Mike - I might have missed this somewhere, but are your cross rings available yet?
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Mike - I might have missed this somewhere, but are your cross rings available yet?
Hi Jason,
I'm just starting to get product from the vendor for the first run. These are all pre-sold at this point. We will start working on getting another PO going once the first run is totally done, but I don't know what the timing will be like. I'll keep you guys posted for sure!
Mike
Hi Zach,
Sweet! Thank you! I'm still working on pricing and such, but I'll let you guys know as soon as I have it nailed down. I've been using True Temper for the front triangles and Deda for the stays. That's been working out very well. I'll have more details as I get things dialed in. As with the other bikes, I'd pick tubes based on you and the design of the frame. I won't be chasing weight with the mountain bike frames. I will want them to last. That means a heavier gauge down tube and top tube in most cases. Those long 29er forks put a lot of stress on a frame.
Thanks again!
Mike
Mike,
Thanks again for going WAY out of your way to conduct the basic cyclocross clinic for my daughter's team last night. The feedback was excellent and the girls promise to practice the fundamental routines you demonstrated. The simplicity of the technicques, the careful blend of just enough words followed by hands-on practise was perfect. You're an excellent teacher. To take time out of your busy schedule to help others and expect nothing in return shows your true character and your love for the sport. Thanks for that.
If anyone out there is on the fence about who to buy their next frame from, look no further than Mike Zanconato. He rides bikes, knows what works and what doesn't - and most importantly gives much to the cycling community and asks so little from it.
I can't wait to get my new frame from Mike - The Baller Special
Get in line now while the line is still short-ish and while you're at it .. pickup some of Zanc's jewel-like cross chainrings and the nice FMB tires.
It was my pleasure, Wayne!! Taylor was really picking it up, and Jordan is already crushing it. Sorry I had to bug out in such a hurry. It was great seeing you guys!
Looks like Molly Cameron is using some new rings at crossvegas tonight.
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A question about the Hammer/Nail thread. Would it have been possible to replace the single tube that was dented?
Good question. There are a few things in play here. The fit up with Max is very finicky in both the lugs and BB. A round-tubed frame would have been easier to do a tube replacement on. There's a higher probability of damaging other areas of the frame doing the Max tube replacement. Now, had this been a repair on a used frame, there's not really much to lose if the tube replacement means possibly prolonging the life of the frame. On a new frame, however, I wouldn't replace a tube. For me, an accident like that means starting over. Steve brought up a possible option in the other thread to avoid scrapping the frame if this had been a smooth dent and had these lugs not been in such short supply. But this dent also had a nasty gash in it from the cutter, so filling and smoothing wouldn't have been an option in this case.
Short answer: depends. :-)
Thanks for the reply. I knew tube replacement was done in some repair situations, but there are always more considerations than it seems like at first glance.
My pleasure!
Wow. That solution wasn't easy or expeditious. And it's gotta be costing Zank days of productivity (and income...) But it guarantees that the bike will be up to Zank's usual standards.
Kudos, Mike. That's the kind of integrity that we should all have.
I'm not shy about scrapping a bike if things aren't going well. It makes me ill at the time, but I sleep better at night.
A huge thank you to Rich and the gang at House Industries for the killer font!!
House Industries - Blog - Cast United
Just a design guy opinion, but I think you'd have some great looking decals & head tube decoration using that united sans regular stencil font! A big bold Z on the headtube / seat tube with a small zanc below it like they have the U / united as a header on their webpage. They're a really great company to work with!
The "Cobble monster" is the nickname Zank gave to my new bike. I just received the fedex box in CA and will bring this back home next week to build it up for Paris Roubaix April 1st.
Built with OOS tubing and SaxMax lugs with a Max Fork.
I'm pretty excited!
Damn..... There will be another Zanconato in my future, that's for sure. I haven't ridden mine in a few months and I miss it.
That is one hot bike and I expect to see it in Quinson.
I'm finally moving from Photobucket to Flickr. Noah, thanks for giving me the nudge.
Flickr: Zanconato Custom Cycles' Photostream
Mike, would love to see more of your TIG work!
Mike, I know you're a fan of steel forks, so I was a bit surprised to see an Enve carbon fork on that welded 'cross bike. I'm curious about that choice, ie, was it aesthetics, weight, performance, customer request, other that drove that decision?
TIG = carbon fork
lugged = steel fork
At least that's how I see it :)
Yeah, I think Lionel pretty much summed up my general feeling. But that's not to say I wouldn't do a steel fork on a welded bike. To be honest though, I really like the ride of the Enve forks. And I'm eager to get on one of Dario's new Falz forks.
And I'll be getting up more photos of my TIG work soon!
I like to call it "occupational palate cleansing". It's not that I get bored with brazing. Not even remotely. The satisfaction that comes with getting that material to flow just the way I'd like it to is wonderful. But there are periods of time when I need to step away, even just for a day or two, to renew my senses. This usually comes after a set of difficult bikes, such as the Max bikes or other bikes that require a lot of tedious fit-up work, grinding, shaping, and torch time. There are evenings when I'm working on those bikes that I feel further away from the finish line than when I walked in that morning. When the bike is in the box and off to paint, I feel euphoric and drained at the same time. I don't consider myself an artist by any means, but those are the times I can relate to artist's block. That search for inspiration for the next project is forefront in my mind. I've learned it's often best not to force things and just step away. I've had a couple of instances this past year when forcing things has led to scrap. Pretty, shiny, expensive scrap. It's a lousy situation for everybody involved.
About a year ago, I finally embarked on my journey of learning how to weld. It was something I'd wanted to do for years. There are so many incredible weldors in the cycling business. They lay down some of the sweetest beads in all of the welding world, and those beads hold together some of the sweetest race bikes on the planet. So I feel lucky to be able to pick up a torch myself and spend some time under the hood. It's my therapy. There's just something about it that is calming. It renews my senses. It cleanses my palate and gets me ready for the work ahead. And it really motivates me to keep getting more hood time and start getting more welded bikes out into the wild. After all, as my good pal Matt always reminds me, I'm not a brazer or a weldor; I'm a bike maker.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7274/7...2b26edf8_b.jpg
BB Weld by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr
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BB Weld by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr
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BB Weld by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr
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BB Weld by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr
Wow...that is a game changer right there. I always thought Drew had a good thing going with all of his different fabrication skills, and this is a comparable approach. Beautiful work and a very quick learner.
Are you actually offering TIG frames to customers?
Word on the street is that your pal Matt is as handsome as he is smart.
Will you start tigging Max tubes then?
Thanks for all of the interest, everyone! I'm putting all of the details together and the launch will coincide with the presentation of my new (non-flash thank goodness) website later this spring. But yes, Max and MiniMax tubes are in the cards.
a tribute to to will smith from the last scene of "independence day," by bill pullman --- not bad, not bad at all mike..!
you are a true professional handcrafted builder, that just happens to be a nice guy too..
ronnie
Hi Mike,
This falls somewhere between a comment on FNL 201 and a Smoked Out question: Many of your more recent build pictures (at least that I've seen) have been mountain bikes, specifically 29ers. They haven't made it on to your website yet, are they just a side project / favors for friends? Or is the site just not up to date?
Either way, I'd be interested to hear what has prompted the surge in mtb builds. I'm also curious to know if the bikes have evolved much since you started to make more of them. I seem to remember reading an exchange between yourself and Steve Garro, in which you thanked him for input on some of your earlier builds.
I saw one of your 29ers at a race in Stewart State Park (NY) last Spring and was well impressed; though the bike and I were filthy and flying: All the pictures I've seen suggest that you're building no-nonsense race bikes / fast trail bikes. Right up my alley.
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Thank you for bumping the thread! Generally, I would say that welding has opened up the opportunity for me to build more of the bike I've always wanted to. The mountain bikes reflect that. Yes, I could have fillet brazed more bikes, but I just don't have the patience for it. I love welding. Love it.
The philosophy for the 29ers is "cross bike handling with flat bar and fat tires." Myette said that after his first ride on his. In other words, I want something that handles quickly, demands your attention, and rewards you with saving your butt with a little flick when that unexpected tree/turn/boulder/deer jumps out at you in the singletrack. And yeah, a bike that rails the berms at Stewart. 98 days until Singlespeedapalooza 2013!
We're working on the new site that will have a lot more information. I'll have a couple of options for paint (powder and wet) and dropouts (gear and SS), but there won't be too many other options beyond that. I'll have a pretty narrow focus. But for the rider who likes the same kind of bike as I do, they'll enjoy it.
Thanks for the questions!
Hey Mike,
Good to hear on the site. I guess the existing one is "old" ;-)