After seeing the framebuilding thread (and really nice frame) by makster (here: viewtopic.php?f=41&t=297169) It reminded me that yet again, I had promised myself to build my own bike, but hadn't done anything about it. So seeing Maksters thread, obviously, I forgot about that (again) and went on with things until August, when, I noted on Twitter that Enigma Cycles were starting a Framebuilding Academy. Thus, I contacted them and managed to send a deposit for a framebuilding course. I was offered pretty much an immediate spot (not possible for me) or 10th November... which was last week.
So here, as briefly as possible, is what I did dunned.
Firstly, despite assurances from myself that I'd be bugging them daily with questions and requirements, I couldn't make up my mind on what to make. Indeed, sitting there with a tea in hand on 10th November, there was almost an air of incredulity when I said 'I erm, dunno' after being asked what I wanted to build. No matter, we'd figure something! After a number of searching questions 'Do you want a Mountain bike' 'Erm, probably not' etc, we arrived at a Road bike, classic looks, horizontal top tube. This isn't actually true, as we ended up with a compact frame with all the right bits in the right place, but it was only at the jig where it hit me that the headtube angle was going to be a little slack at 72 degrees. The tutor agreed, so we altered it there and then and put that top tube horizontal, 73 degrees parallel.
Having set up the Jig, safety breifing, having a factory tour, we were handed a set of Columbus Zona oversized tubing and some quite nice cast lugs. Unfortunately, no one had considered filing these to shape as this was 'our first job'. I only mention this as my skills with a hacksaw could hardly be described as 1337 (little IT joke there). My father, had always said I was worse than useless with any saw so this was all going to be a lot of fun, for others, at my expense probably.
Our tutor was Geoff Roberts, there were two of us on the course and we were assisted by other staff at Enigma occasionally, probably when Geoff needed to go outside and swear etc. Ultimately, we were able to get on and do the work with assistance and advice as required, but largely, we both tried to do as much as possible. We brazed some test lugs to try out the tools then proceeded to cut those lugs up and see how we did. The first attempt was a bit hit and miss, the second a little better. With Geoff explaining the process and guiding us through the first real lug, we ended the day with a set of filed tubes, a tacked seat tube and a bottom headset lug fully brazed. This is where we needed to be to keep the week on track. Despite many measurements, the downtube on my bike ended up a little short and we replaced it. I probably over-filed it when trying to clear out the section protruding into the Bottom Bracket. Ouch and whoops. Second attempt took longer but it was correct. In fact, it wasn't very far out the first time but to their credit they let me do it again. I was shown worse from the 'examples' box.
So here, as briefly as possible, is what I did dunned.
Firstly, despite assurances from myself that I'd be bugging them daily with questions and requirements, I couldn't make up my mind on what to make. Indeed, sitting there with a tea in hand on 10th November, there was almost an air of incredulity when I said 'I erm, dunno' after being asked what I wanted to build. No matter, we'd figure something! After a number of searching questions 'Do you want a Mountain bike' 'Erm, probably not' etc, we arrived at a Road bike, classic looks, horizontal top tube. This isn't actually true, as we ended up with a compact frame with all the right bits in the right place, but it was only at the jig where it hit me that the headtube angle was going to be a little slack at 72 degrees. The tutor agreed, so we altered it there and then and put that top tube horizontal, 73 degrees parallel.
Having set up the Jig, safety breifing, having a factory tour, we were handed a set of Columbus Zona oversized tubing and some quite nice cast lugs. Unfortunately, no one had considered filing these to shape as this was 'our first job'. I only mention this as my skills with a hacksaw could hardly be described as 1337 (little IT joke there). My father, had always said I was worse than useless with any saw so this was all going to be a lot of fun, for others, at my expense probably.
Our tutor was Geoff Roberts, there were two of us on the course and we were assisted by other staff at Enigma occasionally, probably when Geoff needed to go outside and swear etc. Ultimately, we were able to get on and do the work with assistance and advice as required, but largely, we both tried to do as much as possible. We brazed some test lugs to try out the tools then proceeded to cut those lugs up and see how we did. The first attempt was a bit hit and miss, the second a little better. With Geoff explaining the process and guiding us through the first real lug, we ended the day with a set of filed tubes, a tacked seat tube and a bottom headset lug fully brazed. This is where we needed to be to keep the week on track. Despite many measurements, the downtube on my bike ended up a little short and we replaced it. I probably over-filed it when trying to clear out the section protruding into the Bottom Bracket. Ouch and whoops. Second attempt took longer but it was correct. In fact, it wasn't very far out the first time but to their credit they let me do it again. I was shown worse from the 'examples' box.
