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Frames
Standard
Frames
Custom Frames
During
the summer of 1971, I wrote to Raleigh Industries in England concerning racing cycle frame manufacture. Mid August,
Mr. G.V. O'Donovan, Executive Director of
Carlton Cycles Ltd. (a Raleigh division at the time) replied
with a two page letter finishing with these remarks: " ---Don't
be afraid to be different. The buffs who buy
custom frames like to have something
individualistic --- give up aftershave and use strong smelling rubbing
oil and always wear a track suit to the office. Take a good Italian
name (your local Cosa Nostra family probably have a
leasing scheme) buy a good selection of lucky
charms (see the small ads in Voodoo Weekly) go to church
regular and watch your horoscope. In all seriousness, custom frame
building is not easy and you
will need luck; I hope you get it."
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Twenty-nine years later and I'm still looking
for that good Italian name, but I've had the good luck to continue
cranking out cycle frames. Steel tubing
conjoined with lugs brazed with a hand held oxy-propane torch is what
I know. And the knowledge that riders like Tim Luther
are enjoying the ride really
sparks my torch! |
| Marchetti ML301/G-500 Frame Brazing Fixture |
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In the "Standard Frames" section of my
web site you will find "Current Inventory"
which is a listing of completed framesets ready for sale. The listings
are usually standard geometry road frames but may include prototypes,
duplicates of custom road or track frames, etc. Orders are not accepted
for the standard geometry road frames as they are manufactured in
batches throughout the year. When you see them listed
in "Current Inventory"
they're in stock!
For those "Buffs" who need something a
little more individualistic, perhaps the
"Custom Road & Track Frame Order" section would suit.
Click on the "Hinault/Genzling Frame Sizing
Method" and delve into the arcane world of body
to bike mapping. After the five frame dimensions Hs, H, I, Q and L
have been determined from your unique set of body
measurements and the body measurement ratios
have been considered, click on the ordering bar. Fill in the web order
form skipping the "Standard Frame Ordering Info". Enter all
the information in the "Custom Frame Order
Info" section plus the billing information
and click on "Submit".
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Photos: A. Newlands
Last Modified: 03/31/01 |
