Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB) Phoenix Ti - Steve Potts Frame

[orange71]

I bought a cheapo titanium MTB frame in 22" and it's just way too stiff in every direction. Felt like aluminium. Converted it to road use in the end for the commute :roll:

 

[Ductape]

wondering outloud here but, were the first Mtb titanium frame builders dumpster diving at Boeing and the like. Taking whatever sloppy seconds were available?

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

wondering outloud here but, were the first Mtb titanium frame builders dumpster diving at Boeing and the like. Taking whatever sloppy seconds were available?

I doubt Augspurger did much dumpster diving to build his Ti bikes, but then again, there was probably some aerospace link since they were the main users due to Titanium's exspense.

I'm sure there's some info out there to be read on this topic...anyone have a link?

 

[Ductape]

Living in Boeings backyard, I remember going to Boeing surplus and picking through all the cool stuff wondering what to do with it.

To be more specific on the sloppy seconds. Weren't the early builders limited to tubes that were already specked and produced for the aerospace industry since they couldn't order in large enough bulk to make it worthwhile for the manufacturers to produce?

 

[DM]

Generally, I think that's right. Plain-gauge aerospace hydraulic tubing, or something(?).

Now, there are all sorts of bike-specific tube profiles/ butting. But I prefer the look of the older frames with boring old round tubes.

 

[GoldenEraMTB]

Living in Boeings backyard, I remember going to Boeing surplus and picking through all the cool stuff wondering what to do with it.

To be more specific on the sloppy seconds. Weren't the early builders limited to tubes that were already specked and produced for the aerospace industry since they couldn't order in large enough bulk to make it worthwhile for the manufacturers to produce?

Ahh, that sounds right...again, I would have to google it. Also, was titanium ever a classified material?

 

[sandmangts]

Living in Boeings backyard, I remember going to Boeing surplus and picking through all the cool stuff wondering what to do with it.

To be more specific on the sloppy seconds. Weren't the early builders limited to tubes that were already specked and produced for the aerospace industry since they couldn't order in large enough bulk to make it worthwhile for the manufacturers to produce?

Ahh, that sounds right...again, I would have to google it. Also, was titanium ever a classified material?

Originally because it was so hard to come by the government strictly regulated sales and some of the methods of shaping and forming and welding it were highly guarded secrets during the early cold war. Some of the processes are still highly proprietary even with aluminum. Then again only two people know the ingredients in Doctor Pepper so I am not sure it means much.