I was talking with a friend in Seattle last and asked his opinion on the whole thing. He mentioned his wifes bike , which I've worked on countless times, had a 1.5" extended headtube. I said no way, he replied you bet. They had had the frame custom made and the reason I'd never noticed is that it was a fillet brazed frame with a nice big radius from the top tube to the headtube. So, my real problem is really with the look, but it looks like even the look can be done right. enjoy, Brandon"monkeyman"Ives PS: I still think there are better ways to accieve the same effect in most cases.
"Nobody can do everything, but if everybody did something everything would get done." Gil Scott-Heron
On Thu, 24 May 2001, Steven L. Sheffield wrote:
>
>
> Actually, I kind of like the way you did the extension ...
>
> Confession ... while I think that extensions are sometimes necessary, I
> agree with Brandon that they are (or can be) "unattractive" ... I like the
> way you used the head tube and just brazed a little decorative lug at the
> top.
>
> Usually when I've seen lugged frames with head tube extensions, the builder
> has just put a sleeve over the steertube down to the lug and brazed it into
> place ... making it appear as though the lug itself had the 2-3 cm extension
> built in.
>
> I think I might have painted the headtube a different color, however, so
> that it not only contrasted with the main paint color, but with the
> stainless as well ... in this case I personally would have gone with a deep
> golden yellow, or a dark dark navy blue.
>
> But that's just my opinion.
>
>
> --
>
> Steven L. Sheffield
> stevens at veloworks dot com
> veloworks at earthlink dot net
> aitch tee tea pea colon [for word] slash [four ward] slash double-you
> double-yew double-ewe dot veloworks dot com [four word] slash
>
>
>
> > From: "dave bohm" <davebohm@home.com>
> > Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 08:08:53 -0700
> > To: <Philcycles@aol.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> > Subject: [CR]Re: Commisions and extended head tubes
> >
> > I too agree with Phil here. I have made some very nice bicycles for customers
> > but really, my best ideas are yet to be accomplished. Most likely I will have
> > to find the time and money and do it for myself. I do enjoy the customers
> > that give me quite a bit of ley way to do what I want but everyone has a
> > tolerance (money wise) and this generally prevents the wild and crazy stuff.
> >
> > Also, I wanted to pipe in on the extended head tube, which commission I will
> > take subject. I take all kinds of jobs. I do push away some of the odder
> > entries. Occasionally I have had to say no or I will quote a very high price
> > or turnaround hopefully deterring this customer. Would I like to build lug
> > classically styled bikes exclusively? sure but I take the TIG welded work, the
> > MTB's, the giant sized bicycles because I have to eat and pay the bills. Its
> > that simple. I could get on my high horse and say no to all of these but I
> > would be out of work pronto. As it is now, I am constantly working side jobs
> > to make ends meet.
> >
> > I did just complete my first bike with an extended head tube. It was for a
> > gentleman about 70 who needed his bars quite high and still wanted a
> > traditional look. I thought it was warranted in this case. The pictures are
> > terrible and I will have some new ones soon, but basically all the lugs, fork
> > crown etc. are stainless and hand cut. I wasn't so pleased with the
> > execution of the extension and I would do it a little different next time but
> > that's what its all about. You have to constantly learn and change the way
> > things are done to improve.
> >
> > Some preview pics are at:
> >
> > http://www.bohemianbicycles.com/
> >
> > Dave
> > Bohemian
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Philcycles@aol.com
> > To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> > Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2001 9:46 AM
> > Subject: Re: Fight pickin' ... Re: [CR]Quiet again
> >
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 5/23/01 8:10:01 AM, CYCLESTORE@aol.com writes:
> >
> > << The best work from custom work shops is commissioned by the buyer, not the
> > builder. I would guess David Bohm and Richard Sachs best work came from their
> > best customer (if you can define that) that was willing and able to pay for
> > it. >>
> >
> > Oh, boy! I get to start one!
> > My best work-not highest quality but most elaborate and thought out-is for
> > myself. My customers (with one exception) are not normally willing to spend
> > the time and/or money for this sort of stuff. And I don't mean just work time
> > but time spent defining just what you want. I've made nice bikes for
> > customers but not as nice as my own because I really know just what I want.
> > And it's very hard to draw that sort of thing out of a person because they
> > may not know the range of choices available to him and the education process
> > takes as long as building the bike. I like to do it but it's tough to get a
> > customer to go along.
> > Phil Brown