10 INCH WHEEL TRIMS

Having rejected my first attempt at building his personal "hardmobile" the customer gave me a second chance..and here it is in its full glory !

This is a large frame..but note the small clearances I had to build into the rear triangle and the front end..for mudguards with no overlap !

I had convinced him that a hard-rider such as himself should try cantilever brakes, bearing in mind the very long and steep hill on top of which he lived..and the winter riding and training in all weathers..

And so it came to pass...

Variation from Hardman MkI was the use of Haden Concorde very long and strong lugs...and gone were the Record drop-outs in favour of Shimano verticals...permitting no wheel adjustment whatsoever. A Cinelli (?) sloping crown was used...and cantilever bosses.

I was happy with the way the bike looked..nicely balanced and minimalist...but the customer rejected it again...Read on for why?

If I had to build it again I would either use the MAFAC cantis for which it was designed or file about an 1/8" off the ends of the B/O brake cable bridge, as the line of the cable does not run true with the Dia-Compe cantis..

Check it out: vintage lugged-steel frame, aero front wheel, custom-welded front cargo rack, minimalist "spiderweb" saddle. Fixie sans brakes? Seen on 6th Ave (at W19th St), NYC.