Framebuilders: Where's your first?

[anon.]

#1, built for an ex, is sitting in a frame box in my workshop waiting to have its poorly attached seat stays replaced after 5+ yrs on the road. It survived a direct hit from a minivan without any fuss, but I'd still like to take the paint off and see how it's holding up.

[Tom Kellogg]

Last I heard #1 was owned by a woman in Emmaus, Pa. built in November, '76. I smashed up #2 in a crit in '78, #3 was bought by Brian Drebber in '77. Don't know where it is now. #4 was owned by a couple of beautiful women over the years. No clue where it is now. #5 is the orange tandem still raced at the velo. #6 was stolen in Phila. years ago. Good enough?

[duanedr]

#1 is still in a box in the garage. No, seriously, the tubes are still in the box from Nova. The HT/TT is filleted together (appears solid and straight) and the ST/BB is filleted (appears similarly solid and straight). Hoping to get the two pieces mated together to form a front triangle soon and then on to the rear.

Really cool to hear the stories and think forward to where my #1 or 2, 3 or 4 will end up.

Beautiful

[Kat]

my first RS is in mexico, and my sixth is in the bay area. the seventh was on ebay last week. and the 177th is on ebay now. it
was originally made as a private label unit built in 1978 or so but repainted as an RS atmo. i know of perhaps two others from
the first batch of twenty.

i think billy round's little brother mikey has my first ever frame from the england era.

Number six makes appearances when the weather is absolutely perfect.

[e-RICHIE]

Hey are you the cat I met in San Jose atmo?

Number six makes appearances when the weather is absolutely perfect.

[Lionel]

Number six makes appearances when the weather is absolutely perfect.

That's about 300 days per year no ?

[Kat]

Hey are you the cat I met in San Jose atmo?

Nope, haven't met you yet. The owner of #6 loves to tell the story of meeting you at NAHBS, though. One of our regulars and an awesome person all around.

[EricKeller]

my first has never been ridden for various reasons. My fourth is a Trek

[blasdelf]

the story of the first rocklobster got posted recently: can't we just get along ?: You want it when ?

[Mark Walberg]

Back in the early 70s, I wanted to build frames. I couldn't afford the tubes then. A friend paid for the tubes, lugs, etc if I gave him the first one. I built myself a jig from scrap metal in Pittsburgh and I taught myself how to braze. I built the frame in the basement of my parent's home. I still recall the thrill of the first ride--it was near midnight in the middle of winter in Pittsburgh. It rode well. My friend rode it for about 35 years. He called one day and said wasn't riding it any more and he sent it to me. I built it up as a fixed gear and I use it for commuting to work. It still rides well. When I look at it now, I see a lot of things I'd do different now. It is still fun to ride it.
-Mark Walberg

[afwalker]

9975103384_4a36aa26c0_m.jpg
On tour in central Kentucky last fall. Rides smooth and straight:)
cheers
andy walker
Walker Bicycle Company | | Walker Bicycle Company
Flickr: afwalker's Photostream
East Kentucky bike tour 2013 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[JuanGrande]

Built my first frame back in 1999 - fillet brazed mtn frame. Rode it for years until I got hooked on 29er wheels (i'm 6'7"). Today it is my town bike/baby hauler. Still get compliments on it which is funny given that it is frame #1. Frame #2 was a mess and has been repurposed for other bikes. Frame #3 is somewhere in NorCal being used by environmentalists. Frames 4-6 went to Burning Man... been repurposed or retired. Frame #7 was a cross frame that I built at UBI and raced for 4 seasons... now my dad rides it. Frame #8 is being ridden by a very good friend in the Sacramento cross racing circuit. Frame #9 did two seasons of single speed cross and is now my commuter... it may get one more season racing cross - just depends if I can get my crap together and build a new frame for this season.

Jonathan Clay

[WadePatton]

I wasn't clear in that original reply, but i'm still riding 1 and 2 and #3 is stuck in the jig waiting for O/A refill, and #4 is in the box. (don't forget to have a real cashflow of some sort before cutting ties with the workforce proper, it's hell getting back in)

[Dancingbear]

#1 is a track bike, circa 1977 or so. Reynolds 531 with the round track fork blades and a zeus crown. Currently hanging from the rafters in my garage, waiting for some love.

[markbeaver]

Frame #1 is still hanging in my frame shop with a decent layer of dust protecting the Imron. Built in the summer of 1990. I built it as an expedition touring bike with 26" wheels. It's set up for Suntour rollercam brakes front and rear. Made of a blend of 501ATB and 531, I used it for three years or so, including a week long tour of Vermont and another of Bar Harbor to Campobello Island and Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick. Replaced it with (several) other bikes as I practiced on myself... I still think I might build it up again sometime, just for fun.

#4 is my winter/fender bike, to this day... A testament to the power of RustCheck, it's actually one of my favourites. Although "only" Columbus CroMor, it's a lovely riding machine, 23 years later.