Into the rabbit hole. My first frame.

[Lyle Vallie]

Hi Guys, I'm pretty new around these parts. You may have already met me in real life at NAHBS or something. I live in Vancouver BC, ride everything, and have finally made my first bike frame after doing a lot of random custom bike related design and fabrication.

I recently picked up this:


Which prompted me to develop this top-down model to figure out how to use it:


...which of course led me to make this thing:


So I would have no excuse to not get started on this:








Yes it is a jumble of random tubes, but hopefully I've chopped off enough heat affected zone in making it smaller. The seat stays were the only new tubes. The geometry is like a compact comfort road. 71.5° HT, 75°ST, 51 effective TT and and a big ol 150mm HT length. Its set up for medium calipers and should barely squeak in a cx tire. Its basically made to fit my wife, but I havent decided if I'll let her ride it yet. I was going to try and do some highly accelerated life testing on it first. Maybe the local dirt jumps? I think I took all the precautions in TIG welding it together, and from what I can tell its .034" from straight.. so we'll see how it rides.

Its pretty much ready for powdercoating now, but they're not open till after the holiday weekend. I've got a reasonable build kit ready to go on it as well. I should have some completed pics pretty soon.

I'm already started on #2 as well. Just thought I would share as I'm pretty stoked on how it turned out.

[Too Tall]

Looks like a great start.

[Lyle Vallie]

Looks like a great start.

Thanks!
Here's a shot of the finished bike after powdercoating and a modest build kit:

[Will Outlaw]

Nice! How's she ride?

[XJBaylor]

Thanks!
Here's a shot of the finished bike after powdercoating...

I guess this means the dirt jump went well?

Good looking bike, well done.

[Lyle Vallie]

The bike handles really well. I took it out and put it through its paces sprinting on it, hopping it, a few stair drops, wheelies, and some big stoppies on the front wheel. It feels solid. It rides no hands quite well, and tracks straight. Basically, it feels 'proper' for a steel roadie. I was pretty relieved after testing it out.

Still hammering out the design for #2 before I go cutting any tubes.