This is what we're going for

I'm going to cut out the top tube and seat tubes and we'll do something like this:

Helps if you measure right

So, not sure exactly why I haven't been using Bike Cad for the past few years, but this is super handy, and shows exactly why I didn't have the standover clearance that I was looking for.

Also, it helps if you've got the right measurements.  It turns out that I thought I had an extra inch to work with; my fit kit measurements taken by a guy at the shop had listed 71cm as the inseam without shoes.  With Risheeta in a pair of Crocs, I measured 68 cm.  Whoops, that explains a lot.

Carl is the Man

I've been working with ENVE for the past 5 years or so, and Carl Turner in their framebuilder services division is awesome to work with.  I'd recently ordered some tubes for a bike for my brother, and there was some mis-comunication on what size I'd wanted.  I pointed out the gripe and got a call this morning at 9:30 to work out the kinks and get the tube I'd requested.

The big bummer of the whole deal is that with ENVE's expansion over the past few years, they're no longer going to be able to make custom tubing in small batches for guys like me.  A shame, since I love working with Carl.  Such is life I suppose.

Can't f-ing believe it.

So, remember when I made that little bike that was not quite little enough?  Well, I think that I did it again.  For whatever reason, either my measurements or my brain was off, and even though I shrunk the top tube down almost 2 inches, the bike is too tall.  Risheeta can straddle it, and put both feet on the ground, but she's riding the top tube at that point.

SUPER LAME

I think that I will not be making any bikes for tiny people in the future.  I just don't seem to understand how to calculate standover height, and apparently have no ability to learn either!

The plan now is to get a road fork and add disc tabs to it.  That should drop the front end an inch, which should be sufficient clearance.  With the 2mm shorter rake, the trail of the frame and general steering characteristics shouldn't be altered too much.  Adding the bosses shouldn't be too tricky, since I'll just have to basically reinforce the whole fork leg to make sure the added force at the dropout won't be a problem.  I'll probably do  the brackets in carbon fiber plate and then do an over-wrap of the rest of the fork blade.  This all presupposes that I get enough drop out of the switch anyway.  Fingers crossed.

ON the plus side, the new purple color looks fantastic with silver accents   I kind of don't like purple in general, but this bike looks great.  Just too goddamn tall!

Getting There

I always seem to find the last bits of bike building to be the hardest.  Maybe it's just that I don't relish the detail work, or maybe the last steps of finishing are the biggest challenge. Not sure.  At any rate, tiny townie version 2 is nearing completion.

Even smaller than before

I've been held up for the last week, but have made some decent progress on the re-do of the tiny commuter bike project.  Looking good!

Ideas

I've been toying with the idea of some different ways to decorate my bikes and came up with the idea of some paper decoupage on the joints. Maybe even put it in under a layer of fiberglass.