A few more pics...

[riceburner]

Very nice sir. I like the color scheme, you must be "expecting."

[musgravecycles]

you guys are killin' poor Mike (and Drew) with those H2O bosses.
:)

[yashkatsumi]

Zank assured me that the holes will be strategically placed to make the bike more laterally stiff and vertically compliant.

[Shinomaster]

Nice write up and paint job. That will be fun to see built up!

[jmoote]

Love the paint. Can you ID the exact blue used (RAL, etc.) for me? It's pretty much what I have in mind for an upcoming repaint of my road bike.

[SteveP]

he put my bottle bosses on the chainstay.
my foot hits the bottle if i put a large bottle in it..

he trying to say anything?

[SpeedyChix]

It's a beauty. Nice color treatment too.

[messyparrot]

Wonderful looking bike!
You already have the gruppo/wheels all picked out?

Can't wait to see it built up.

[twowheels]

super hot!

[Craig Ryan]

Very, very nice! I can't think of anything about it I don't like. It certainly sets the bar pretty high.

[Lionel]

brave choice on the pink panels. it came out nice though.

[mraceebb]

Very nice! Looking forward to seeing it built up and following that a nice dirty muddy shot!

[frenk]

Beautiful!
Newborn on the way?

[jtferraro]

>>I need to add bottle mounts to the race bike...would like to use this amazing bike for more than just a one hour ride.<<
Eggsactly my thoughts, especially for rides like D2R2 (provided it doesn't coincide w/my vacation next year!).

>>Very nice sir. I like the color scheme, you must be "expecting."<<
>>Beautiful!
Newborn on the way?<<
Yes, my wife & I are expecting baby #2 in mid December. We don't know if it's a boy or a girl, but this color schema goes both ways! That said, our 2.5 year old daughter was the inspiration around the bike's original paint, which was very similar, w/the addition of brown.

>>Love the paint. Can you ID the exact blue used (RAL, etc.) for me? It's pretty much what I have in mind for an upcoming repaint of my road bike.<<
I can't, but perhaps MikeyZ will chime-in? I can tell you he refers to it as 'Belgian Blue' or 'HUP blue'.

>>Wonderful looking bike!
You already have the gruppo/wheels all picked out?<<
Yes, the build will be very similar to last year's:
silver Rival, save for '09 carbon shifter/brake levers
silver Paul Neo-retro/Touring cantis
silver Thomson post
custom Arione saddle (white w/pink stripe)
Ritchey WCS classic bar w/painted to match WCS stem, 26.0
Bontrager Race X-Lite tubulars w/FMB (or FMB/Challenge) tyres

>>Very nice! Looking forward to seeing it built up and following that a nice dirty muddy shot!<<
Will do!

Final build pics to come in next day or two...

[jtferraro]

Attached are a few lousy mobile phone pics. Better than nothing (for now), right? Pictured, it's running it's clincher training wheels/tires.

EDIT: replacing lousy mobile phone pics with higher quality pics...

[Shinomaster]

Looks edible.