These are the last touches before frames head to the painters. Stainless serial number plates that will be brazed under the bottom bracket. The actual serial numbers were made using a pantograph courtesy of our favorite machinist friend, Brett Flemming. This is old engraving technology for sure, but it is a fun machine to run and the slight cutting depth changes seen in the letters gives it a human element that stands out next to the perfect laser engraved Signal logo. Sweet.
4.25.2008
These are the last touches before frames head to the painters. Stainless serial number plates that will be brazed under the bottom bracket. The actual serial numbers were made using a pantograph courtesy of our favorite machinist friend, Brett Flemming. This is old engraving technology for sure, but it is a fun machine to run and the slight cutting depth changes seen in the letters gives it a human element that stands out next to the perfect laser engraved Signal logo. Sweet.
4.22.2008
Geared dropout finished with stainless badge and dropout ring. I think these will really accentuate the scallop created when the flat dropout meets the round chainstay. When the frame is painted these polished pieces will really pop. And Autumn, this one is going on your bike.
4.18.2008
dropouts
We finally got the dropouts back! They came out real nice. We're busy putting them in some cool new bikes that should be ready to paint by early next week. We're trying to keep our flickr page curent, so that's a good place to look at if you're interested in pictures of bikes and bike related things. What's with this weather? I tried to cram all the outdoor activity I could into yesterday due to the impending "winter snow storm 2008 part 2" that is supposed to happen this weekend. I'm so ready to ride without gloves and 2 jackets...
But that does make working in the garage a little easier (less distraction).
4.09.2008
jarolimez!
May 1st is the Brett Jarolimek memorial fund fundraiser. We are proud to be a part of the event and are donating a frame for the raffle.
I've been missing Brett's smile and laugh so much this past winter. His joking had a way of making the rain a little more bearable. I was riding alone in the west hills last week and kept thinking about rides we shared up there. The spot where took a pitstop and then still managed to pass me before we got to skyline. The spot where he said "hey watch this" as he tried to motor up a shortcut and snapped his chain. I'm so glad that I got to share a lot of rides with Brett, and I wish I'd been able to do more.
Mark your calender: May 1, 2008, 7 pm at the downtown Bike Gallery. The Portland State University Cycling team is taking the lead in making this happen, and lots of Brett's friends are donating time and goods to help the fund. The fund has been created to:" 1) enhance motorist awareness and education, 2) enhance the awareness, visibility and education of bicyclists, and 3) enable bicycle safety infrastructure projects on a selected basis." The BTA is managing the fund, and is always ready to take donations.
Buy a lottery ticket and you could win a custom signal bike! Check out this page to find out more news about the event and to pre-buy raffle tickets.
4.07.2008
We're back in the Signal shop today doing some final work to Gabe and Devin's front triangles. As we wait for our dropouts to get finished up, we are trying to do everything we can so when they show up we can hit the ground running. We finished the frame drawing and ordering tubes for Autumn's road bike. That bike is going to be light!
This is the front end of Gabe's single-speed crossbike. It has carved stainless lugs which will be beautifully brushed. Stainless is a lot of work but is very rewarding to see the progress as you go through the brushing and polishing steps. Lunch blog time is over for us. Back to work.
4.04.2008
I'm learning all kinds of things about websites...
...but won't bore you with the details. I am learning how to update our site, and keep things looking fresh. It should be easier to post pictures in the future. Of course there are the bugs to work out, but it's coming together. Not too much activity in the shop this week. The bike shop is having it's big spring sale and we're plenty busy helping out there. Nate and I had a chance to get a road ride in together on Monday (something that rarely happens). He was killing me up Saltzman and also up Old Germantown! Of course I had to play it cool and act like it was no big deal, but he was drilling it! We were coming down Germantown to the St. John's bridge, not pushing it at all (it was pretty wet) and I heard Nate hit the deck on one of those really tight left hand turns. He jumped up and got off the road pretty quickly and we had a look at the bike and him. Nate has a HUGE raspberry (or is it strawberry?) on his hip, and some tore tape, but that was about it. That road has delivered it's fair share of road rash, be careful out there people! Well I'd better get to the shop, those fenders and racks aren't just going to install themselves
!