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| Prior to assembly of the front diamond the tubes are cut to the required length and precision mitred to form a tight fit according to the degree of angle dictated by the final drawings and the related jig set up. The lugs have been worked upon removing much excess casting as required to ensure a precise and consistent fit over the mitres. Much additional work was carried out to the lugs to allow for the correct angles for the special geometric requirements for this type of frame. The front diamond is assembled within the jig which is adjusted to the critical dimensions of the design and drawings. Heat sinks are set over and under the head tube, the seat tube, and the bottom bracket, the latter being bolted through the bottom bracket shell and the heat sink, to the jig. The final degree angles are now set as the front diamond being held totally rigid within the jig assembly. During brazing, whether it be brass or silver the flux gains a combined strength of the mitered tubes and the lugs contribute to provide for secure, rigid joints. The lugs greatly increase the joints by distributing the molten filler metal over a larger surface area as the capillary action takes place. Whilst there are many other types of bikes available without lugs, lugs seem to be part of the traditional bike, and in the case of a Randonneur they are in my opinion an essential requirement if one is sincere in following the great French contractuers. JeffDownes666.blogspot.com |
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It should be noted that upon occasions
the tubes do show what appears to be excessive marking of the tubes during the
brazing process. None of these occasional occurrences will effect
the properties that the tubing has built in during their manufacturing
process. Despite heat sinks and careful and accurate brazing some people seem
to be alarmed at this, and the sight that this illustration conveys. I have
assured them it is simply an occasional occurrence and it that it does no
harm. Before assembly of the front diamond the tubes are cut to the
required length and precision mitered to form a perfect fit according to the
degree of angle dictated by the final drawings and so transferred to the
related jig. The lugs have been worked upon prior to this and all excess
casting as required is removed by hand to ensure a precise and
consistent fit over the mitered tubes. Addition work was carried out to the
lugs to allow the correct angles for the particular geometry required for this
type of bike frame. The diamond is assembled within the jig which is
adjusted to the critical dimensions of the design and drawings. Heat sinks
are set over and under the head tube, the seat tube, and the bottom bracket,
the latter being bolted through the bottom bracket and the heat sink to
the jig. The final degree angles are now set as is the front diamond being held
totally rigid within the jig assembly. During brazing, whether it be brass or
silver the flux gains a combined strength of the tube precision mitered,
and the lugs provide for a secure, rigid joint. The lugs
greatly increase the joints by distributing the molten filler metal
over a larger surface area as the capillary action takes place.
Whilst there are many other bikes available without lugs, lugs
seem to be part of the traditional bike, and in the case of a Randonneur they
are an essential requirement if one is sincere in following the great French builders.
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| The essential bottom bracket shell is secured to the jig via the hexagonal nut securing the mild steel bar across the face of the bottom bracket shell and firmly secured via the heat sink into the jig ensuring a secure and correct alignment of the seat tube and also the down tube. for the joint with the bottom bracket. The residue of brazing flux can clearly seen as a result of the brazing procedure. The slight heat marks on the tubes is a natural occurrence that sometimes occurs during brazing. The slight heat marks on the tubes in these minor areas do not have any effect upon the unique properties of the the Reynolds tubes. The accuracy of the brazing can be seen making for a very clean joint once the brazing flux has been soaked off. The degree angles for this operation are set on the jig so ensuring the need for accuracy. Just one small error during the guid at any particular joint effects dramatically each and every other joint, therefore such an occurrence cannot be allowed. |
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Here we have a lovely illustration of
the midway construction stage which is showing the top tube and the down tube
after being precisely mitred accurately brazed in location with the head
tube, after all cleaning off, and clearly showing the accuracy of the
brazing. The gentle and subtle curves of the Rene Singer lugs. These lugs are a
feature in themselves and are unlike many alternatives which are often fussy
and simply not subtle enough for my taste, especially bearing in mind that
these lugs are cast of stainless steel, and finished highly polished to
a mirror like finish. In any case if one studies the French
Constucteurs, and in particular their frames and handmade lugs, one will
find that their lugs were quite simple in design and of a utilitarian
appearance. Looking very hard at these lugs, their precise curves ca only be
said to compliment the other radius's that are found on the the finished
Randonneur.
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The Celtic Knot having
eight discernible knots and a pair of tails that meets up with the seat
stays neatly wrapping around the seat pillar and lugs to form the
signature 'Dragonfly' the famed detail which is available on all Paulus Quiros
bikes. The braze-on's for the down tube bottle cages are visible as are
Jose's mug which is rumoured to have a lugged handle. The fresh brazing is
apparent after the area has been cleaned off. In this illustration is a perfect
view of the raised 'Celtic Knot' 'which is formed up whilst hot to the tails
and is subsequently silver brazed to the top tube.
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The
Internet is a fine tool for researching those difficult components to find
and to assimilate your list of the most desirable items you may wish for. It
can be useful also for sorting items that one desires in relation to costing,
yet having done all this who is the builder or builders whom you intend to
submit your valuable documents to. I suggest that this is the point at where
the Internet ceases to be of use and the need arises to find the builder. You
will probably need an artisan whom has at his fingertips the
entrepreneurial approach of the wisdom that can be only be as a result of
considerable experience, and you may have found the evidence of this. On
the Internet certainly not, at a show, maybe, but I suggest that
the ultimate test is the evidence the above, the fine detail that the
close up illustration gives, away the true art.
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This is an illustration of the Bespoke
chain slap designed to cover more than two thirds of the chain stay. A further
Bespoke item and as it has been professionally made it not only is totally function
able item, giving total protection, but also as it is simple secured by
just two engineering screws that have had the heads considerably reduced
it has proved, a simple matter to maintain both the chain slap and the chain
stay under, as it i fractionally raised off the stay, simply sitting upon the
two boss's.
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This Illustration
shows how the bespoke chain rest, having just been brazed into location serves
to provide a location for literally resting the chain upon during periods when
there is a need to remove the Rear Wheel. This serves to keep the chain resting
out of road side debris which eventualy leads to unnecessary chain damage. This rest is Bespoke hand made out of stainless steel totally and
has been silver brazed into place. In the photograph we can see part of
the spring clamp very lightly locating the chain rest into position just
prior to the brazing procedure. The specific location of the chain rest on the
chain stay provides for a perfect rest because it provides for the chain to be rested when attending to the rear or during removal of the chain.
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| This Illustration shows how the bespoke chain rest, having just been brazed into location serves to provide a location for literally resting the chain upon during periods when there is a need to remove the Rear Wheel. This serves to keep the chain resting out of road side debris which eventualy leads to unnecessary chain damage. This rest is Bespoke hand made out of stainless steel totally and has been silver brazed into place. In the photograph we can see part of the spring clamp very lightly locating the chain rest into position just prior to the brazing procedure. The specific location of the chain rest on the chain stay provides for a perfect rest because it provides for the chain to be rested when attending to the rear or during removal of the chain. |
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Here
the frame sits upon the engineers table to demonstrate the location of the
chain slap ready drilled for location upon the bosses yet to be brazed. I have
been asked why I specified a Bespoke slap that covers such a large area of
the chain stay. the short answer is that there is no technical answer to this
problem other than taking into consideration
the considerable variations that that the chain is subjected to.
The chain has to absorb the variations of shifting over the cassette not to
mention the variations also of a triple chain wheel, which has its own
contribution to this phenomenon. Bearing this in mind the chain has to rely
upon the one spring to retain the tautness of the chain, this being the rear
derailleur. Upon any well used bike there will be many a chain slap mark on the
chain stay. The only exception being that of a fixed wheel bike.
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Sitting
upon the engineers table is the view of the completed frame after
brazing, the head lugs, the bottle cages, the gear lever bosse’s on the down tube,
the front derailleur tab, the chain rest, and the 'Gaudi.' The rear dropouts
all in stainless steel and to be polished in due course. Quite apparent
are the very neat curves although very gentle to the chain stays
which demonstrate the art of the builder to maintain a flow within
the design of the frame ensuring that each section is reminiscence of
the beautiful designs following that of the great French contructeurs. The
combination of the 523 tubing and the 931 Reynolds Stainless steel provide for
a fine structure that now has proved to give a forgiving, yet fast machine
which I find that the 42mm tyres contribute to greatly. Whilst this frame
and completed Randonneur is fast enough on roads and lanes, it also can with
some ease take rough road surfaces, gravel and the like yet seemingly
it remains a steady bicycle regardless of the terrain. A perfect view of how the seat lug curves around both
the top tube and the seat tube and over are the seat stays with
the commencement of the chamfering to each eventually to form
the wrap around of the ‘Dragonfly’ and then highly polished to join up with the
Celtic Knot. The Seat pillar, binder bolt bracket is clearly seen. The blend
betwixt the 931 stainless steel seat stays and the famous 'Gaudi' handmade
cable stop also in stainless steel provide for a pleasant contrast when
finished. The bosses upon the seat stays are to receive the supports
for the rear carrier. Perhaps
it is fair to say regardless of all the science, materials, engineering, and
bar graphs one can throw at a board, nothing changes the fact that technique and technology go hand in hand. I
further believe that the best bikes are the ones made by folks untethered
to price points, model year choices and marketing trends, and that among this
group are some most remarkable builders whose frames are totally made by hand
and especially with lugs
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This
detail is to show the fine detail of the Double plate Fork crown that
was specifically specified to be finished in the frame colour as against
stainless steel and in my opinion would have lost the minimal detail of this
crown. The very slight slope to the upper plate is hardly noticeable on
the assembled bike, but the crown detail stands out as a most elegant
assembly and complimentary to the fork blades. It still has masking around
the lower part of the head tube. The simplicity of the design and the detail
running from the upper shoulder plate that runs down the fork blades has
created a most elegant design sitting upon the two blades.
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This shows
the superb paintwork to the two seat stays and being of 931 tubing,
the contrast can be clearly seen against the stainless steel stays,
and the paintwork allows for a perfect blend of the stays where they meet the
rear dropouts. Also visible is one of the boss's and the brightly finished chain
rest.
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The
brazeons are showing their polished finish and in the illustration we are
able to see the seat tube with the front derailleur tab. Previously silver
brazed as the two water bottle cage fixings, and to the right of the
illustration the seat stays showing quite clearly the detailed paintwork
that ceases to display the
stainless steel of the seat stays. As they reach downwards to the dropouts
and just visible is the boss for the chain slap and clearly the chain rest.
Contained within the shelving behind the bike is Jose’s vast store of ingredients for a stew, and not very well covertly
placed.
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|
The
Internet is a fine tool for researching those difficult components to find
and to assimilate your list of the most desirable items you may wish for. It
can be useful also for sorting items that one desires in relation to costing,
yet having done all this who is the builder or builders whom you intend to
submit your valuable documents to. I suggest that this is the point at where
the Internet ceases to be of use and the need arises to find the builder. You
will probably need an artisan whom has at his fingertips the
entrepreneurial approach of the wisdom that can be only be as a result of
considerable experience, and you may have found the evidence of this. On
the Internet certainly not, at a show, maybe, but I suggest that
the ultimate test is the evidence the above, the fine detail that the
close up illustration gives, away the true art.
|
 |
|
The
Internet is a fine tool for researching those difficult components to find
and to assimilate your list of the most desirable items you may wish for. It
can be useful also for sorting items that one desires in relation to costing,
yet having done all this who is the builder or builders whom you intend to
submit your valuable documents to. I suggest that this is the point at where
the Internet ceases to be of use and the need arises to find the builder. You
will probably need an artisan whom has at his fingertips the
entrepreneurial approach of the wisdom that can be only be as a result of
considerable experience, and you may have found the evidence of this. On
the Internet certainly not, at a show, maybe, but I suggest that
the ultimate test is the evidence the above, the fine detail that the
close up illustration gives, away the true art.
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| The Fork blades following the design of the French Contucteurs bing oval to round are shown here with the superb dropouts in deep stainless steel and complete with the neatly located twin eyes. |
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| The Fork blades following the design of the French Contucteurs bing oval to round are shown here with the superb dropouts in deep stainless steel and complete with the neatly located twin eyes. The fork crown is of a very neat design showing the the neat features, simple but elegant, and having level shoulders. |
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| In this extremely interesting view of the rear diamond we are treated to the 931 stainless steel seat stays with a clear view of the rear brake arched location and just above are the two boss's brazed prior to, for the fixing of the rear Bespoke rear carrier. Above is the Stainless steel famous 'Gaudi' rear cable stop, certainly inspired by the beautiful steel and Ironwork that one can find in Barcelona. The seat tube rising from the bottom bracket, also in view although a rear shot are the gently curved chain stays. The bracket for the binder bolt is ready to receive it. The frame has been drilled and cut so that the upper Seat tube will flex, and hold the seat pillar firmly in place. |
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Here we
have the neat bottom bracket cluster comprising of the shell itself and showing
how the down tube and the seat tube meet into the shell and the amount of work that
was needed to form the chain stays into the very gently curve needed for the
42mm Grand Boise Hetre tyres to pass. The second chain slap boss is clearly seen sitting upon the chain
stay and it should be noted that these chain stays unlike many in their gentle
curves are following the methods adopted by the great French Contructuers.
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The rear
dropouts in their stainless steel finish provide for a superb marriage between
the 931 seat stays and the rear end of the bike with the dropout curves showing
clearly how the blend between the dropouts and the bikes frame colour and in
particular the superb contrast crated by the 931 seat stays so familiar
of the great French contructeurs.
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The chain
slap boss is now seen and just how the stainless steel chain slap will sit, the
boss ensure it is clear from the chain stay, so allowing for simple removal and
cleaning. The clean finish of the dropout and gear hanger blends very well with
the stainless steel chain rest, and the joint betwixt the dropout and the
931 seat stay is clearly seen and compliments this area when seeing the completed bike.
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