44 Bikes Frame Shop
- Thread starter fortyfour
- Start date
wannabridin
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 17, 2011
- Messages
- 140
Updates???
How has covid been affecting business? Locally, there's ZERO new bikes for sale and a pretty heavy demand for them, unfortunately.
How has covid been affecting business? Locally, there's ZERO new bikes for sale and a pretty heavy demand for them, unfortunately.
magnusk750
Well-known member
I haven't been much on GJ lately, but happy to see you're still about. Keep up the good work!
LutzTD
Well-known member
hopefully that means too busy to write, but taking lots of pictures! big bike shortage around here too.
Sorry for the radio silence. I won't sugarcoat anything: It's been a challenge. What's interesting is the work that I do and the clients I serve are about 5-10 bikes away from the current surge of bike ownership. I'll reach the end of my list somewhere around September or October. The surge I typically get through the spring and into the summer and then heading into the fall did not materialize. Only one cancelation so those already on the list have been very patient and committed. All of the Ti builds were switched over to steel. I've certainly been getting a lot of inquiries, but what I've been seeing is caution in purchases from the type of client I seem to appeal to/attract.
However, I'm still building and still working towards offering a stock option both in road and mountain. I've been thinking even longer-term throughout the Pandemic and reassessing the business moving forward and making changes for longer term stability.
One big project has been development of a full suspension platform. But first things first: I have to build a test sled to gather data before I spend this winter ironing out the actual design I want to build. So this isn't the final product by a long shot, but you get the idea of the overall form of the design.
Tman
Well-known member
Do you have a shock maker in mind for the dualie?
E12-535iTurbo
Well-known member
I went through your picture gallery and it's simply to much. All the dedicated tools, the shop the garden, stream and woods. It's picture perfect. To me it's like what instagram van-life is to a new age hippie. Looks like a dream but to radically different to my own life to make an efford for my self. So I just fully enjoy watching you create things.
Keep going!
Keep going!
I have two on hand with the same stroke (210x50): 2021 Fox Float DPX2 and a Fox Float X2. I'll also test out a coil but have a few in mind I'd like to test and will decide once I have some time on the DPX2 and X2.
Thank you. We're trying. Basically, and this hasn't been easy by a long shot, we decided where and how we wanted to live and then have set about making the money/work work for that ideal. It's been challenging at times, but you couldn't pay me enough to sit at a desk from 9-5 and live close together like we did 15 years ago!
E12-535iTurbo
Well-known member
I can imagine. I've always been aware of this and that each path has his pros and cons. Primary thing is to be aware of your blessings and go from there.
Anyway, I certainly hope you'll get through the current hard times and can continue to enjoy the life you build for yourselves. Hopefully you'll keep us posted on that journey. I certainly am enjoying what you post.
LutzTD
Well-known member
Sorry for the radio silence. I won't sugarcoat anything: It's been a challenge. What's interesting is the work that I do and the clients I serve are about 5-10 bikes away from the current surge of bike ownership. I'll reach the end of my list somewhere around September or October. The surge I typically get through the spring and into the summer and then heading into the fall did not materialize. Only one cancelation so those already on the list have been very patient and committed. All of the Ti builds were switched over to steel. I've certainly been getting a lot of inquiries, but what I've been seeing is caution in purchases from the type of client I seem to appeal to/attract.
However, I'm still building and still working towards offering a stock option both in road and mountain. I've been thinking even longer-term throughout the Pandemic and reassessing the business moving forward and making changes for longer term stability.
One big project has been development of a full suspension platform. But first things first: I have to build a test sled to gather data before I spend this winter ironing out the actual design I want to build. So this isn't the final product by a long shot, but you get the idea of the overall form of the design.
elegant and simple, the mark of true genius
, keep up the good work.CecilTheTurtle
Well-known member
Just saw one of your frames today jamming down Rt 137 on Cape Cod. Looked like a Huntsman, dark blue with white letters. Just thought it was cool to finally see one in the wild! Hope all is well with you and yours.
kjdhawkhill
Well-known member
No need to apologize for radio silence... This is a hobby for all of us, and you haven't been silent on Instagram... which presumably is more advertisement
than garage journal is.
I'm glad you're still building, staying in business to the extent that anyone can at this point. Were you at all negatively impacted by supply and parts shortages this summer? [Edit, caught up on the blog, sorry to hear your parts suppliers weren't able to keep up with your demand].
Your bikes certainly attract me, but I just wasn't in position to pull the trigger on one last summer when I had a CX/commuter need.... Ironically, had my CX bike held on another year, I'm actually in a relatively better position to financially justify a custom bike this year than last. But since I got an aluminum big brand replacement, AND got the original running again, its even harder to sell it to the wife. I don't see S&S as an option on the build sheet, but that's probably what I would need use to justify it, as we used to fly often enough that it would be worth it.
N+1. I certainly hope to be traveling again next spring and maybe can have the marital capital saved by then to call you up and have a real discussion about feasibility.
The full suspension bike looks great.
(I haven't ridden my 29er with full knobbies in so long, I can't even to pretend to justify one of those).
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Your bikes certainly attract me, but I just wasn't in position to pull the trigger on one last summer when I had a CX/commuter need.... Ironically, had my CX bike held on another year, I'm actually in a relatively better position to financially justify a custom bike this year than last. But since I got an aluminum big brand replacement, AND got the original running again, its even harder to sell it to the wife. I don't see S&S as an option on the build sheet, but that's probably what I would need use to justify it, as we used to fly often enough that it would be worth it.
Do it. As the proud owner of a 44 cross/gravel/road bike. I don’t regret it, and never will. It’s the only bike in the stable I never anticipate selling.
The first phase of the full suspension project is finally finished. Here's some shots:
And now to the fun part: Tuning the suspension settings and riding. Tuning took about 4-5 rides. Now it's putting the bike through its paces before the snow comes! That's the best part of course of any prototype and project like this. Then a nice long winter of CAD, R&D and next round of prototypes.
Also: To be clear, there were significant delays in components as the bike boom set in earlier this spring and into the summer and now carrying through the fall. However, I was able to continue to build and get bikes out of the door in a relatively timely fashion (at one point, I did have about 8 bikes all missing 1 component so as backorders came through, I was scrambling to shift gears to get those bikes built, packed and shipped along with continuing to produce client frames).
The long and short of it is the industry cut orders by about 50% when the Pandemic hit our shores. Component manufacturers followed suit. Well, people then with restrictions pulled dusted off their bikes to get outside, remembered how fun it is, and decided they needed something new (or didn't have a bike and needed one). Well that blew through just about all the stock on most bike shop floors. Which took the industry kind of off-guard. So the industry basically doubled orders but component manufacturers were slow to react. So a lot of bikes sit in wait while component co's catch up (they can't ship the bike even if it's missing something as small as say a valve cap). And here we are with long lead times.
Shimano last I spoke with them was running at something like 250% capacity with only 40-50% of their workforce. I believe that has changed as shelter in place orders have been raised, but still, a lot of product on the B2B end is low or backordered. So planning and logistics have been tough. Material supply has still remained steady. US produced components and product have remained pretty steady as businesses found ways to work around/within restrictions.
The volume of orders I normally see in the spring and through the summer did not materialize but there has been a steady trickle along the way to prevent me from reaching the very bottom of my list. That may happen in November or December, but time will tell!
And now to the fun part: Tuning the suspension settings and riding. Tuning took about 4-5 rides. Now it's putting the bike through its paces before the snow comes! That's the best part of course of any prototype and project like this. Then a nice long winter of CAD, R&D and next round of prototypes.
Also: To be clear, there were significant delays in components as the bike boom set in earlier this spring and into the summer and now carrying through the fall. However, I was able to continue to build and get bikes out of the door in a relatively timely fashion (at one point, I did have about 8 bikes all missing 1 component so as backorders came through, I was scrambling to shift gears to get those bikes built, packed and shipped along with continuing to produce client frames).
The long and short of it is the industry cut orders by about 50% when the Pandemic hit our shores. Component manufacturers followed suit. Well, people then with restrictions pulled dusted off their bikes to get outside, remembered how fun it is, and decided they needed something new (or didn't have a bike and needed one). Well that blew through just about all the stock on most bike shop floors. Which took the industry kind of off-guard. So the industry basically doubled orders but component manufacturers were slow to react. So a lot of bikes sit in wait while component co's catch up (they can't ship the bike even if it's missing something as small as say a valve cap). And here we are with long lead times.
Shimano last I spoke with them was running at something like 250% capacity with only 40-50% of their workforce. I believe that has changed as shelter in place orders have been raised, but still, a lot of product on the B2B end is low or backordered. So planning and logistics have been tough. Material supply has still remained steady. US produced components and product have remained pretty steady as businesses found ways to work around/within restrictions.
The volume of orders I normally see in the spring and through the summer did not materialize but there has been a steady trickle along the way to prevent me from reaching the very bottom of my list. That may happen in November or December, but time will tell!
LutzTD
Well-known member
The first phase of the full suspension project is finally finished. Here's some shots:
And now to the fun part: Tuning the suspension settings and riding. Tuning took about 4-5 rides. Now it's putting the bike through its paces before the snow comes! That's the best part of course of any prototype and project like this. Then a nice long winter of CAD, R&D and next round of prototypes.
Also: To be clear, there were significant delays in components as the bike boom set in earlier this spring and into the summer and now carrying through the fall. However, I was able to continue to build and get bikes out of the door in a relatively timely fashion (at one point, I did have about 8 bikes all missing 1 component so as backorders came through, I was scrambling to shift gears to get those bikes built, packed and shipped along with continuing to produce client frames).
The long and short of it is the industry cut orders by about 50% when the Pandemic hit our shores. Component manufacturers followed suit. Well, people then with restrictions pulled dusted off their bikes to get outside, remembered how fun it is, and decided they needed something new (or didn't have a bike and needed one). Well that blew through just about all the stock on most bike shop floors. Which took the industry kind of off-guard. So the industry basically doubled orders but component manufacturers were slow to react. So a lot of bikes sit in wait while component co's catch up (they can't ship the bike even if it's missing something as small as say a valve cap). And here we are with long lead times.
Shimano last I spoke with them was running at something like 250% capacity with only 40-50% of their workforce. I believe that has changed as shelter in place orders have been raised, but still, a lot of product on the B2B end is low or backordered. So planning and logistics have been tough. Material supply has still remained steady. US produced components and product have remained pretty steady as businesses found ways to work around/within restrictions.
The volume of orders I normally see in the spring and through the summer did not materialize but there has been a steady trickle along the way to prevent me from reaching the very bottom of my list. That may happen in November or December, but time will tell!
excellent, bike looks great
Krokodil
Well-known member
Wow, that looks amazing!
Is that a sort of connector block for the rear shock mounting to run different eye to eye length options?
Is that a sort of connector block for the rear shock mounting to run different eye to eye length options?
landrover bodger
Well-known member
l spend too much time looking at the fantastic quality work you do . as an ex cyclist gave up 40 years ago it makes me want to get back into it .
[mention]fortyfour [/mention] hey Kris, I was going to email you but figured there are folks here who will enjoy the lesson as well. Ca. Feb 2019 you posted a photo of some steel shelving you built using some tricks from RISD. The system enables you to insert and weld a nut in to the square tubing.
Do you happen to know the dimensions for the steel and the nuts off hand?
Thanks
Jake
Do you happen to know the dimensions for the steel and the nuts off hand?
Thanks
Jake
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Jake! Are you speaking of this project:
Or this one?
The nuts are 1/2-13 18-8 stainless and the tubing is 1" square with .125" wall thickness. I typically file 2-3 strokes of two opposing "points" of the hex down a t and then using a 1/2-13 bolt, tap them into place with a hammer so they're flush, then run two beads of weld along opposing sides of the face to join nut and square tubing. It works really well as a simple structural element to assemble tables, shelving, you name it. The wood shop tech Mark showed me that trick.
Found a detail pic of the end of one of the tubes:
Tman
Well-known member
The new frame is looking good, love to hear how it plays out for you.
Hey FortyFour,
Really nice shop in a beautiful setting.
Ill be out your way in a couple weeks
Have got a similar goal of getting out of my current work and making a go on my own. Congratulations on living the dream!
Recently I reading some reviews about bikes at dirt bike advisor. The easiest way to hang them on the wall is to hang them with angled hangers; this eliminates your intrusion into the garage, enabling you to still park your vehicle. Mount a pair of 1x8s through a variety of bolts at the points where you'd like to see the wheels hit the wall.
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M-technik-3
Well-known member
Nice additions to the shop.
rbkool
Active member
Those
are
AWESOME!
are
AWESOME!
Jayman17
Well-known member
Is it ok to call a hammer beautiful? 
Jay
Jay
rbkool
Active member
Is it ok to call a hammer beautiful?
Jay
If that is wrong, I don't want to be right...
Also, @fortyfour - I looked on your site to find a link to purchase these (I do see the first group sold out, but more on the way...?). Is there somewhere to purchase them?
rbkool here's a direct link to the hammer page in 44 bikes shop
https://www.44bikes.com/product/titanium-dedblo-hammer/
Ron
https://www.44bikes.com/product/titanium-dedblo-hammer/
Ron
56rpm
Well-known member
I always feel like I'm from the stone age after admiring your outstanding Eiffel Kris.
Tman
Well-known member
Artwork as usual
If that is wrong, I don't want to be right...
Also, @fortyfour - I looked on your site to find a link to purchase these (I do see the first group sold out, but more on the way...?). Is there somewhere to purchase them?
Thanks for the kind words everyone.
Yes that link above is the correct link. The 3rd batch sold out immediately. I have material in-bound for more. I make them in batches of 10 FYI and typically make parts for 20 at a time. So if you miss a batch, the next 10 isn't too far off. The 4th / next batch will be ready in another 3-4 weeks if I had to guess as I'm coming into another round of frames. I'll be sure to post up information here as well as my Instagram account of the next drop so everyone has time to plan their day (Not kidding, people set their alarms in foreign countries and across the US from what I understood...).
Story goes I made myself one. Always wanted a Ti hammer for the shop. Well, I posted a pic of it and everyone went nuts. I wasn't ready for the response honestly. I had enough material for 4 so I made those and they sold in 5 minutes. Hmm.. I may be onto something. 10 more and those sold in about an hour. That was a Monday. By Friday, the second group of 10 were all spoken for due to the response.
They work with any bicycle grip including ODI lock-on's. Like this:
But here's the colors I've been doing so far. I think the next batch will have some higher voltage colors like a deep pink or teal blue.
Raw:
Bourbon:
Blue Fade:
Aqua Fade:
Purple - Bronze Fade:
Purple - Blue Fade:
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andyvh1959
Well-known member
I like pretty welds,...them are pretty welds.
I'm a much better grinder than a welder. Guess I have a lot to learn.
I'm a much better grinder than a welder. Guess I have a lot to learn.
kjdhawkhill
Well-known member
Just don’t start making hammers in lieu of bikes. [emoji120]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
VMX42
Well-known member
Hey Kris,
I just noticed that this was Page 44 of your Garage Journal forum page...
Cheers from DownUnder
I just noticed that this was Page 44 of your Garage Journal forum page...
Cheers from DownUnder