As always Rody, keep it coming....inquiring minds want to know!
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As always Rody, keep it coming....inquiring minds want to know!
The new designs are done and ready for 2012 for jerseys and tees...anyone who is interested can clicky on the links :)
Jersey information (only took me 18 years)...
Groovy Cycleworks 330-988-0537: Groovy Jerseys....finally
Attachment 39114
New Tee's, available at Nahbs first!
Groovy Cycleworks 330-988-0537: New 2012 shirt design all done...
Attachment 39115
see y'all this coming weekend,
rody
Really enjoyed sharing smiles with y'all.
Here's my rambling story of Nahbs this year...
Groovy Cycleworks 330-988-0537: Nahbs 2012 wrap up
cheers,
rody
rody-
the only thing that sucked about nahbs this year was not hav ing you as a neighbor. sorry we didn't get to talk longer. stuff looked great btw.
craig
Craig,
Yes, I missed having you close. There's always Denver...won't you be, could you be, won't you be my neighbor? :)
rody
If you haven't already discussed the tri-coidal polygon crank/bb interface, could you enlighten us on it's origins and specs. Is it licensed from e13 or is it open source? Grassy ass.
Drew,
The original two piece crank design was fabricated by Bill Grove in 1978 when he was the owner of Titron Components, a small company he founded to produce titanium BMX parts. It is this design that has formed the foundation for all other two piece designs we enjoy today. Bill utilised the tri-coidal polygon as the crank arm interface because it offers almost 100% surface contact (with the exception of the pinch bolt cut), yielding an incredibly strong and efficient interface. Contrast that to a spline interface, where approximately only 63% of it's surface area is resisting the torsional energy under load, and you can see the benefit. The polygon was originally used on the Wankel engine, the inspiration for the crank application.
In 1980, Bill went to work as the chief design engineer for Hutch Racing, where he brought the Aerospeed crank and many other parts that revolutionised the industry in the short time he served there.
Bill left Hutch in 1982 and began Grove Innovations, a small production shop where he had his own line of bikes, did proto type work for others, and built for other brands. He continued to make his Hot Rod crank until the mid 90's, when the smaller thru spindle and required internal bearings led to it's own obsolescence, due to premature bearing failure, an expensive repair that left many sets of cranks replaced and forgotten in dusty boxes of spare parts.
When Shimano introduced their external bearings in 2003, I saw that an opportunity existed to correct some of the inherent design flaws in the cranks and bring them back to market for the small builder. I licensed the design from Bill, we redesigned them, went through prototype testing for about three years getting them exactly where I wanted them, and I re-introduced them to the market at the Portland Nahbs. I now make them in 4130 heat treated chromolly and titanium versions.
The boys at E13 utilised the polygon interface on their cranks without seeking permission, claiming it to be an original design. Although not protected by any patent or trademark, a "please" would have been nice.
So there ya have it, a quick and dirty low down on some cycling history.
rody
Thanks Rody! I must say the Hot Rods are truly amazing bits of engineering. Sorry if I offended you by suggesting that you licensed the design from E13, but their (the cranks') solid design features are obvious and it sounds like they recognized that, but where's the respect, eh? I like the pinch bolt vs. their method for keeping the crank on the spindle, BTW.
Fabb'd up a post mount fixture for forks today to insure accuracy and repeatability in the future...
Groovy Cycleworks 330-988-0537: Fork post mount fixture..
Attachment 39693
rody
Howdy Rody. Any idea when the next batch of those lovely cranksets is going to be completed? I'm on the list and just curious. Just got my next project started these will eventually end up on it!
My final sponsored race bike, a nice orange, blue and green with silver pinstripes.
Attachment 39756
More here...
Groovy Cycleworks 330-988-0537: Dirks race frame...
Mr. Danger Pants; The spring run of cranks are sold out, if you are on the new list, the cranks are beginning this month with machining of all the little parts. I'll then weld them up, send them off for heat treating, then for plating, then I'll paint/coat them. Look for delivery around September for the next batch.
Ok Rody, I'm gonna be wanting a set of those cranks before next Feb.
Finished fabrication on this Ti road frame...back inside to suss out the finish.
Attachment 40789
r
been welding for about 6 hours now and need to take a break...my back just can't go as long hunkered down over the table any more.
Lot's has happened since my last update, including our kick off race for the season. We had a great time with kids races, a well attended xc event, and our Single Speed Challenge, featuring amoungst many things, a Chamois Butter and Japanese Hot Sauce Challenge. Here's Kalten showing he's willing to win...
Attachment 41327
Plenty to read here... Groovy Cycleworks 330-988-0537: Opening race a hoot!
Planning a trip out west at the end of the month with some friends, who just happen to be customers as well :) We'll be coming from 4 states and two countries to ride (read; lug my fat arse) around Colorado and Utah.
Before I can go, I have to finish 4 frames and the balance of this months bar order...hmmm, better get back to it.
cheers,
rody
a tight design... small rider, large wheels, short wheelbase, squishy fork, and a desire for curvy tubes.
Attachment 41635
rody
e-Richie,
Heading to the paint booth today, will probably be a week or so before she's all assembled and ready for pics. Seat tube is a 13" c-c...about as small and tight as I am willing to go for a 29er.
rody
Finishing up the welding on this Ti X before it heads to the paint booth for mask and primer today with Keith's 29er...
Attachment 41647
busy busy...
Tell us more about that main tube. It that a huge round tube flattened on the ends, or what?
Eric,
A 2.5" Seamless Ti tube that is swaged down with dies to fit the joint. It slowly kissed with a torch to warm it up prior to shaping to prevent cracking at the peaks of the oval...with springback, you almost have to have the sides touching to get the 1.25" width as the finished size.
r
Hi Rody,
What is the round thing on the seattube to the right of the two bottle mounts of the 13" 29er? Is it for a chainguard ? Thanks.
Sevencyclist,
The round piece located on the seat tube is a direct mount "braze on" for the front derailleur, allowing a clampless derailleur to be placed on the frame, saving the space between the seat tube and the rear tire that is often occupied by that design. This allows the design to achieve greater clearance, more mud shedding room, and shorter stays for large wheels.
Thanks for taking the time to check out the Smoked out area...
cheers,
rody
The bike project as finished...Ti X frame, Ti Unicrown Fork, Ti Luv bar/stem combo, Ti Disco Stick, Hot Rod cranks in two part ceramic, Rohloff, Gates Belt drive, and Magura Marta brakes, all painted in Roy's request of "bright and playfull"...
Attachment 42289Attachment 42290
rody
5 days of riding is too short a lifespan for a bike, but a fall off a 500' vertical cliff is unforgiving.
Attachment 42765
Read the whole story here... Groovy Cycleworks 330-988-0537: An Epic Trip...
Dude, that is pure crazy!
So, so, so lucky it was just the bike that went over the edge. Very funny that you found another bike hanging on the cliffside as well.
Glad no one went down with the bike.
I can't begin to share how fortunate we were to lose only the bike...maybe I'm getting old but I'm certainly happy to keep the rubber on the trail :)
The Titus had it's share of boo boos too; bent fork, trashed front wheel, etc... It is living the rest of it's days in Jeroens mountain bike museum in Holland, displayed as found, with pictures and the story to share with all that visit.
Thanks for checking in guys and gals,
rody
Rody- every time I come to visit this thread I am struck again by awe. You are that good.
The range of bikes and designs is amazing.
So, is that covered under warranty? :blink1:
Keith's vintage station wagon inspired paint job included this airbrushed wood panel...
Attachment 42827
Attachment 42828
Of course, there's more on the blog for your viewing pleasure.
Groovy Cycleworks 330-988-0537: Keith's Woody...inspired paint job!
cheers,
rody
Paint:
Rody, do most customers just let you do your thing in regards to paint design? I'm way down the build list so I have time, but I'm curious if I should set aside my overly cautious mentality where I have to control every detail and just throw caution to the wind and let you work your magic. Just interested in what you encounter most. Keith's paint job is looking good!!
Wilco,
The majority of my customers are drawn to me for one of two reasons; they want something very unique and one off that does not look like other bikes out on the asphalt or trail or they desire some unusual fabrication that may weird out other builders buy I embrace cause I a bit looney :)
During the process of working together, I really try to get to know who my customer is as an individual. When it comes time to discuss a finish, I try to use that knowledge to create a finish that ties together the personality of the customer, the bike, and a little of me.
I'd say 60% have an idea of what they'd like, but allow my interpretation of the final rendering.
The other 40% scare the crap out of me by saying..."just do what you like". Then I'm on the spot, hoping like crazy I've hit the nail on the head for them, creating a finish that is as unique as they are.
I will admit, it is a lot more fun from my perspective in painting within the moment. I hope that shows through.
cheers,
rody
gfra -
Glad to see the X went back together! I've always thought that was a neat design ever since I saw the Grove X and Trimble bikes way back when.
One of the aspects of frame building/fabrication that most folks do not recognize is the solitary time in the shop, void of human interaction for long hours. It is a process that demands focus and concentration, interacting with cold, simple tools devoid of emotion. The only feedback you receive is the sound of the cutters and files moving through metal, palpable vibrations fed back to your hands, and visual affirmation that you are shaping and changing an inanimate material into a tool that will allow another to achieve an emotional state far removed from where you are now.
Being a fairly animated people person, it is a process I sometimes struggle with. One shop task epitomizes the bottom of the enjoyment curve for me...fabricating Luv handle bar centers. It is a day that comes once a month. It is a day that I dread, often putting it off in place of more desirable shop duties, but alas, the unfortunate truth to being a responsible adult is that we often have to do things we don't always enjoy.
So yesterday I put my head down, built my resolve, and forged ahead. 14 lonely hours later, here is the fruits of my labor...
Attachment 43938
32 steel and ti centers line the 52" mill bed for this months orders.
The bending and swaging are fun and move quickly, but once the mitering begins, the day slows to a crawl. The compound miter between the center of the bar and the grip section is a long, nasty cut, requiring patience and multiple passes to complete. Four bars an hour is the completion rate once at the mill, slowly watching and feeding the cutter through a narrow channel in the fixturing.
Knowing that the toil allows me to imagine and then bring to fruition a construct that allows us mere humans to elevate ourselves into an experience otherwise unreachable makes it worth it. There is just something about the wind whistling past your face, the hum of tires on the trail, and reaching speeds our bodies are physically incapable of without a bicycle that transcends the pain of this solitude. I guess it's that thought keeping me company in the shop while working alone. Conversely, each time you ride one of my products, a little of me goes with you too.
Pretty cool.
rody