The frame is a few weeks off but I was asked if it were possible to do a Texas monostay cap.

The local route for headtubes would cost three times as much as the bike parts manufacturers (Solid or Paragon). But the few that I had done were made very quickly and at higher tolerances. 

This time of the year I have to either powdercoat with a bunch of pollen contamination or wait for the rain to drown the pollen. The powder came out of the gun very differently, almost as if it were paint.

 I'll be trying out a machine shop down the street for a new headtube shape. I have plenty of 5.1"s but my 4.6"s are going to run out in a few months.

sand bikes

The Euro BB and Profile spindle kept the water out of my bottom bracket through six water crossings (BB fully submerged). The cranks were a different story. I'll have to do some water proofing in the pedal boss with yellow foam.

The cheap, neon orange Charge Spoon saddle looks bad and feels worse after a whole day's riding. I'll be looking for something with more support and tan/brownish. I'll probably give in and just get a Brooks Cambium, but I'm huff-and-puffing over the price- four times what I'd normally throw down for a seat.

Nova 12/142mm drops

Aside from the vestigial rack mounts, these 12mm thru axle dropouts look pretty decent. They come in three different thread options: Shimano, RS and DT Swiss. If I were to use these for a MTB, I'd probably shave the mounts off and strip the black off with some Greased  Lightning.

"I want a bookrack on my All-Mountain bike" or "I want a 12mm thru axle on my commuter" said no-one ever.

 If the wind will die down for long enough I can get everything coated. Bars in queue for welding.

The square monostay is the easiest monostay to work with but its still far more time consuming than the typical "A" shaped chainstay.

broke off

Bike Night

This action sports photographer Scott Raymond got some good shots of some guys on Stouts and affiliated brands:

https://www.facebook.com/RRPAction?fref=photo

Jason Harris handplant 180 the spine!

 Mikes first ride at the park on his trails Stout

 Willis jumps over a sad man with a beer and broke hands

An over rotation sent me to flat and left me with two bad wrists. Don't know how long I'll be out but I sprained or broke something in this left hand. I'll have to get someone out here to lift the powdercoat cart once the weather dries out.

I did manage to get some riding in on my 4.3" bars and the difference in stiffness over butted one-piece bars was immediately noticeable on the race track. I didn't realize it but the flex in the old butted bars killed my confidence when pulling up over doubles and rollers. I cleared a few doubles that I was hesitant to try with my old bars. Then I used that confidence to sink an eight foot putt, nailed my presentation at work and lost all the weight. I'm pretty stoked on these bars