Crisp Titanium

[darren crisp]

Hey Y'all,
I finally got my Continental bike posted. You can have a look here. It was built almost two years ago but never got documented. Any questions welcome..

IL TELAIO NERO E ROSA

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Ciao!
d

[fortyfour]

Hey Darren-

Just wanted to say how much I admire your work from over here across the Atlantic. I spent a few weeks in Italy as a young teen on a class Latin trip one spring and it was one of my most memorable times that I spent anywhere. The history, culture, people, food. My wife and I are planning a trip there in the future sometime and THIS TIME I'll be able to bring a bike... Anyway - thanks for sharing and looking forward to future updates.

My best-

Kris

[darren crisp]

Hi Kris,

Thanks for the shout. Yeah, as a conservative Southern boy, my first trip over here was pretty uneventful from a concious standpoint. Mostly observation. Things were done very different here. The people were different, the food was different, the work was different, the sounds were different. All of it.

I stayed in a shell for the first few months of my academic experience in Italy. Then, as I returned to Texas, something came up from within. Something really big was pushing me back here to discover what that different stuff was all about. Today I stil do battle with it (like poor service, poor government and the like) but at the same time I love it because it makes me concious of what irks me and why. Diving into those thoughts and emotions for me is really what it's all about. Still is after almost 20 years of living here.

I wake up every day in amazement and wonder. Sometimes good, sometimes...well, lets just say "interesting". The bikes are just a means to go deeper into the culture(s) and into myself.

Will try to post more. I'm not very active around the web which is unfortunate as I love to see what others are doing and sharing.

If you're in the hills, come on by...

Best,
darren

[fortyfour]

Hey Darren -

It's that difference that was so appealing and refreshing when I was over there. Culturally / socially, if I recall correctly, things were just moving slower. The pace was relaxed in some fashion and it was refreshing. It was one of those experiences that helps to frame and put into perspective "how" you too want to live. Maybe a relaxed bike packing trip through Italy... That has my attention!

But yes, looking forward to any future builds you share. Always great to see what's happening over there.

-Kris

[darren crisp]

Hey Kris,

Yeah, I'd say things move slower here. Really slow. It's not a bad thing if you're on a cycling tour or dining out. In that context it's a beautiful thing. It becomes a problem when you kid's school has a teachers strike twice a week and it coincides with a train strike as well as a fallen government.

You'd be surprised (or maybe not) at how often that happens. When your working around the world or come from a place where things are generally efficient, it can really alter your attitude and F' with your mind. On a business level, living here requires you to lower your expections of people and services. The problem is that after a while, you realize that this type of attitude is expected in this country and thus progress loses its appeal. People resign themselves to the fact that things are broken and can never be fixed so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Belief alters behavior. This is very different that my outlook and how I was brought up to believe and I will forever continue to struggle to integrate that part of my being into this beautiful place.

I could go on for days...

Enjoy your trip if you make it over..

d

[VertigoCycles]

Hey Kris,

Yeah, I'd say things move slower here. Really slow. It's not a bad thing if you're on a cycling tour or dining out. In that context it's a beautiful thing. It becomes a problem when you kid's school has a teachers strike twice a week and it coincides with a train strike as well as a fallen government.

You'd be surprised (or maybe not) at how often that happens. When your working around the world or come from a place where things are generally efficient, it can really alter your attitude and F' with your mind. On a business level, living here requires you to lower your expections of people and services. The problem is that after a while, you realize that this type of attitude is expected in this country and thus progress loses its appeal. People resign themselves to the fact that things are broken and can never be fixed so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Belief alters behavior. This is very different that my outlook and how I was brought up to believe and I will forever continue to struggle to integrate that part of my being into this beautiful place.

I could go on for days...

Enjoy your trip if you make it over..

d

Interesting. This is generally how I felt when re-entering work in the bike industry after having worked as a contractor to the military.

I always enjoy your work Darren. Much respect.

[darren crisp]

Yeah Sean,

I think if you get to see a little bit of "the other side" you start to appreciate things like care and attention. It really does make a difference and it shows in your work and relationships with clients. There's a gazillion of us making ti frames these days and one simple way to make that experience more positive and memorable is to spend more time with the client. It's unfortunate that most business (cycling or non) have removed that interaction.

I tried to get some tooling from a local (Italian) company. Simple stuff like reamers and facers. After no reply from two emails requests to the home office for info, I called them. They said their rep for Tuscany would call me shortly and I gave them all my info. After a day I ordered from Germany via email. Not only did I get an Italian-speaking call back response by phone immediately, I got the parts sent by express courier the next day. They'll be getting my business and that of a few friends in the future.

After two-and-a-half weeks passed, I got the followup from my local agent from the Italian company.

Not to shit on Italian companies (I am one, right?), but I get this a lot here and I assume it's the same back in The States. We've got an economy in the crapper and we wonder why.

We do need to catch up and drink that beer TOGETHER this time..!

best,
d

[advineas]

Darren,

will you be in Napoli for this year's pranzo natale?

The above is very interesting.

I hope you and your family is doing good.

All the best


Martin

[darren crisp]

Ciao Martin,
I hope so. I have to wait and see because Sorana works and we may be in the US with my family (my grandmother is celebrating her 100th birthday!). It would be nice to come and hang out again with the group. Are you and Elizabeth coming down??


d

[advineas]

Ciao Darren,

yes we will. It would be really nice to see you and your girls ;) there.

Best wishes to your grandmother.

Martin

[darren crisp]

A little update.. busy week ending with some fun. Keeping the torch hot for the next in line:

FUTURE ARCHITECTS OF SOMETHING

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Y'all have a good weekend..

d

[sdg71]

Hello there! Sad to say but yesterday here in Rome they stole my bike (inside the car). No need to say how i'm angry with those bastards. By the way if someone of you see on the internet the bike please write to me
nicola.vezzaro@gmail.com

The bike is assembled with Super11 gruppo, Hyperon Ultra two wheelset (challenge criterium gumwall tyres) enve components, brooks cambium c13 saddle.

Serial number #1712

Thanks

[corko]

Sorry to hear that......scumbags are international.......

Always admired that bike, shame there are not more crisps posted here.

Good luck with recovery/replacement

[Chik]

Hi Darren. Gerry for whom you're building a road frame at the mo is in my neck of the woods this week so we lunched and geeked out on the new build. I told my missus about the conversation and mentioned your name. She revealed that when she was with Chipperfield, you were with Chimetal, and that you worked together on the Dolce & Gabbana project. Small world, huh?

Patricia sends you her regards.

[darren crisp]

Ciao Chikashi,

Wow, small world indeed! What a cool connection—please send my regards to Patricia. What a flashback.

I loved my time working with her and the Chipperfield group. I spent about 2 years in London on various fashion brands on Sloan St and Old and New Bond Sts. Left a few years of my life there. Also did Antony Gormley’s studio in King’s Cross with Chipperfield’s office, too. They also treated me like family and had me to their home for dinner during my project. I just saw another Gormley sculpture in the Uffizzi in Florence while my daughter was visiting over Christmas break from the US.

I enjoyed my trip to the Chipperfield architecture studio more than I did building the shops. They were so great to work with and so professional. Along with Patricia, I worked with Andy and Kevin from their offices. They would take me around London to the best curry places..amazing memories. Unfortunately I lost contact with them when I got into the bike work. I think they took off from Chipperfields to start their own studio (if I recall correctly, they were working on a competition in the day). I'm sure they are super-successful whatever they ended up doing.

The Chimetal days and that Dolce & Gabbana project feel like another lifetime ago, but it’s always great to hear about unexpected links from the past.

Glad to hear you and Gerry got to geek out over his new build—hope he’s as excited about it as I am! If you guys have any questions or thoughts, just let me know.

Thanks for reaching out, and I hope our paths cross sometime soon. Please send my best regards to Patricia!

Best,

(before smart phones...)
SDG_SS_HOP FAB2.JPG
D&G FACADE2.JPG

[Chik]

Ciao Chikashi,

Wow, small world indeed! What a cool connection—please send my regards to Patricia. What a flashback.

I loved my time working with her and the Chipperfield group. I spent about 2 years in London on various fashion brands on Sloan St and Old and New Bond Sts. Left a few years of my life there. Also did Antony Gormley’s studio in King’s Cross with Chipperfield’s office, too. They also treated me like family and had me to their home for dinner during my project. I just saw another Gormley sculpture in the Uffizzi in Florence while my daughter was visiting over Christmas break from the US.

I enjoyed my trip to the Chipperfield architecture studio more than I did building the shops. They were so great to work with and so professional. Along with Patricia, I worked with Andy and Kevin from their offices. They would take me around London to the best curry places..amazing memories. Unfortunately I lost contact with them when I got into the bike work. I think they took off from Chipperfields to start their own studio (if I recall correctly, they were working on a competition in the day). I'm sure they are super-successful whatever they ended up doing.

The Chimetal days and that Dolce & Gabbana project feel like another lifetime ago, but it’s always great to hear about unexpected links from the past.

Glad to hear you and Gerry got to geek out over his new build—hope he’s as excited about it as I am! If you guys have any questions or thoughts, just let me know.

Thanks for reaching out, and I hope our paths cross sometime soon. Please send my best regards to Patricia!

Best,

(before smart phones...)
SDG_SS_HOP FAB2.JPG
D&G FACADE2.JPG

Yeah, a bit of a dredge, this thing!

We didn't know about your involvement in Gormley's studio. Awesome.

Gerry is perhaps a bit more reserved than some, but I can tell he's really excited about the build. I look forward to seeing the finished bike soon!

And yes, we'll give you a shout when we're in your neck of the woods.

[kdawg]

Hadn't seen this post before - but I love this. Will definitely keep Crisp in mind when I next need a bike - they look fantastic and I like the ethos.

I'm reassured by the Italian descriptions too. I visited Florence just over a year ago for the first ever - in fact Italy for the first time ever. I spent the whole time wondering why I'd never been before - it isn't far away, it wasn't expensive and everything was great - some of the best coffees and meals I've ever had and I still think about that sandwich I bought just round the corner from the Uffizi - never mind the art and interesting things we saw. The weather in September was perfect too.

But, I did wonder if I could live there - I loved it but I think I'm wound too tight!

[kdawg]

Hadn't seen this post before - but I love this. Will definitely keep Crisp in mind when I next need a bike - they look fantastic and I like the ethos.

I'm reassured by the Italian descriptions too. I visited Florence just over a year ago for the first ever - in fact Italy for the first time ever. I spent the whole time wondering why I'd never been before - it isn't far away, it wasn't expensive and everything was great - some of the best coffees and meals I've ever had and I still think about that sandwich I bought just round the corner from the Uffizi - never mind the art and interesting things we saw. The weather in September was perfect too.

But, I did wonder if I could live there - I loved it but I think I'm wound too tight!

[Chik]

Hey Darren. I saw the pic of Gerry's personalised top tube. Is the finish Cerakote?

If yes, could you expand on the pros and cons of Cerakote, from a framebuilder's standpoint, when you have a spare moment? Many thanks.