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Author Archives: Michael Slater
First impressions
Bottom bracket height is 1-1.5cm low. It particularly stood out today because I was wearing soft shoes and standing on MTB cleats. Should be less annoying if I’m in proper clipped shoes. Should be 10.5″ (26.7cm) without rider (the fat … Continue reading
Chainstay Dissatisfaction
I followed the typical sequence on my latest frame: built the front triangle, filet-brazed it together, and then added the chainstays. Of course the chainstays don’t fit cleanly against the bottom bracket. The filets of the ST/BB junction get in … Continue reading
Posted in Melakaveli
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Earlier, at the workshop
I used my homemade arbor to chop the chainstays for my Melakaveli track frame. /p> I’m not happy with my system for brazing-on the chainstays. I don’t like to miter them around the pre-existing ST/BB fillet. It’s gross. I may … Continue reading
Posted in Melakaveli
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View from the cockpit
This is the maiden ride of my Summer Corvette randonneur. I built the frame last July with at Dave Bohm’s place. I got a pile of bike build equipment from Rivendell a few weeks ago. I set it up with … Continue reading
Air-Conditioning
Messing around with the old Mafac cantilever brakes in the Geminiani today. Was hot as hell until nature turned on the best air-conditioning available: Sumatran downpour.
Posted in Uncategorized
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eBay Weekend
Two auctions this weekend. Two possible projects. Only won one. I bought an old Shimano ‘Crane’ rear dérailleur. The Jockey wheels are replaced with red ‘bullseye’ wheels. These are famous from the eighties for having the first cartridge bearings. The … Continue reading
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Thread Success
Did all the steps 15% better: sharper tool, better aligned and centered too. Importantly ( I think ) pulled the thread tool off the work piece with the cross feed during reverses. Made massive cumulative difference.
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Cantilever Brakes
The brakes were weak. But not because they’re bad brakes (Mafac cantilevers), they were just terribly adjusted. Almost lacquered with ancient grease and crud. Many doses of Ling’s jewelry cleaner fixed them nicely though. I need to: 1) … Continue reading
Cotter Press
My cotter crank and fresh 9.0mm cotter pins arrived from Bikesmith Designs yesterday. I repacked the bottom bracket bearings and put the cranks back on. They’re held on my heavy 9.0mm cotter pins which have an angled flat that presses … Continue reading
Posted in Raphael Geminiani Randonneur
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Detour for an arbor
On Saturday I finished prepping my chainstay mitering fixture. During the dry-run, I discovered a major problem. The quill of the mill cannot plunge through the mitering fixture. I need a long arbor that I can grip in the collet … Continue reading
Posted in Shanghai Ning Jiang HG28 Lathe, Sputnik Chainstay Mitering Jig
Tagged threading
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Simplex ‘Suicide Shifter’ front derailleur
The derailleur wasn’t working so I tore it apart to bits then rebuilt it. Working ok now. See the flickr set for details.
Raphael Geminiani Rebuild
Bought this Raphael Geminiani 650b randonneur from eBay.fr recently. Why? because it’s got great components — a nivex rear derailleur (4 speed) and a simplex lever-controlled front derailleur. In the photo above I’ve removed the fenders … Continue reading
Ling’s PW
Ling getting used to her new bike on the Kinetic trainer at Elite Custom. This bike was finished in January. I thought. Then I discovered a….. technical issue. Fixed it in February, but then I dithered with delays, … Continue reading
Posted in Bike Projects, Ling's PW
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