Can you tell what it is yet? (this is getting old now)

Ok, so this still isn't very exciting as I don't have any wheels built for this contraption... but it does at least now look like a bike.

A degree and a half less angle thanks to another Works Components fandangle

To end this story before I get too bored of it to tell the rest... I decided to retire my Blur 4X after many happy rides. I got it as a "cross country bike that's good for going down hills", but have had to finally concede that whilst it's certainly a lot of fun going down hills, it's just not that much fun for riding up them. The constant wrestling to keep the front on the ground and the fact it didn't really work with any normal hill-climbing gears just couldn't be ignored. Still, it was fun while it lasted.

The new bike was born from Santa Cruz's frame sale and the release of the new mountain-crushing Tallboy LT. I decided that for a lot less money than a Tallboy LT I could just buy the old Tallboy in the sale and goof around with the head-angle to make a close-enough approximation. Then along came various other "unmissable bargains" and here I am with most of a new bike. Now all I need are some big round things to put on the ends.

Oh look, it's a bike with no wheels.

Can you tell what it is yet? (Part 3)

Sunshine has returned to Vancouver... and strangely the UK has been blanketed by snow. It's a funny old world. Paul and I made a cross-border trip yesterday to ride some smooth trails at Galbraith. With the sun shining from the blue sky it certainly felt like springtime. I was also able to take possession of a major part, and some minor parts, of my new bike project. I will be missing some fairly vital components (like wheels) for a week or two yet, but it's exciting to have something bike-shaped coming together.

Today I dismantled the nice new fork I got and tinkered around with the guts inside, which seems to have had the effect I was looking for. I got to use an exciting new (to me) product, which is very slippery indeed. Just right for sliding things. I also attached my rather eclectic collection of old and new parts to the frame without any nasty surprises. Still, there's plenty of time for those...

Like Santa Claus, but will less reindeer.

Can you tell what it is yet? (Part 2)

Oh yes, wait a minute Mr Postman. Today I moved slightly closer to having things to build a bike with. I also suffered the consequences of late-night internet ordering as I managed to only order one tire (or indeed tyre). Thankfully I had inadvertently pre-solved my mistake by finding a used one in OCB the other night. Hurrah. My (currently non-existent) wheels will be fully furnished with knobbies (or indeed Nobbys).

Nobby by name...

Can you tell what it is yet? (Part 1)

I have returned to the fold of the desk-based employee. Overall this is a good thing. For a start, I can now go on after work rides... hurrah! For anyone about to point out the flaw in this logic - just don't. Ok.

Another clear benefit of gainful employment is getting paid. This not only means I can afford to pay our bills, but I once again have "disposable income". Morally I think this is probably a bad thing... but what can you do. I ease my dilemma by using my disposable income to buy things made by people who I think make things that are good. If these things are on sale, even better. Obviously most of these things are bikes or bike-related, because we're talking about me here.

So a new bike project begins. Inspired by Paul's newest bike and by having a go on a bike that I didn't really like all that much in Squamish the other weekend, I have concocted a plan for an interesting new contraption. I feel like I really ought to be welding any future bikes of mine together myself, so I have chosen something that I wouldn't have a hope in heck of ever making successfully. It was also made by people who I think do things right, and was on sale. Double-winner. Parts to assemble this thing have started to arrive in the mail. Here's the first one: