My new, two wheeled ride...

[konadog]

Got the call from Naked Cycles http://timetogetnaked.com/ the other day and after a 7 month or so wait I made the trip over to quiet, rural Quadra Island to take possession of my custom sized, handmade, steel hardtail 29'er from bike builder Sam Whittingham http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Whittingham . I asked for an all 'rounder and that's what I got. When we got home it was a chilly minus 7 but there was lots of light so with heat packs in my gloves I set out for the local trails. Conditions were fabulous - no mud, just fast, hard frozen track with just a light skiff of snow. Great bike, great ride. It's nice to have a bike that really fits me : ) Sam Whittingham, the bike builder, also holds the record for fastest time on a human powered bicycle.

The master at work

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The finished product

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After the first ride - It was minus 7 so the trails we hard and fast and clean!

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[CREGAN]

That bike looks awesome! Probably set you back a couple of pesos eh? Have fun with it.

Craig

[konadog]

Well, it cost less than a delica... And being a STEEL frame, it should last a couple of lifetimes, barring theft or wrecking it... I figure it was a pretty good deal - esp. as it was custom fit

Getting sized...

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[CREGAN]

It looks great. How tall are you? I am 6'3 and have had a very hard time finding bikes that fit me. I have a Shwinn that I have basically maxed out so I fit it. It would be awesome to have a custom fit bike. If only my delica wouldn't demand the attention of my wallet

Craig

[jessef]

That's a unique ride, congrats on a piece of something that suits you and you only.

I've cycled through bikes like vehicles but always keep my unbreakable old Norco hardtail in the quiver. Something about the old styles that you can't shake.

Do you ride over on the mainland at all? North shore always welcomes fellow BC'ers !

There must be at least two dozen riders on this forum. That would be quite a different style of 'meet'.

[trialsmaster2]

What an awesome looking ride you've got there, konadog! She's a thing of beauty.

[thedjjack]

Love it.....I wish you had sent me for the sizing as it will never fit me

I remember when my new custom bike finally got delivered what a feeling....

[konadog]

Hey CREGAN,
I'm just a hair under 6'5". my old Kona Dawg was a "big bike" but it was too small for me. I had the seat post so high and the seat so far back that the leverage eventually broke the frame. I got Sam to repair that and it was during that interaction that we started to talk price and options for him making me a bike. I did the numbers and figured it would be more cost effective to get a good steel frame made than to break another aluminum one that didn't fit me right in the first place...

A mountain bike delica meet could be a lot of fun for sure - good idea Jesse

thejack - what's the story on your custom ride? still riding it? got any pictures?

Thanks for the compliments everyone - I'm heaps happy with it.

[psilosin]

I really like the curved top bar design. Makes it stand out from the crowd. Thumbs up.

[Slimdog]

Sweet ride man. I to wish for a custom bike some day.

Is that your first 29er?

[konadog]

Thanks,. Yep, first 29'er - rolls pretty different than the 26'ers for sure. Got to get used to the hardtail again too after 6 years on that soft tailed Kona.

[pajerry]

Always wanted to tear it up with a 29er...

I love steel frames. Had a handjob for years before it was ripped off a while back :(

Since then I've had horrible luck with bike theft and have all but given up..

[CREGAN]

Had a handjob for years before it was ripped off a while back :(

That just sounds painful.

[jessef]

Had a handjob for years before it was ripped off a while back :(

That just sounds painful.

There's always one in the crowd

[CREGAN]

Well, that was one so easy I just had to knock it out of the park. Sorry for taking the focus off this sweet piece of bike.

Craig