Friday, April 16, 2010

Bruce Gordon goes Carbon Fiber!!

Mike Lopez, Joe Bell, Bruce Gordon, & Chris Hayes


Here is the story about the Titanium Lugged – Carbon Tube 650B Bike

This is my first Carbon Tube Frame; it was made with the assistance of many great people.
I worked previously with Mike Lopez of Serotta Composites on a disc brake carbon fork for last year’s show bike. We talked about doing a complete carbon tube frame. I was intrigued, because I had never ridden a Carbon tube frame in my size.
We chose a 650B frame because I did not have one,
I fabricated the Titanium lugs, dropouts, etc., and Mike Lopez made the tubing required. We decided to try making a Titanium Crown with Carbon fork blades, along with Carbon Fenders.
Being the third bonded frame I have made, it was no longer a mystery, however, with Mike’s input I learned some of the finer points of carbon and bonding that has taken Mike 30 years + to master.
I machined the lug parts from solid Titanium bar stock. Mike machined the fork crown to a design I worked out with Ross Shafer. All the Titanium parts took about 15 pounds of solid titanium – so there was a lot of lathe and mill work and a bunch of titanium chips to be recycled.
I am very interested in making frames with Classic Aesthetics and Modern Materials, and it doesn’t get any more modern than Titanium and Carbon Fiber. Both Mike and I have spent 2 months to make this bike, so please don’t ask the price, I don’t have an answer.
For you History Fans – the frame was bonded on Mike’s Table which was the same table that the First Lugged Carbon tube frame that Mike and Mark Dinucci of Specialized Bicycles made about 22 years ago.
I would like to thank the many people who helped make this bicycle possible. First and foremost, Mike Lopez and his crew at Serotta Composites, Chris Hayes (Welder Extraordinaire), Ross Shafer (for CAD work), Jason Lilly (for laying up the fenders), Joe Bell (for Superbe Paint work on short notice), Sean Walling of Soulcraft, Mark Norstadt of Paragon Machine Works and Doug White of White Industries (for machining advice), David di Falco of di Falco Fabrications (for putting up with me and my mess).
I hope you enjoy our efforts – I can’t wait to go riding.
Regards,
Bruce Gordon

Here are some detail pictures - comments welcome.

There are more pictures on my Flicker Site at:http://www.flickr.com/photos/23259799@N05/sets/72157623747045659/



15 comments:

  1. I have never wanted/or liked, a carbon fiber frame. Until now. Not that I could afford it.
    Bruce, hats off to you. That is one of the most beautiful creations on two wheels I have ever seen. In the meantime, I will go look at my BG road frame in steel and marvel at those details in person. At least I can afford the one I got!
    Mark

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  2. Bruce and Friends-

    Thanks so much for putting so much time and effort into this bike. It's really inspiring and pushes the envelope of materials/techniques in framebuilding.

    -Joel
    Clockwork Bikes

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  3. Bruce,
    Thanks for showing us this brilliant bike.
    One bike shop in Tel Aviv, Israel is keeping an old specialized lugged carbon bike just for show.
    Seen this concept there, but didn't get the kick.
    Now, looking at this bike changed my mined completely.
    I admire all the guys involved in this project, after so many years in this business, you all still passionate about building bikes. Thumbs up!

    Good luck,
    Kfir

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  4. So Bruce, What do you think of the ride of Carbon fiber and 650B?

    It is an inspired work. Gorgeous.

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  5. Bruce,

    That is real art! Good on you for building that bike.

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  6. How does the bike ride????
    Rode it yesterday for 17 miles - rode great.
    The frame is quite responsive, and the 38mm tires give quite a comfortable ride.
    Regards,
    Bruce Gordon

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  7. Hi Bruce,

    I've worked on a number of really fine bikes through the years...I just want to say how beautiful and elegant this one is. Wonderful job, Bruce!

    Paul Brown

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  8. Somebody posted an InterBike video with this bike in it:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du6tsF4xIsw

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  9. Wow :)
    This frame looks very attractive. Things from carbon fibers are really very durable and can be designed in different attractive shapes.

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  10. Wow what an amazing carbon fiber bike frame it looks very attractive. I will surely try it in near future.

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  11. Your post is really good providing good information.. I liked it and enjoyed reading it. Keep sharing such important posts.
    carbon wheels

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am very thankful for this wonderful work you have done,
    .carbon fiber products

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    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank You! So much for a great article and best of luck for the future,
    in Further life i will love to get improvement in
    My Carbon Products

    ReplyDelete

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