Winter Bicycles

[Eric Estlund]

Thanks Wade- it was fun getting face time with so many on-line people!

[Eric Estlund]

I realized I haven't posted in the blog for a couple of weeks- here is a bit of a mega update.

Bikes, bikes, bikes

[hobbit]

Eric,
In one of the videos on Road Bike Review you talked a bit about a track bike you built as an experiment with undersized tubes and a different seat stay arrangement. It looked like a really cool bike and I like the concept of scaling the bike down so you could get a better idea of what a larger rider feels. Have the things you learned influenced your designs, especially for larger riders? Are there any other experients in design you've done and don't mind talking about? Thanks and congrats on the new place!
Sven

[Eric Estlund]

Hi Sven-

Thanks for taking a look at that video. I believe that was from the San Diego show in 2009. That video and a few others can be found here.

That bike was quite a bit of fun for me- I rode it pretty regularly until the parts were cannibalized for another project. It looks like it may be headed for a permanent home in Portland. That bike really just helped confirm most of what I "knew" about the influence of tube diameter on stiffness, but helped add to my vocabulary on "feel". "Feel" seems to be the biggest variable, and it's one of the things I take pride in helping translate for clients. To answer your question about larger riders- this bike, as well as counterparts in standard, partially over sized, over sized, OOS and fricken mega oos all give me "soft" terms to work through a persons current experience and help guide me in a direction that meets their wants and needs for bike feel.

While I haven't repeated that bike, the concepts I was playing with (specific tube diameters, bb height, relative chain stay to seat stay stiffness, laminate work, seat masts etc) are all things that I feel I have a better understanding of having built myself a series of very different set ups. On an aesthetic level that bike helped kick me over the edge with the my "standard" laminate treatment. Each one is different and specific to the bike and the "flavor" the client is looking for, but it's safe to say that there is a theme with the look.

My experimenting, or at least new-process learning, happens on bikes that stay in house. New materials, fillers, rack designs, etc happen with bikes I can track over time. The racks are great example of this- I built my wife one of my feather racks and then let her abuse it daily for a couple of years. Feeling confident about how that product would survive in the real world I decided to offer them. I'm building myself another test rig to play with some new material, experiment with filler options and to get a realistic full picture of the working procedure and costs before deciding if that is something I'll offer in the future (so far, so good).

In general I try to design bikes that are "lifetime", or at least long term bikes, so I don't experiment on customer bikes. As is the nature of what I do- each one is unique, and sometimes I need to approach situations in new ways, but it is done with a methodology and "tools" that are practiced and proven.

Thanks, Sven- let me know if I can expand on any of those.

[hobbit]

Thanks for the response Eric. I always enjoy looking at what builders make for themselves to ride and test ideas. Keep up the great work.
Sven

[Eric Estlund]

Two boxes to Japan, one to Iowa:


It's very rewarding, humbling, and always a little amazing at how far word travels about what one guy in a little frame shop is up to. Thanks!

[e-RICHIE]

Two boxes to Japan, one to Iowa:

It's very rewarding, humbling, and always a little amazing at how far word travels about what one guy in a little frame shop is up to. Thanks!

that's rawesome eric atmo.
how do you handle oversea invoices?
bank wire? cash? other??

[Eric Estlund]

So far most have chosen Paypal. I also offer bank transfer.

[Eric Estlund]

The truck is loaded and I hit the road tomorrow- see you all in San Diego!

[Chauncey Matthews]

See ya there!

[Eric Estlund]

I have been slowly leaking process shots of a stainless commuter I have been working on. While technically still "in process" I decided to assemble it and bring it with me the the San Diego show.

Here is a quick glamor shot- more info and a full description can be found here:



This bike fits in with a lot of my city bikes- nimble handling with a slightly more relaxed position for in-traffic visibility and general town riding. As is my personal taste, this one is on the sportier end.

[Eric Estlund]

Thanks, Chauncey! It was fun to finally meet up and hang out a bit- sorry it wasn't more!

[Eric Estlund]

I received a fun email last night- straight to the point:

"Let me ask you, if there were one type of bike you would really love to build the most, the one type of project where you'd be totally psyched to get the order, what would it be?"

Fun question!

My response:

"Ooo- that's a tough one. I've been really into the fender-ed high performance/ non racing bikes I've been doing a lot of lately.

That said, I've been up at night with a particular track bike idea I'd love to do. Something I'd love to be cut loose with. No hiding, straight up aggression (but in a sweet way).

It really depends, I seem to get lucky and build my dream bike all the time- then the dream changes with the next one."

I work in a pretty interesting position- I get to fill in the blanks on other peoples dream bikes. I get to share in their obsession, and get the release of the finished and see the possibilities when the next dream bike comes up. I can spin it little twists and turns, add details, and generally bring into focus the wispy idea that has been floating in their heads.

So I'll end with the same question I ended that email with: You- what have you been jazzed on?

[Eric Estlund]

A few months ago a local University of Oregon student named Ryan Imondi dropped in for a few visits to shoot some photos and a little audio. He put this slideshow and audio track called "Custom Lifestyle":


Screen shot:


Link:
http://pages.uoregon.edu/rimondi/365.../publishtoweb/

[Eric Estlund]

Bryan took the train up Sunday- after a quick test ride around the neighborhood he loaded up his new Winter and promptly departed for the home stretch back to Eureka, CA. Not a bad shake down ride.



I received word from Terri (Bryan's wife) that "Bryan called yesterday afternoon from Reedsport - it had finally stopped raining, was still windy and he was still very, very happy to be riding and camping out with his new bike."

Thanks, Terri! I'm very much enjoying the coffee- the chocolate went down immediately.

Ride safe, Bryan!

[Eric Estlund]

Bryan made it home!

Terri wrote me: "Bryan rolled into Eureka 15 minutes ago and has hit the shower. He had a sunny last day of the trip :-D...and (made it home early with) easily 45 minutes of daylight, too. It is a beauty of a bike, Eric. The children swept up all around the bike rack so it'd have a sweet spot for it's first night."

I love it- buy it, ride it hard, and put it away happy!

PS- Terri, thanks again for the coffee. Off to brew more!

[Eric Estlund]

We updated the web site- fresh look and better galleries!

[timto]

Looks great Eric! I always liked your logo. Very stylish. Classy.

[Eric Estlund]

Thanks!

Today we moved the blog over to the site as well. Folks already following it should be automatically connected, but having it integrated will hopefully be easier for new folks to keep track of.

[Eric Estlund]

Winter in the press: Bicycle Times

The current issue of Bicycle Times printed quite the spread on NAHBS with 12 builder profiles. I was pleasantly surprised to get an email from a friend mentioning Winter Bicycles received half of page 39- take a peek!

Thanks to BT for coming out and covering the show.