Guys are getting updated. I mean they start with something old and refurbished, but after a while they understand that bicycle is more than just a fun ride. Its quick and reliable transportation, physical exercise and great source of positive mood. And thus one shall make it as comfortable as he can.
Take for example Eitan. He was riding MBK for almost a year. Now he decided to move on and bought Fuji track. Few add-ons, colors, and upgrades and he has an ultimate ride with personal touch.
Well, I’m getting my family more and more involved. First it was my father that riding a fixie and has a very cool outfit to be aligned with bike design. And now it’s my sis. She said, I wanna bike, and I want it to be the most prettiest bike in town. It took me a while to get the right and unique frame for the request. It is Motobécane Grand Jubilé mixte frame that has a single top tube sloping down towards the seat tube, but diverging into twin lateral stays just before the seat tube. Only Motobecane did it and I find it very nice both in design and practical perspectives.
I was working very hard to refurbish it as it was in very-very bad shape. Had to remove the seatpost (alloy) with caustic acid. It was sitting inside for a week, till the seatpost got completely melted. My sis also had a specific color request for each and every part. So we run after the parts all over the globe and had to wait almost two months for shipments.
But finally, as in every project, she has a new ride.
This is an original Motobécane Grand Jubilé mixte as was shown in catalog:
Few months ago I have posted in Facebook, very unique frame and offered it for ladies build. Recentky got approached by my neighbor and friend, and was asked to make comfortable urban bike with ladies frame and coaster brake (you know, like you had in your childhood, pushing back makes you skid).
So here we go my first coaster brake bike with rare frame from Concord. As far as I know from internet, Concord was local private held US brand and was considered equivalent to, or upscale from the Schwinn.
Before:
Another friend that I help with parts. Nice upgrade for his rare Raleigh spirit.
Black and red, fixie it is.
Before
Quick, Smooth and Easy. Just look what you can do with your old frame for few bucks, before you run and buy a new Chinese crap. This is what I call one day turn around. It took me few hours to disassemble it, clean it and get ready. Then few hour to build the wheels. And three hours, with help of Eitan and Ilya, to create a new runner. Take a look on the colors and how clean the frame is. Eitan decided to leave the colors as are and I cannot blame him. Actually it’s my second MBK, the first one got stolen, very sad story. Hopefully this one will have a better future.
Before:
Unexpected but very enjoyable journey. Ilya received an old Andre Bertin road frame in awful condition. You can the picture below. He took the parts to polish, we order some new parts and set of Deep V velocity wheels. Waiting several months, during which he repainted the frame twice, finally got the color he likes. Then I have suggested to film the process of complete assembly. We took one afternoon and shoot 6 hours and the result is below. Very funny, cool and creative. The bike is gorgeous.
P.S. Very important is that I have tried for the first time to do the crow’s foot pattern on the front wheel. It happens to be polished 36 hole Campagnolo high flange hub, so crow’s foot was the best choice for it. And fortunately I did a good job.
Stop motion Fixie from Ilya Landa on Vimeo.
Getting more people, more exposure. Working on several projects in parallel trying to get the best out of it.
Meanwhile I have finished very nice bicycle based on Peugeot Champion MK2 frame, which I cannot find on the net. Maybe it’s some esoteric name for regular PX-10E model, have no idea. In any case the frame has very nice lugs and light structure. We have repaint it, added a hand built wheels with radial lacing for front, some leather touch in accessories and Andrei has his new ride.
There are some people, that can appreciate things. And when I say appreciate I mean they can enjoy the essence of the subject, and take it in time voyage. The best you can do is to make something for them so that you will be part of this circle of simple enjoyment, worth mentioning)
Mark is one of them. By magic powers I could find something suitable. He is actually one of the best examples of what I call custom bike. Coming from strict German background with attention to the every single detail, he received classic example of German bike industry, Schauff. Restoration and repanting, Campagnlo parts, road transmission, Mavic GD 40 rims, yours truly and another friend celebrate cycling.
Just received a new package of real Leather saddles:
First Leader frame in Israel. Yes it is. Sasha came to me in November 2010, gave me money and said I want singlespeed, light fast bike and here is the money for it. Within 3 months he saw me presenting some concept fixed bikes to another guy and said:”Fuck Single Speed, I’m going fixie.” We were working very hard to choose a frame for him as he specifically wanted no logos, no brands, nothing on it. Leader frame 725 was the best choice afterwards. Best for look, best for price, best for geometry. I’ve built the wheels specially for him, no brands, deep black rims, added all the black pieces together and found a very cool carbon fork. On top it, add a track handlebar, brooks saddle, cool black crank and the result is below. So the bike has no weight, no logos and all over a black motherfucker.
