Zanconato

[Lionel]

That is one hot bike and I expect to see it in Quinson.

They are no cobbles in Quinson

[zank]

I'm finally moving from Photobucket to Flickr. Noah, thanks for giving me the nudge.

Flickr: Zanconato Custom Cycles' Photostream

[WayneJ]

I'm finally moving from Photobucket to Flickr. Noah, thanks for giving me the nudge.

Flickr: Zanconato Custom Cycles' Photostream

Halleluja, can I get an amen?
(Company server blocks Photobucket, but not Flickr)

[nahtnoj]

Mike, would love to see more of your TIG work!

[ElvisMerckx]

Mike, I know you're a fan of steel forks, so I was a bit surprised to see an Enve carbon fork on that welded 'cross bike. I'm curious about that choice, ie, was it aesthetics, weight, performance, customer request, other that drove that decision?

[Lionel]

TIG = carbon fork
lugged = steel fork

At least that's how I see it :)

[zank]

Mike, I know you're a fan of steel forks, so I was a bit surprised to see an Enve carbon fork on that welded 'cross bike. I'm curious about that choice, ie, was it aesthetics, weight, performance, customer request, other that drove that decision?

Yeah, I think Lionel pretty much summed up my general feeling. But that's not to say I wouldn't do a steel fork on a welded bike. To be honest though, I really like the ride of the Enve forks. And I'm eager to get on one of Dario's new Falz forks.

And I'll be getting up more photos of my TIG work soon!

[zank]

Halleluja, can I get an amen?
(Company server blocks Photobucket, but not Flickr)

I can picture the conversation. Wayne to IT guy...

"No, I said bike porn."

[zank]

I like to call it "occupational palate cleansing". It's not that I get bored with brazing. Not even remotely. The satisfaction that comes with getting that material to flow just the way I'd like it to is wonderful. But there are periods of time when I need to step away, even just for a day or two, to renew my senses. This usually comes after a set of difficult bikes, such as the Max bikes or other bikes that require a lot of tedious fit-up work, grinding, shaping, and torch time. There are evenings when I'm working on those bikes that I feel further away from the finish line than when I walked in that morning. When the bike is in the box and off to paint, I feel euphoric and drained at the same time. I don't consider myself an artist by any means, but those are the times I can relate to artist's block. That search for inspiration for the next project is forefront in my mind. I've learned it's often best not to force things and just step away. I've had a couple of instances this past year when forcing things has led to scrap. Pretty, shiny, expensive scrap. It's a lousy situation for everybody involved.

About a year ago, I finally embarked on my journey of learning how to weld. It was something I'd wanted to do for years. There are so many incredible weldors in the cycling business. They lay down some of the sweetest beads in all of the welding world, and those beads hold together some of the sweetest race bikes on the planet. So I feel lucky to be able to pick up a torch myself and spend some time under the hood. It's my therapy. There's just something about it that is calming. It renews my senses. It cleanses my palate and gets me ready for the work ahead. And it really motivates me to keep getting more hood time and start getting more welded bikes out into the wild. After all, as my good pal Matt always reminds me, I'm not a brazer or a weldor; I'm a bike maker.


BB Weld by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr


BB Weld by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr


BB Weld by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr


BB Weld by Zanconato Custom Cycles, on Flickr

[WayneJ]

I like to call it "occupational palate cleansing". It's not that I get bored with brazing. Not even remotely. The satisfaction that comes with getting that material to flow just the way I'd like it to is wonderful. But there are periods of time when I need to step away, even just for a day or two, to renew my senses. This usually comes after a set of difficult bikes, such as the Max bikes or other bikes that require a lot of tedious fit-up work, grinding, shaping, and torch time. There are evenings when I'm working on those bikes that I feel further away from the finish line than when I walked in that morning. When the bike is in the box and off to paint, I feel euphoric and drained at the same time. I don't consider myself an artist by any means, but those are the times I can relate to artist's block. That search for inspiration for the next project is forefront in my mind. I've learned it's often best not to force things and just step away. I've had a couple of instances this past year when forcing things has led to scrap. Pretty, shiny, expensive scrap. It's a lousy situation for everybody involved.

About a year ago, I finally embarked on my journey of learning how to weld. It was something I'd wanted to do for years. There are so many incredible weldors in the cycling business. They lay down some of the sweetest beads in all of the welding world, and those beads hold together some of the sweetest race bikes on the planet. So I feel lucky to be able to pick up a torch myself and spend some time under the hood. It's my therapy. There's just something about it that is calming. It renews my senses. It cleanses my palate and gets me ready for the work ahead. And it really motivates me to keep getting more hood time and start getting more welded bikes out into the wild. After all, as my good pal Matt always reminds me, I'm not a brazer or a weldor; I'm a bike maker.

Beautiful work, Mike.
Does that thing have "WayneJ" stamped in the BB shell?

[mjbabcock]

Wow...that is a game changer right there. I always thought Drew had a good thing going with all of his different fabrication skills, and this is a comparable approach. Beautiful work and a very quick learner.

[Lionel]

Are you actually offering TIG frames to customers?

[turd ferguson]

Word on the street is that your pal Matt is as handsome as he is smart.

[roseyscot]

Are you actually offering TIG frames to customers?

yes he is. I believe DRZRM has a tig'd mtb on the way this spring.

[j44ke]

Will you start tigging Max tubes then?

[zank]

Thanks for all of the interest, everyone! I'm putting all of the details together and the launch will coincide with the presentation of my new (non-flash thank goodness) website later this spring. But yes, Max and MiniMax tubes are in the cards.

[ron l edmiston]

a tribute to to will smith from the last scene of "independence day," by bill pullman --- not bad, not bad at all mike..!
you are a true professional handcrafted builder, that just happens to be a nice guy too..

ronnie

[al415]

Hi Mike,
This falls somewhere between a comment on FNL 201 and a Smoked Out question: Many of your more recent build pictures (at least that I've seen) have been mountain bikes, specifically 29ers. They haven't made it on to your website yet, are they just a side project / favors for friends? Or is the site just not up to date?

Either way, I'd be interested to hear what has prompted the surge in mtb builds. I'm also curious to know if the bikes have evolved much since you started to make more of them. I seem to remember reading an exchange between yourself and Steve Garro, in which you thanked him for input on some of your earlier builds.

I saw one of your 29ers at a race in Stewart State Park (NY) last Spring and was well impressed; though the bike and I were filthy and flying: All the pictures I've seen suggest that you're building no-nonsense race bikes / fast trail bikes. Right up my alley.

zanc niner.jpg

[zank]

Thank you for bumping the thread! Generally, I would say that welding has opened up the opportunity for me to build more of the bike I've always wanted to. The mountain bikes reflect that. Yes, I could have fillet brazed more bikes, but I just don't have the patience for it. I love welding. Love it.

The philosophy for the 29ers is "cross bike handling with flat bar and fat tires." Myette said that after his first ride on his. In other words, I want something that handles quickly, demands your attention, and rewards you with saving your butt with a little flick when that unexpected tree/turn/boulder/deer jumps out at you in the singletrack. And yeah, a bike that rails the berms at Stewart. 98 days until Singlespeedapalooza 2013!

We're working on the new site that will have a lot more information. I'll have a couple of options for paint (powder and wet) and dropouts (gear and SS), but there won't be too many other options beyond that. I'll have a pretty narrow focus. But for the rider who likes the same kind of bike as I do, they'll enjoy it.

Thanks for the questions!

[Lionel]

Hey Mike,

Good to hear on the site. I guess the existing one is "old" ;-)