Spectrum Cycles

[zenxcycle]

OK, the photos show a Ross 508.That frame was built in the Signature shop after I left Ross. Jim Redcay was running the department at that time, but Jeff Duser would likely have been the actual builder. It was the 29th 508 built in '84. That crown is a Takahashi. They were actually pretty nice. We started using them the first year I was at Ross when we developed our fourth model which the 508 replaced. The reason that it looks pretty much like my own work is that production back in the Signature shop just kind of continued after I had left. Actually, the 508 was a really nice frame. Very standard geometry, no surprises, nothing crazy. Enjoy your "new" bike.

Well I do have to voice my disappointment, but that would explain why the bike was so 'inexpensive' :)....

Would you be able to tell me the type of tubing?
Is it still based on your design?
Could you provide a bit more detail on the fork - did Takahashi manufacture the whole fork or just the crown?

Still as I wrote earlier it rides exceptionally nice, a very comfortable design. I was debating what to do with the "ross" since I have 9 ridable bikes in my basement now. It was a simple fixed gear when I picked it up. If it was really a Spectrum I probably would restore it, but now that I know I'll probably just keep it as a fixed gear for commuting and tooling around.

[Tom Kellogg]

Zen:

Your Ross really is the same thing as the Ross Signature frames that I had been making before I left Ross. The tubing is Ishiwata 022, some of the finest tubing made. The forks were made at Ross right along with the frames, only the crown and BB were cast by Takahashi. That lug you pictured is a Henry James lug. The frame design was mine, the same exact design I developed for the first Ross Signature racing frames. Unlike the rest of the Ross bicycles made over the years, the Signature frames were real hand built frames, as good as any made at the time. I was very proud of what we did there. The guy who built that 508 was good enough that I hired him away from Ross and he is still working for me to this day, twenty six years later. You've got a little piece of history. Enjoy it. Take care.

[Blue Jays]

Jeff Duser is the best non-famous framebuilder in the world.
He is an ultra-talented, quiet, gentleman who does SPECTACULAR work.
zenxcycle, you have made a truly lucky find.

[blue boy]

Jeff Duser is the best non-famous framebuilder in the world.
He is an ultra-talented, quiet, gentleman who does SPECTACULAR work.
zenxcycle, you have made a truly lucky find.

That's for sure! Jeff is an awesome framebuilder; That's the amazing thing about Spectrum Cycles,
2 master builders under one roof!

[Tom Kellogg]

Just for a short, fun read, click the link for Patrick Brady's interview of me a while back. He really got the "feel" of us down pretty well.

Peloton

[Tom Kellogg]

It should be up tomorrow morning. We've been working on it for a few months and it should make things easier for all of our customers. Check back tomorrow!

[Tom Kellogg]

We've finally done what we needed to do years ago. We got professional help. No, not THAT.

We got professional help from a web developer who's strengths include technical savvy, but who also concentrates on visual appeal, ease of use and site speed. A breath of fresh air here at Spectrum.

Click on the link, Spectrum Cycles ,take a look. Click around the site. Let us know what works for you and if you have any problems navigating the site.

Be sure to hit the Gallery, pulled in from Flickr, and the Blog, hosted by Tumblr.

[Brian E Hammer]

Very nice update to the site Tom. All the features seemed to work quite well. Enjoyed the enhanced gallery and the shots of you out on the road in particular.
Kind Regards.
Brian Hammer SPECTRUM Custom Steel #: S-921 "A Prized Item Like Non Other"

[inghammer]

Cool to see a picture of myself racing my trusty old Spectrum, but Tom i want to see some pictures of that tandem cyclocross bike you built about four years ago. It was amazing

[roguedog]

hey tom,

about when did you all switch from the press fit bb's to the bb's of today?

[Tom Kellogg]

Rogue:
My best effort at looking into the "way back machine" tells me that it was either very late '91 or very early '92. Actually, Rob Vandermark would likely have a better memory than I do on that score since he was involved in the implementation of Merlin's new (at the time) CNC station which performed most of the machining work on the threaded BBs. Helps?

[roguedog]

hey.. thanks :)

[Too Tall]

Holy Cow,

It's me an Bob Weir on the same page. What a Blast. Thanks T.K. can't say I did anything to deserve it. Spectrum Cycles | Famous Owners

[ThasFACE]

Check it

[MadRocketSci]

Rogue:
My best effort at looking into the "way back machine" tells me that it was either very late '91 or very early '92. Actually, Rob Vandermark would likely have a better memory than I do on that score since he was involved in the implementation of Merlin's new (at the time) CNC station which performed most of the machining work on the threaded BBs. Helps?

So the question that naturally follows is....any plans on going back to press fit, i.e., PF30?

In the same vein, what are your thoughts on tapered forks for a Ti frame? Thanks....

[Tom Kellogg]

About two years ago a client asked us to build him a BB30 cross frame. No problem. Done and done. He loved it. Most folks don't think of us a BB30 builders simply because almost all of the Spectrums out there are standard BB units and we haven't made a big deal over BB30s. As custom builders, we are capable of almost anything. We aren't necessarily willing to do "anything" but if it makes sense, we usually will entertain an unusual request. BB30s are not that unusual.

For practical purposes, tapered forks for titanium frames require an OS head tube, not a tapered one. Tapering a composite frame tool at the head tube is no more difficult than not tapering the tool, so tapered composite head tubes are very common. Tapering a titanium head tube adds huge costs to the production of a frame. So of course the trick is to use an OS head tube and one of the King or Cane Creek headset/inset combinations. Honestly, I don't like the way an OS head tube looks, but for those few folks who can actually get something out of an OS fork, it can make sense. Helps?

[Tom Kellogg]

In an effort to keep folks up to date on the goings on here at Spectrum, I am adding this link to our blog. If you follow it, the post I am referring you to is the one dated 10/05/11.
Spectrum Cycles | Blog

[roguedog]

Hey Tom, sounds like it was a stressful few weeks. Glad the big stuff has been ruled out. Hang in there.

[drbdr]

Tom,

Anxious moments indeed. Glad to hear that you're okay. Still, I can imagine the disappointment that comes with discovering a chink in the armor after so many years of competitive cycling. I know you'll keep it all in perspective.

Stay smart. Stay awesome.

Ben

[Too Tall]

No kidding Tom quit trying to get sympathy. You are immortal and there is no way you are squirming out of camp next yr. wink wink. All fooling aside, this hits a little too close to home and I know you are ok so the ribbing you get from me and others only underscores what a huge stud you are and not to mention an pal.

NOW onto important stuff!!!

It's my take that Tom uses his personal bikes often as rolling test platforms to prove design. His radically sloping Ti road bike that came before production of the very successful Ti slopers is just one example. Now the new CX bike enters the scene and I for one am very keen to see the result.

Hey T.K. where you going with that r.brake yo?

Below are some words from T.K.s blog wrt the new CX design:

Steel Cross Frame - a set on Flickr

We are incorporating a few features into this frame which are pretty rare. In an effort to create a "clean" cross frame, the derailleurs and rear brake cables are run internally in the top tube. I considered (briefly) running the rear cable housing inside the seat stay as well, but bagged the idea when I realized that it would look worse that way than running it under the seat stay.

What you might pick up on is that all the cables run fully enclosed and protected right from the control levers to their practical terminus. No exposed cables to pick up mud and grit. No cables on the top tube or down tube to get in the way. All internal runs are stainless and completely sealed. Yup, a PITA, but if we're going to build your cross frame, we want to make it as easy to live with as we can