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Post by sup on Sept 14, 2007 12:15:05 GMT 8
i want to be ave's apprentice. ;D seriously, i really wanted to learn about frame building when i read a lot about surly's frames and chromo frames. maybe i'll start learning at home doing simple welds. hehe!
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Post by g.b.b on Sept 14, 2007 14:08:05 GMT 8
sup....... wana visit ave sometimes? tara............. i've been wanting to have a frame from him... no time lang talaga... this time meron na..... ;D
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Post by glockbiker on Sept 14, 2007 14:15:15 GMT 8
I'm also not a metallurgist. But I could have been one if I finished my last three semesters of Mechanical Engineering at UP Diliman. Still, my fascination with metalworking and machines continues to this day.
In fact, my final research paper in my Masters Degree in Business Management in 2004 was about putting up a custom steel bike frame manufacturing business- ha-ha! Yup, I did the numbers and it seems feasible.
Up until two years ago, I was even considering taking a TIG/MIG welding course at MIRDC in Taguig. I never got to do it kasi I'm a full-time, hands-on daddy to my two boys- simply no time left for other pursuits.
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Post by sup on Sept 14, 2007 19:15:43 GMT 8
gbb, i would like to go too, but i won't be free until the 1st week of october. alphabot and i were already thinking about it. maybe you'd want to go with him instead (if you want to go within the next two weeks). glockbiker, do you know how much it costs to enroll in the TIG/MIG welding course? i was thinking on enrolling part-time, like in don bosco or some school that offers welding courses. naks, another hobby in the works. ;D
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Post by maceste on Sept 16, 2007 19:03:38 GMT 8
i have 1 the 1992 muddy fox also. mega seeker gold color. i sometimes use him for abbussive ride still very sturdy ayaw nya mag retire. but i already modify her frame to fit a DH specific wheel set (2.5 tire w/ alex rims dh32) and also disc brake n cya. its easy to do kasi chromoly ang frame as long as you know acetylene welding.3 aluminum frame n tinalo nya.he3x
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Post by glockbiker on Sept 17, 2007 15:33:47 GMT 8
supAbout Php12,000 yata. Better check their latest rates. Try the MIRDC website (www.mirdc.dost.gov.ph). Good luck!
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Post by arcireyes on Sept 17, 2007 16:52:34 GMT 8
i had a long chat with ave when i visited his workshop last saturday and: to make good quality frames, you need to invest for a frame making jig (forgot how he called it eh) which he bought from US for US$3K+ and another set of tools from Italy for US$1K+ not to mention the welding equipments, etc. sup: perhaps you can join his 11 or 12 year old kid which i saw apprenticing for him, i'm sure you'll learn a lot from ave. ;D and btw, ave informed me (in case there are some interested), that he have limited stocks of cromoly materials available right now. i want to be ave's apprentice. ;D seriously, i really wanted to learn about frame building when i read a lot about surly's frames and chromo frames. maybe i'll start learning at home doing simple welds. hehe!
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vlm414
Lurker
my two boys....bike nuts!
Posts: 15
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Post by vlm414 on Sept 18, 2007 10:45:18 GMT 8
My 1994 Marin Eldridge Grade Hi All! I’d like to share my work. The frame was purchased last summer for 2k , through our PinoyMTBiker “trade central”, even came with some freebies! Thanks Ben! This was not meant to be a restoration job, more like an update. It was supposed to be a "long-term, low-budget” project, but toys and patience….don’t mix well with me. The frame was modified to be disc-specific. Picture is from when it was newly assembled, current build is: - Shimano XT Dual Control w/ hydraulic disc brakes - Marzocchi MX Comp, travel reduced from 105 to 80 mm. - Everything else came off my Giant NRS, which I sold to Freeman. I'm enjoying this bike. Aside from the great ride, it brings back pleasant childhood memories (I think all bike frames were made of steel back then). Thank you Marin for making affordable, great handling, mountain bike frames in STEEL! It’s still a “work in progress”, aside from a pending fork upgrade, I plan to take it apart soon to clean a weld spot at the disc tab and refinish damaged paint. After that, it’s good for at least another 13 years! Thanks in advance. God bless you all! Vic
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Post by glockbiker on Sept 18, 2007 13:20:12 GMT 8
@vim414
I see you like steel hardtails too.
I used to have a frame like that in 1997 but had to sell it because I needed money back then. Bought mine from Cristy's. Sayang!
What I like about it was its titanium-like finish. I don't know if its plated on or anodized. Is that a size 19"?
When my finances improved, I was able to buy another size 19" steel frame in Cartimar. It had no stickers so I didn't know what it was. Hermie of Velo City later saw it and identified it as a KGB Cycles frame.
It also had an anodized titanium-like finish but not as shiny as the Marin. Its been with for 10 years already and I haven't got the slightest intention of replacing it yet.
STEEL IS REAL!
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Post by fattire on Sept 18, 2007 13:42:11 GMT 8
i saw that marin eldridge grade coupla weeks back "a thing of beauty is a joy forever" sir vic, you got a keeper!
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Post by sup on Sept 18, 2007 20:20:43 GMT 8
vic, that's a very nice frame!
glockbiker, thanks for the info. 12K is too expensive for me though, coz i won't do it full time or for livelihood.
arci, if only i lived near ave's shop. ;D
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titusx
Urban Assaulter
Posts: 82
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Post by titusx on Sept 18, 2007 22:18:25 GMT 8
tried a steel single speed on the trails and even if it has a rigid fork...I must say i feel some flex/play = suspension which is not evident with any aluminum HT i have tried before as they say...STEEL is REAL! only drawback is the weight compared to aluminum i guess that's what makes Titanium special...ride of a steel frame with the weight of an aluminum one... ....comes with a HEAVY price nga lang
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Post by eatsrocksnmud on Sept 19, 2007 12:35:35 GMT 8
@glockrider: I share your fascination with metal, machinery, mechanics and tinkering. It's just too bad i had to study courses that would assure me of employment/income. it's never too late to study something new. this gearboxx on the nikolai bikes is really interesting, it changes the center of gravity and the weight distribution of the bike (but this is another topic, back to steel hardtails). maybe i'd chance on you at ave's one day, would be nice to meet you in person. vlm414: nice marin. that's a really light frame. i rode one of those in the mid-90s. nice comfy ride, a bit too much flex in the bottom bracket tho. that would be perfect for an epic off-road ride
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Post by g.b.b on Sept 19, 2007 13:22:53 GMT 8
i really got to visit ave later............... who's joining? tabs and i are droppin by later at 3pm onwards
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err
Lurker
Posts: 6
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Post by err on Sept 19, 2007 14:23:55 GMT 8
My 1994 Marin Eldridge Grade vlm414: very nice rig sir, MARIN bikes cost a lot back in the 90's, was there any modification aside from the disk tabs? I seem to remember the Eldridge having a long race specific top tube (OT: can we open a thread in the gallery for steel rigs?)
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Post by fattire on Sept 19, 2007 14:41:50 GMT 8
yeah guys, make a STEEL IS REAL gallery na!
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Post by amplifine on Sept 19, 2007 15:49:42 GMT 8
Nice thread!
I've actually been thinking of getting a steel bike for urban riding. Kinda miss the feel of steel! I still believe that if u should have only one bike and a hartail at that; it should be a steel bike.
My first steel bike in 1992 was a Trek 950 with lugged joints and True Temper Cromoly tubing. Those were the times that suspension didn't exist! Got a few bikes after that including a 93 Specialized M2, A Kona Cincercone (back when it was still made of steel), then finally saved enough money to get a Kona Hei Hei Ti back in 1994. I still ride the Kona today on short rides.
The guy above is right. It's more geometry than material that made the bike more forgiving. I've had both. Same geometry, different materials and Ti is definitely more forgiving. The biggest disadvantage of Ti is the cost! If I were to choose between Steel and Al for a hardtail, I would definitely go for Steel. Feel, Durability definitely goes for steel. Costs and weight are the downsides.
Whatever happened to the old guys that made really good steel frames: Yo Eddie! (Fat Chance), Bontrager, Barracuda?
But still, or should I say Steel? A steel bike would still be a welcome addition to the quiver.
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vlm414
Lurker
my two boys....bike nuts!
Posts: 15
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Post by vlm414 on Sept 19, 2007 16:06:21 GMT 8
Thanks for the kind words guys!
Before I found this frame, I too considered going to Ave for a cro-mo project. Who knows, it might still happen! Mt. Bikers have a funny way of thinking up new reasons to build a bike!
glockbiker: I had my share of window shopping at cartimar for a steel frame in the mid-90's. My favorite back then was a Jamis Dragon. Over the years, I have expanded my selection to include a Marin Pine Mountain, because of a review that I read.
After giving the serial number of my frame and some exchanges with a guy that works at Marin, I learned that in '94, the Eldridge and the Pine Mountain shared the same frame!
Anyway, Like you, I have no intentions of letting go of this one!
Fattire: Hi Owen! Thanks again! BTW, the scale has been a big help, not only in managing my material costs (business application), but also for cutting down some weight on this bike.
I have since replaced the fork with an mx comp, which I also reduced to 80 mm travel. Came from my son's bike, mainly because red didn't go well on his frame...what are dad's for! no problem, we know a fork upgrade lurks somewhere in the near future....
Sorry, I haven't had a chance to post the carbon splash guards as you suggested, but I'll do it as soon as I have the other pieces.
titusx: yup, at about 2200 gms, a bit heavy compared to the current crop of aluminum, carbon and titanium hard tails. But really light on the pocket at 2k pesos! hehehe
eatsrocksnmud: Thanks for the input. Haven't done any off-road with it yet, mostly road work. I think this will be a fun ride.
err: nope, only the disc tabs and removed all the center-pull related hardware. Top tube is standard.
God bless you all!
Vic
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Post by king on Sept 19, 2007 17:31:09 GMT 8
how did you adapt the marin for discs? did you have tabs welded on?
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Post by Alphabolt on Sept 19, 2007 22:50:27 GMT 8
yeah guys, make a STEEL IS REAL gallery na! I agree...someone make one ! and keep it real, bakalboyz ;D
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vlm414
Lurker
my two boys....bike nuts!
Posts: 15
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Post by vlm414 on Sept 20, 2007 9:03:29 GMT 8
Yup. had the tab cut by a tinsmith and had it TIG welded at a machine shop. For your reference: ...and I had a spare made!
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Post by king on Sept 20, 2007 9:14:01 GMT 8
do you have a close up of the tab welded on? i'm thinking of having a frame made by ave but i', not sure if he has disc tabs available. (maybe gbb and the rest can find out when they go this weekend). thanks!
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vlm414
Lurker
my two boys....bike nuts!
Posts: 15
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Post by vlm414 on Sept 20, 2007 9:31:05 GMT 8
let me check...I'll PM them to you.
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tutubing kalye
Urban Assaulter
daddy, paglaki ko akin nalang bike mo ha?
Posts: 96
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Post by tutubing kalye on Sept 20, 2007 9:38:27 GMT 8
what material was used for the tab? tia.
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vlm414
Lurker
my two boys....bike nuts!
Posts: 15
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Post by vlm414 on Sept 20, 2007 9:43:00 GMT 8
material is mild steel. I didn't bother to look for cro-mo.
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Post by 32by18 on Sept 24, 2007 17:45:32 GMT 8
do you have a close up of the tab welded on? i'm thinking of having a frame made by ave but i', not sure if he has disc tabs available. (maybe gbb and the rest can find out when they go this weekend). thanks! Sliding disc mounts and dropouts, that's the ticket, king!
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jacklero
Free Rider
Haha! Mine is longer!
Posts: 226
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Post by jacklero on Sept 24, 2007 21:41:00 GMT 8
vic is this frame the one from the guy who owns a lighting store araneta avenue near Sta Mesa? darn good find aint it!!!
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Post by flipnidaho on Sept 25, 2007 0:14:00 GMT 8
do you have a close up of the tab welded on? i'm thinking of having a frame made by ave but i', not sure if he has disc tabs available. (maybe gbb and the rest can find out when they go this weekend). thanks! Sliding disc mounts and dropouts, that's the ticket, king! I agree with agu. if you can't source the sliders over there, let me know and I'll see what I can get for you when I get back in May. EBB's are way too heavy...
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Post by king on Sept 25, 2007 5:32:12 GMT 8
actually i need it for a geared bike hehe. Sliding disc mounts and dropouts, that's the ticket, king! I agree with agu. if you can't source the sliders over there, let me know and I'll see what I can get for you when I get back in May. EBB's are way too heavy...
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Post by 32by18 on Sept 25, 2007 9:40:24 GMT 8
actually i need it for a geared bike hehe. Gears? That's blasphemy! hehehehehe
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