The F Word: Frame Building Fact and Forum Folklore

Highly skilled metal working, though frame building in particular has always fascinated me. Most cyclists will share an interest in bespoke products at some level and once upon a time, towns and cities could take their pick of craftspeople.

Sadly, these days every online community has its resident “experts” some of whom couldn’t manage joined up writing, let alone differentiate lap weld from lap dance.

One commentator recently asserted Reynolds 531 is a low grade Cro-moly. Arguably superseded in sporting terms by 725, 921 et al, it still offers excellent ride characteristics and suits a wealth of applications from Audax to heavily laden touring.

Indeed, many framesets are truly a ’la carte-blended from different tube sets to deliver just the right characteristics. There are no short cuts. Any fool can blast metal together with heat understanding their relationship and translating this into competently engineered, fit-for-purpose structure requires considerable time and practice.

Contrary to popular forum folklore, the main reason for 531’s obsolescence boils down to manufacturing techniques, technology and consumer expectation. Giant’s ground breaking TCR semi/compact geometry concept divided opinion but meant production bikes fitted much better, especially those of us with a more feminine dimensions i.e. proportionally longer legs and shorter torsos.

Hence, fillet brazing became standard practice amongst custom builders, while mass production has favoured TIG for the past twenty five years. Since 531 cannot withstand fusion welding, the mixture was tweaked and 525/520 conceived.

These “lowlier” tubesets along with in-house blends of 4130 still enjoy a responsive, engaging ride quality but at a very affordable price-arguably perfect for starter race mounts, or indeed winter/training.         

“Ghost building”; batch producing framesets to shop specifications and under their name has been a popular staple for many sole traders. However, even this has been dwindling recently. Increasingly custom builders are designing and fitting frames here before commissioning fabrication to Taiwan.

Material choice is also far greater than ever before. Steel has seen meteoric revival, having fallen from favour during the 1990s but now competes alongside various grades of aluminium, carbon/composites and of course, titanium. These also require a very different skillset, not to mention tooling.

Therefore remaining competitive alongside volume producers, especially those in the Far East is almost prohibitive without outsourcing somewhere along the line.

Fifteen years back, having completed another professional qualification and feeling distinctly disillusioned within day jobs; I decided it was time to seek professional training in welding practice. Armed with some elementary, plain gauge 4130 tubing, I spent many hours under the close scrutiny of a giant scots’ toolmaker called George and Terry; a chirpy, straight talking coachbuilder.

Ultimately, while said Cro-moly boasted livelier characteristics, high-tensile steels such as Peugeot cycles’ HLE or electricians’ conjugate were of comparable weight, cost pennies and proved much easier to fusion weld.

Undesirable for frames perhaps but I was seeking to build a series of low-slung, single wheeled touring trailers with a view to small scale production. Prices cannot be levied upon creativity and skills development but attempting this as a commercial venture would be a fools’ mission given the prices of superior, mass produced imports.  

Spleen vented and KA’s fresh MOT certificate within my sweaty little palm, I’m headed up to see Peter Gabrielle at Birmingham’s LG arena…

Get some nuts, temp work and install a new bottom bracket while you’re at it!

You at the back, stop guffawing! I’m referring to the track variety and more specifically these electroplated beauties from the good folk at Edinburgh Bicycle. These are designed so their sadly defunct Cargo trailer can couple with fixed, or indeed other steeds using solid axles. Might need to revise that eighty-one inch gear though…Time will tell. Falling leaves also signalled the boxing up and return of their Audax bike-its been a very welcome, albeit temporary addition to the fleet and I’ll confess to shedding a farewell tear as I drew the gaffer tape taught around the box. However, akin to ET, it didn’t belong in my world/workshop indefinitely.

Experience suggests there’s a fine line between complimentary, dare I say comforting clutter and that countering creative flow. A healthy sense of organised chaos permeates my workspace and on a day-to day basis, this works just fine. However, a post features/testing binge calls for cathartic cleansing of papers and where appropriate, repatriation of equipment. In common with most teenagers, I had dreams of professional recognition as a successful author-name in lights stuff. Fundamentally nothing has changed and these remain a central focus or paraphrasing Tom Simpson, “Something to aim at”.

Both book projects continue with a gentle, lapping tide of progression. However, a sense of pragmatism dictates that freelancers adopt other flexible income streams. While something of a frustration, it is impossible to remain relentlessly creative, nay productive on a 24/7 basis

Many, myself included have a notion that if we’re not locked away in our studios or  ivory towers; then by definition we are not working. Creative forums can serve as useful  springboards but all too often descend into habitual and moreover dis empowering grumble fests sapping morale and moreover ingenuity. Thankfully a temp opportunity arose which helps with short- term liquidity while allowing investment in other areas.

Speaking of which, I’ve discovered Green Oil can supply their chain degreaser in workshop quantities (forms the basis of their miraculous citrus based bike wash when diluted) so I’ll be investing in some. They’ve also sent some second generation “White” clean lube. Devoid of petrochemicals, the original was good (at least while it lasted-we were averaging a mere forty road miles per application) so it’ll be interesting to see how the new formula compares.  

Dressed in black patent leather, I feel so much better…as the weather starts becoming more inclement and nightfall descends around 19.30, I’ve resurrected these Bontrager twin bolt commu-tour types. Low “ deft lick of the Jey cloth” maintenance, grippy soles and neutral colours compliment both ends of the wardrobe, although their footbeds were firmly in wallpaper stripping territory given a few season’s service! A fresh set of cleats completes the makeover and the design is just narrow enough to accommodate traditional overshoes should things turn decidedly damp…Shame they’re no longer current-although online retailers seem to have healthy stocks at generous discounts…

A penny shy of £70 this rather fetching Dhb EQ 2.5 jacket continues my black theme. It’s an affordable weatherproof model with a sportier than average, tailored cut that still entertains the time honoured base layer and race jersey combo. Red/black or grey/green are the similarly subtle alternatives, which may not be to everyone’s taste in murky weather and a few moonlit miles saw me don a Sam Browne belt or reflective tabard for enhanced road presence. On the flip side, the darker colours and Teflon coating slows the advance of grimy patinas in between low temperature machine washes.

Moisture management is pretty much on par with competitor models, keeping pace with my own at steady cadences and to around 20mph. Upping the tempo closer to chain gang speeds sees it struggle, especially when the mercury creeps into double figures but its available in gender specific cuts and seems ideally suited to winter proper (November-March).

 Much is made of China's status as an economic powerhouse and its implications for the West. Schools in particular have been quick to leap on a dogmatic bandwagon of teaching Mandarin. However, thanks to an ageing population and one child policy, the numbers of economically active adults fuelling its corporate engine will be greatly reduced with crippling implications.

Arguably next in line are India and Brazil, so Punjabi or Portuguese might be more prudent. Some within the cycle industry are suggesting the rising costs of imports from the Far East may be fuelling a slow but steady return to large- scale domestic production of lightweight frames…

Right, I’ll leave you all to ponder this while I whip out my big 13-½ inch (33.5cm) Lezyne CNC rod and replace the Univega’s cartridge bottom bracket.