Smokin.....

Justin' time.......

2011-06-29T15:59:00.000-07:00

FINALLY finished this frame for Justin.....a very patient man. I know it will be worth the wait with many happy miles. Time to ride!

Shop "art".............

2011-06-03T17:50:00.001-07:00

Been playing with the MIG welder and I figured........good time to practice and play.

BC community garden gate...........

2011-06-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

Breakin' out the MIG welder. Lot's of rings that don't go round.............anymore.

Today I will dominate................

2011-05-27T04:40:00.000-07:00

the 36r' class that is............MSF/CX

Time for some pics................

2011-05-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

Been a while........ Big Frog -65 (9 hours) and PMBAR (13 hours, 3 CP's). Justin's frame in the jig, Scott's frame just hangin, and the Spliff ready for a race (MSF/X).

Bike Post trail.....

2011-04-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

One of the best trails I've EVER been on...........A real gem in the middle of a Tabacco field in the middle of no-where two miles out side of Falkland, NC.

Five Points......

2011-04-25T14:16:00.000-07:00

Someone planted tulips at the top of Ingles Field..........Thank You!

Spring time and I'm ready for Big Frog 65.....

2011-04-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

Five Points BC/NC

WB/BB-drop/SS

2011-04-20T12:02:00.000-07:00

42" WB.....2" BB-drop.....Tight Spot SS

HT/470mm Axle 2 crown.....

2011-04-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

TT /DT

2011-04-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

SS/TT

2011-04-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

Play by play.....

2011-04-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

17.25 CS.....ST 73.....sleeved

Something like this.....

2011-04-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

.....

All done.....

2011-04-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

Brant's Smoke.....

Scot's frame.......

2011-04-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

Geared 29r.....

Step #?

2011-04-19T11:05:00.000-07:00

Starting to mock it on the jig........Justin's 29r

The process.....

2011-04-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

Starting to get "busy"........

Scott's 29'r

2011-04-19T03:18:00.000-07:00

Ready for tacking.....

Smoke Buddha and bikes.........

2011-02-18T13:59:00.000-08:00

Ta-dha!

2011-02-17T03:32:00.000-08:00

Mountain fixie all painted and finished......

Just what I've done lately......

2011-02-16T03:33:00.000-08:00

Just a few things that I've been doing......Trails, Bikes, and RC cars.

Fixin to paint.............

2011-02-12T20:42:00.000-08:00

Bryant's fixie all primed and red-eye............

It starts as a stack............

2011-01-26T12:38:00.000-08:00

Every frame has a story........this one is for Justin, it's gonna be a SS 29r' with a Tight-spot seat stay design, Surly DO, Pacenti slotted disk brake tab, Nova CS and DT (.9/.8/.9 butted), True Temper ST (1.0/.9 single butted at top), True Temper TT, and True Temper HT. It will have a 71.5 ST angle with a 71 HT angle (suspension corrected). The guy it's for did me a "web" favor by setting up my Smokebikes.com website just the way I wanted it......so now it's me turn!

Stayin' alive......

2011-01-22T09:09:00.000-08:00

Seat-stays can be tricky to keep even......using parts from the old HJ jig to align and hold them down makes it right. I don't know if this was the purpose of these parts of the jig but I love the way they work.

Tackin' it up and more.........

2011-01-21T18:37:00.000-08:00

With a few projects going on at the same time, I finally tacked up the mountain fixie project for Bryant....got Scott's 29'r in the jig, and have finally started painting the Have-a-cup project. Nice and busy.....the way I like it!

MORE snow daze......

2011-01-16T17:38:00.001-08:00

Well this weekend was the first effort to get out since the latest snow we had Christmas.......two wheels on snow is sketchy and not easy. Next to follow with this thaw will be lots of slop and mud........joy!

More than just bikes.......

2011-01-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

But mostly bikes........Building a bike for a friend who has helped me many time keeping my bikes rolling and am making some stands for a bunch of coffee machines for a another good friend. It's good to have friends!

Too much snow and out of gas.............

2011-01-11T05:14:00.000-08:00

Ran out of Acetylene this weekend and we are having way too much snow to get out. I have manged to get a little done. The latest mountain fixie project is all mitered and waiting to get tacked. I even have been able to get all the Have-a-cup stands done! If I don't ride soon....I'll have to build myself a fat-boy bike with a motor.

Frame jacking.....

2010-12-20T10:55:00.001-08:00

Playing around with wheel size..........took the 29'r wheel off of Floyd and put a 26'r wheel up front. Time for a spin around the yard.

Fixie weather.....

2010-12-18T10:46:00.000-08:00

Well it's sloppy, cold, and wet round these parts.........the single track is in need of rest so the right option is gravel roads and double track riding with no coasting.....nice to have a rear "brake" that works most all the time in the slush and slop. Just gotta remember to "scorch not".

I'm back..............

2010-12-17T02:29:00.000-08:00

Well it's time alright...........time to bring this "Google" blog back. The WordPress site just didn't work for me. So here's what I've been up to.......in the middle of a fixie project, fabricating stands for a friend's coffee machines, helping another friend put a frame together, with two more bike projects to start in early 2011 (29'r and commuter)........last but not least, I am having a killer website built that will "define" Smokebikes.

Moved to a new "world"................

2010-11-04T03:21:00.001-07:00

I'm building a website and so the blog is moving too! Find the latest Smoke here

http://smokebikes.com/blog/

True mountain fixie........

2010-11-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

Purpose built mountain fixie.......26'r
I had to miter around the top of the CS so the ST would clear, these are some fat CS's from NOVA.

Zombie...............

2010-11-01T04:39:00.001-07:00

I gotta get out more!

Chain stays.......Smoke style

2010-10-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

The start of a new off road fixie........
First: Lay out the CS on the plate and figure out clearance and CS length
Second: Miter the bridge
Third: Braze the bridge in place to hold the CS together
Fourth: Miter the whole unit on the lathe
Fifth: Ready for the jig

Head badge............

2010-10-27T03:13:00.001-07:00

Well, I decided to scrap the aluminum head badge "idea" and stick to the bamboo. It's less durable but leaves room for more creativity when carving it out.

The "Smoke-House"............

2010-10-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

Here's where it happens for me in my small slice of "heaven"......dedicated to all things bike and only bike.

Done............

2010-10-25T11:59:00.000-07:00

Ain't she pretty?

Lady in red.............

2010-10-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

I think this one is a girl...........pretty in red.

"Smokebikes-1020" Almost done............

2010-10-21T10:09:00.000-07:00

Just need to finish sanding, prep, and paint. I call it "1020" cause that's the date it was baptised and born.

Bring it on!

2010-10-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

Going on in my yard ("The Fun Park")http://thefunpark.blogspot.com/ right now...........

Sr. 2010/11 SWANK-65 29'r project........

2010-10-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

Done and in the raw...........time for a soak and finishing before paint.

Staight up 29'r........

2010-10-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

Out of the jig and tacked........high school 29'r porject for SWANK65.

The Tight Spot..............

2010-10-11T17:57:00.001-07:00

I call this design the Tight Spot......been a while since I built a seat stay like this but I like the way they look and work.

Shake and bake............

2010-10-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

This baby is ready for a Pisgah shakedown..........tomorrow we hit Black Mountain and beyond.

29'r for a senior.........

2010-10-07T18:20:00.000-07:00

High school senior that is.........letting a kid work with me for a high school project. Good to see the young have an appreciation for the finer things in life. Chain stays all mitered and the jig set up. We plan to have it done and ready for the SWANK65.

CS come together........

2010-10-06T03:01:00.000-07:00

29'r project for SWANK65....

It's done, it's done........

2010-09-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

Finished both the frame and the trophies today..........started a new project yesterday, details to follow.

Rattle and sparkle............

2010-09-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

Tried a new "textured sparkle" spray paint. Gives it that bass boat effect......I like it!

Takes a whole lotta love.................

2010-09-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

Or something like that........... Sanding the fillets to make them butter smooth takes lots of patience, determinations, and tons of sand paper. I did prevail and have finally got this frame ready for paint!

Pic-of-d-day...........

2010-09-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

When flux turns to liquid so begins the magic..........

Braze on crazy diamonds..............

2010-09-21T11:48:00.000-07:00

The 69'r will keep me wet with two water bottles.......here's how one was concieved.

69..............

2010-09-21T03:29:00.000-07:00

Gotta try it sometime.

A job well done...............

2010-09-12T15:20:00.001-07:00

This bike is ready for many miles of fun!

Tubes go BOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-09-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

In the process of replacing a set of drop outs to repair a frame that had the hanger bent greater than 45 degrees.......I cut out the SS and CS to free the old DO just as the DO is released the stays spring out........what a surprise! Good thing I have lots of C-clamps handy. All in all things came out pretty good and the frame will be better than before!

This jig sucks but I think it rocks.......

2010-09-10T14:05:00.000-07:00

no....it really sucks but I like it...wait, this jig is terrible but it's good...I mean I hate this jig but it works, yeah that's it...it just works!

Just plain ugly........

2010-09-09T17:21:00.000-07:00

What to do, what to do? Strip it, chop it up, and bring it back to life! Stay tuned for the healin....

Smoke some..............

2010-09-04T14:09:00.001-07:00

A perfect day to "Smoke" a few and enjoy the trail..............Thad brought out his little wheeled fixie......this is the bike you wished you'd had when your where a kid.

A fine day on the trail............

2010-09-03T19:44:00.000-07:00

Took a fixie ride in the forest today...........it was perfect!

Just plain nasty............

2010-09-02T18:55:00.000-07:00

Busy day in the Smokehouse..........made two weiner holders, made a shim for a seat tube, and brazed some balls onto the 4S-29'r and finished the disk brake tab......this frame is a true abomination of function and style.....Eric should be pleased, I know I would be.

Peak into this keyhole...............

2010-08-31T16:38:00.000-07:00

I had a problem with a frame in the past where the hole drilled at the bottom of the slit on the seat tube that is associated with the seat post collar cracked or split resulting in me needing to put a "patch" to stop the crack from spreading........so for this frame in order to head this problem off I considered using a plate to reinforce the area but after asking around on MTBR someone suggested a rack braze on. What a simple and neat solution......I love this age of information.

Beauty is in the eye............

2010-08-30T14:37:00.000-07:00

of the beholder. To me this is beauty and says "come have fun!"

Stack of fun..............

2010-08-29T14:57:00.000-07:00

Built some ramps and a platform for the kids in the park to play on. I built a six inch, 10 inch, and two 16 inch ramps to go with a 4X4 platform. Wish I had a dad like me when I was a kid...........

The Suicycle...........

2010-08-28T05:46:00.001-07:00

Lots of smiles, low miles..........brought down the old trike I built a loooooooong time ago off of the wall of shame. I forgot how much fun this thing is to ride......as long as you remember to go slow.

Booger in the eye................

2010-08-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

Ever feel like everything is boogered up?

With just enough heat.............

2010-08-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

A propane torch is all you need to braze silver to steel............oh yeah, and some good flux too.

Too much time on my hands?

2010-08-21T15:54:00.000-07:00

Never enough time.......

Fat Chance you'll see this anywhere else........

2010-08-17T17:45:00.001-07:00

I had the opportunity to add brake bosses to an old mid eighties vintage Fat Chance frame. These are the frames I consider to be the standard for excellence in function and form...........and now a little Smoke life was breathed into it for many more years of joy.

Bikes are FUN!

2010-08-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

I love this stuff.............

SAS 4.0

2010-08-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

Time for another race in the park.........this time around I'm throwing out a challenge to any off road fixed gear nut to show what they got. It's my turf and I own it!
http://thefunpark.blogspot.com/

Sixtynine'r rising............

2010-08-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

The chain stays came together and now the jig is up...........one HUGE consideration to keep in mind is the larger wheel up front requires that the head tube position is set up so that the front axle is 1.5" higher than the back axle.......I want to maintain a BB drop of 44mm so all this has to be set up correctly.......at least the bike will be full rigid, so I don't have to consider "sag". The SS will be (wishbone) "mono-stay" design with a sleve on the ST where the TT and SS come together.
A point to ponder..........when considering the BB drop, an imaginary line is drawn from one axle to the next. In the case of a bike with two different sized wheels this horizontal line does not go frome axle to axle rather it runs somewhere between these two points and THAT is where the BB drop should be calculted from.

Oh-ram! I got hammered........

2010-07-31T14:49:00.000-07:00

To begin a new tradition with the Smokebike posse........I built this trophy for the top dog in the group. T-bro gets it first for beating me to the finish with a time of 9hrs, 21min.......mine was 9hrs, 51min. Next one to hammer it up on the group, get's it with an opportunity to build on it by giving me some steel bike token to weld to it.

Make room for something "new".........

2010-07-27T17:46:00.000-07:00

Well ORAMM is behind me, with a time of 9hrs and 51mins.........not lightning fast but I finished. Not without casualty.......the frame broke 40 miles into the race with 23 to go.......RIP. I had no idea it was toast until I washed it off the next day. Oh well, time for something new. Next up will be a 69r, full rigid geared bike. More to come......

Countdown to ecstacy............

2010-07-17T05:18:00.000-07:00

ORAMM is coming and by the looks of it with 450 riders and sold out........there will be prisoners. I'm planning to finish within ten hours.....the "pros" do it in six! J at Fatz says it will change my life.......we'll see.

Old is "new" again.............

2010-07-16T04:36:00.000-07:00

The beuty of "rattle-can" paint is that when ever you feel like a new color you just strip her down and spray away..........it helps with the jones for something new on the bike (and it cost next to nothing). I put the "long travel" (5") shock on for ORAMM next week but turns out my back did not like having to stay in the saddle (serious back pain as I type)......so it's back to full rigid.......thanks to my brotha T-man, it will be a Pace carbon fork up front, hopefully it doesn't come unglued blazing down Kitzuma.

Time for a good cause..........

2010-07-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

Made these "creations" for a fund raiser to help a local rider who was injured in an accident.

Time to finish it up.............

2010-06-15T14:16:00.000-07:00

Built this clock for my nephew Thomas who just finished high school...........and put some "work" into Eric's frame...........it's a stange project.

Bamboo, all the kids are doing it.........

2010-06-09T03:10:00.000-07:00

Building this frame for a high school kid who is doing a senior project of riding his "home-made" bike 300 miles along the underground rail road route this summer. I had to make the frame bigger than the doner frame so things had to be stretched out a bit making the SS a little tricky.........

This card holder is FATZ...........

2010-05-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

Just a little somthing I put toghether for one of my favorite shops........Jason and the boys are pure MTB......and more.

Colorful diversity.............

2010-05-18T17:28:00.000-07:00

Riding and running that is............all I have to add is the plaque that says "SAS 3.0"

SAS 3.0............

2010-05-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

We're putting together our 3rd. race in the park here in Bent Creek.........the trophies are coming together nicely and this time promises to be loads of fun again........bikes, beer, food, and just plain good times.

Crack problem...........

2010-05-14T13:51:00.001-07:00

After 8 hours of riding in the mud and rain......65 miles of torture at "The Big Frog 65" at the end with not brakes left and a drive train that begged to die the ole frame started making a funny noise........sure enough I have a crack problem......that's "OK" cause hey, I build my own! Just another day in the Smoke-house.

Friends in high places..............

2010-04-16T12:09:00.000-07:00

My brotha BK just bought this villa on the east side...........life is good!

The "Iron-Man".......

2010-03-30T16:50:00.001-07:00

The kid picked out the colors based on his favorite superhero (for now).........A bike we can take turns riding in the yard........courage on two wheels.

The best of Bent Creek.......

2010-03-21T15:09:00.000-07:00

In preperation for The Big Frog 65........Troll, J-girl, and myself hit the trail with the intention of riding everything in Bent Creek. It was an awesome day and a great ride. When all was said and done.....I was toast.

Tighter still...............

2010-03-07T08:36:00.000-08:00

I just love it when it all comes together...........

Tight-spot gellin...........

2010-03-04T12:21:00.000-08:00

The S429'r is gonna be rolled tight......

Smoke-steel-single -speed-29r

2010-03-01T15:48:00.000-08:00

S429r............and big.

RAW................

2010-02-14T06:31:00.000-08:00

Solid brazing goin on.........this "free" flux is taking some getting used to.........it seems to be a higher temp blend.

Back to steel.........

2010-02-13T06:01:00.000-08:00

Working on the kids bike again...........I plan to use some creative touches for a one of a kind design. The SS are going to have a bridge formed with old used chain links and the CS bridge will be made with a thin plate. We'll see how this design works out in the long run but I think it looks pretty cool.

Gilligan would be proud.......

2010-02-06T17:21:00.000-08:00

Bamboo was the flavor of the day........A friend from Knoxville brought over a pile of wood tubes, a dead "donor" frame, and some real strong glue. Choped up the dead frame and used the clusters from the HT/ST/and BB to hold all the bamboo together and serve as lugs. The glue is J-B weld quick dry...........next comes the resin and hemp wrapping which someone else will do....it was a good experience and lots of fun!

Segmented down tube.......

2010-02-04T17:56:00.000-08:00

The kid's yard bike front triangle is tacked and ready for brazing.........I segmented the down tube to eliminate the problem with fork crown and tire clearance. The frame will have a short 37" wheel base so there is very little clearance at the front end for the 24" wheel and shock.

Gotta suffer to get one of these.......

2010-02-03T16:58:00.000-08:00

All finished on the P36 trophies..........I'm going to leave these in the raw with just a coat of laquer to keep them from rusting. I think they look cool with the brass and chrome showing......sort of a mix of "before and after".......the chrome from the ring's former life as a bike part and the brass as it's new life as a trophy.

P36 trophies..........

2010-01-31T16:16:00.000-08:00

Started on the trophies for PisgahProduction's P36 endurance mountain bike race. A very brutal "not so horrible" ride in the forest put together by the evil and wicked Mr. Wever...........

Have torch will braze for beer...............

2010-01-31T06:31:00.000-08:00

My neighbor is doing a convesion on his Ford Ranger truck and the experience has been enlightening.........here we are resorting to customizing a couple of parts to make it "work", all in a daze work.

Does this apron make me look fat?

2010-01-28T14:38:00.000-08:00

After the holiday break........I'm back at it! The yard bike is coming along nicely and I have come up with a solution that will make the issue of fork crown clearance dissapear...........it's a segmented down tube. Here I am at it, mitering the DT and segment that will be brazed to the head tube. The main reason for the initial clearance issue is due to using a very short head tube.......so remember if your building a small frame you will need to consider fork clearance AND down tube "fit".

EBB...........

2009-12-12T17:18:00.000-08:00

The "yard bike" will have options for SS or geared. I'll be using an EBB to do this......so here are a few of the details in picture.

Smile.....

2009-12-10T18:06:00.000-08:00

Just a cool pic of a smiley thing that I brazed up out of a brake rotor......

Gettin jiggy with it..................

2009-12-05T11:26:00.000-08:00

All the nubers are crunched and the jig is set to bring a pile of tubes to life.......