Re: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : 44 Bikes "Flow Team" Trail Fugitive Kit
Quote:
Originally Posted by
devlin
why is there a chain guide and not one of the new style dual width tooth chain rings?
No one (to my knowledge) makes a 44t 104BCD 10spd compatible chainring that has the XX1 style chainring tooth profiles. The largest e13 guide ring that I believe they make is either a 40t or 42t. The client really wanted a 44t up front. Thus what we ended up with. Limited choices. Also, I saw it mentioned over on a tumblr account regarding an actual Sram Red Wifli rear derailleur in the wild. We were originally going to go with Sram force all around but when I went to order a Force mid cage rear derailleur, QBP was out of them and Security had some in stock but were not allowed to sell them because apparently something was wrong with that derailleur... So we ended up with that monster out back.
But I truly appreciate your first comment. If that's what my only contribution is to the bigger picture in the long run that is cycling, I'll pass the torch a happy man.
Re: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : 44 Bikes "Flow Team" Trail Fugitive Kit
Quote:
Originally Posted by
dgaddis
When I read you were working on a front rack I was really curious as to how it would turn out, because when I think 44 Bikes I think MTBs made to shred (I know that's your slogan, but even if it wasn't, that's what I think), not rando bikes (which is what I picture when I think of a front rack). But that rack is the business, and the custom bag really knocks the whole package out of the park IMO. Great job.
I was curious how this would turn out too. But like some projects, you don't know until you get started. I had some ideas, but sometimes I work best if I'm solving problems in real time and taking my time working things out on the fly. It kind of helps to have a brain that can take things apart in 3 dimensions, spin them about and assemble them back together again. I never liked how most racks attached at the crown, and I do like some of the other solutions regarding fixing them to the top of the crown. But I wanted to take the bolt out of sheer hence the "keyed" feature:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8129/8...645d2182_b.jpg
The sides have recessed flats to located the .375" tubing legs:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3720/8...9330c719_b.jpg
Then the whole thing gets mounted up:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8540/8...37466cfa_b.jpg
I wanted consistence of visual weight between the braces and the rack hence all these bend joints:
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5337/8...659dbdb8_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8239/8...e66b62ed_b.jpg
I added a bit more space between fender and bed so you can sneak a allen key in there to remove that 4mm screw (all the rack and fender hardware share the same allen key - which was a goal - the Thomson stem shares the same allen too).
But I had to do some serious stepping back and visualizing the build in different configurations before those were implemented so I could balance everything "just so".
I've gathered that the perception out there might be he just makes mountain bikes, but like you said, the motto is "Made to Shred". That applies to bicycles in general. I know I tell myself where I feel most at home is "Anything with knobs that touches dirt". Now that I've built this one, I can't wait to build another like it albeit hopefully in a different color scheme. Would be nice to see something different. It's funny as people see my own bikes (which are all black with the exception of my fat bike) and honestly, the gloss black is just drippingly sexy for a powder and the satin black (technically called "Black Magic") when paired with gloss contrasting decals is a looker. So people see that in person and their mind is made up. But it would be nice to get some different colors in the mix. However, I don't mind that my 'team color' is black as outlined here, last page, last sentence under *NOTE...
Re: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : 44 Bikes "Flow Team" Trail Fugitive Kit
Quote:
Originally Posted by
fortyfour
It kind of helps to have a brain that can take things apart in 3 dimensions, spin them about and assemble them back together again.
Absolutely it helps, and is required for frame building I'd imagine. I can do that (visualize stuff in 3D) as well, but some people definitely can't.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
fortyfour
Now that I've built this one, I can't wait to build another like it albeit hopefully in a different color scheme.
Honda Championship White would be cool...