Painting

As has been the case with all of the bikes I've built, the final finishing process is proving the hardest part. With the first couple of bikes, I ended up using easily available spray and brush on finishes, and I was a bit underwhelmed by their durability. In looking for something more scratch resistant I've decided to use an automotive two part finish, something like a catalyzed urethane or something with a built in hardener. A teammate of mine on QCW has a couple of connections with collision specialists and has offered to paint the bike for next to nothing. Cool, though it would be nice to be able to do the painting myself eventually.

Life gets in the way

Sometimes it's a bit difficult to get myself doing everything that I need to do. Well, scratch that, it's always difficult to get all that I want to do done in a day. Yesterday my club put on the fourth edition of the Hillbilly Hustle, our annual cyclocross race. It was a great success: great weather, great course (with some serious mud this time) and a really fun atmosphere. I didn't end up finishing the bike this weekend though, something I'm a bit pissed about. I've still got a bit of spot sanding and then the gluing of various cable hangers and the like. I'll get it done soon though, hopefully very soon. Like in the next week soon, but we'll have to see.