Disc-ville SOLD

Folks, I hate to do it, but I am still holding onto the Disc-Ville porteur and as the winter approaches in the PNW, this bike needs to be ridden.

 Actually, it is on display in Portland, OR at Velo Cult bike shop and available to be ridden and asked about by their knowledgeable staff. The original photo set with all sizing and specs can still be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mapcycles/sets/72157629461788261/

This is a once in a lifetime bike at a very very good price. As always, feel free to contact me directly at:
530.566.9438 or info@mapbicycles.com

Happy trails.
Mitch

A new home!

After the past 9 years in Portland, Oregon and 5 years at the 108 N. Page St. shop, MAP Bicycles is starting a new chapter. I am very excited about my move to Chico, CA beginning in late September. A great cycling city in its own right, Chico is home to Paul Components Engineering , a lot of great food, some noteworthy beer, many many miles of great riding, not to mention a lot of my family and 300+ days of sunshine a year. Boy, it's going to be rough, but what can I say? It just feels right.

Oregon's list of builders is hard to match, but I'm looking forward to joining the ranks of other Northern California builders, many who are good friends, and many who I look up to and hope to get to know better. The new shop below has little character (yet), but a lot of potential and I have a good feeling a lot of great bikes are going to be rolling out of this shop very soon. Thanks to all of you who have helped me thus far. I feel like I'm just getting rolling. -Mitch

MAP 650B disc-ville FOR SALE: $6800 contact: info@mapbicycles.com

A truly unique build, this bicycle is a modern take on the classic French porteur. Many many details, including original porteur fenders, as seen on some of the best that were built in the 1950's and 60's.

The basic frame specs are:

56.5 ST 

57 TT

81.5 standover 

130 mm MAP stem

16"x12" MAP porteur rack

73 deg ST 

72 deg HT

65mm fork offset

The shortlist of components:

Grand Bois Hetre tires 650B x 42mm

Supernova Infinity S dynohub

Supernova E3 Pro headlight and fender-mount tail light

Ideal 90 saddle with "Dura-Aluminum" rails

Shimano XTR rear hub

Grand Bois rims

Avid BB7 road cailpers

XTR rotors

NOS CLB inverse brake levers

NOS unknown chainguard

Phillipe porteur handlebar

Cane Creek headset

TA Pro 5 crankset with 42T ring

MKS Touring Lite Compact pedals

Shimano 105 rear derailleur

Shimano 8 speed DT shifter

SRAM 11-30 cassette

Nitto touring bottle cage

Topeak Masterblaster framepump

brass Universal spring bell

More detailed photos can be seen at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mapcycles/

Contact me at 503-285-0446 or info@mapbicycles.com with any questions. 

Time-lapse

My shopmate Joseph of Ahearne Cycles has been making time-lapse videos of a lot of his work in the shop lately and last week he made this video of us both at work. I especially liked this video because although it captures us each doing our own thing, towards the middle, Joseph lends me a hand for a few hours while I'm building racks for the Randonneur Project bikes. We really don't miss a beat, and Joseph starts setting up sub-assemblies for me to braze, so that I can keep the torch going. It's great to have a skilled helping hand so close and made for a really productive day. Thanks Joseph!
 

650B Project update

Built up the first of the Project bikes and thought I'd share some photos for those patiently waiting for their own. The build came together really well. The fit of the rack, fender line, lighting, and proportions are all just right for my taste. The first ride put a big smile on my face to be sure and I can't wait to put the rest into the hands of their owners. I predict a lot of big grins. This one is heading up to Seattle to be ridden by the editor of Bicycle Quarterly. Details on the build and can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mapcycles
Feel free to contact me at info@mapbicycles.com if interested.

Why paint?

Back in the day, it was expected that if you were a framebuilder, you were also a painter. Not really the case today. I would be interested to see a show of hands, but my guess is that maybe 90% of small custom builders outsource their paint today. It's a matter of time, resources, skill, space, etc. and I'm in this camp entirely, but it has always kind of bugged me. I've developed some good painter relationships and some bad ones, but ultimately, I still have to cross my fingers whenever I send a frame off. There's something I don't like about getting a bike 90% of the way there and then having to explain the last 10% to someone else. I'm pretty particular. There are some amazing painters out there that will put forth the effort to see your vision through, and builders know who they are, so they are busy folks and the line is long.

I had the opportunity to get my hands dirty and paint some bikes, so jumped at the opportunity to learn what I could. Here are some photos of the process (the rest can be seen on my flickr page ):

I'm nearly finished, and am happy with the results so far. I should have some photos of the finished product in the next day or two.

Paint

Choices...
Originally uploaded by mapcycles

I'm in Michigan for 10 days learning to paint - wet paint. Doug Fattic (who I built my first frame with) invited me to glean what I can and paint a bike in exchange for some grunt work on my part, helping him with some of the frames he's painting at the moment. I couldn't pass up the opportunity, especially since I feel doing ones own paint is the final frontier for a framebuilder in terms of seeing your vision through to the final product. Not many builders out there can paint as well, and I'm not going to be painting my own bikes for a while, but even just getting a better understanding of the challenges a painter faces will help me refine the work that I do as a framebuilder. That's important to me. I'm excited to be here. Check back over the next week as I post photos and tidbits from my time here.

Update and a new offering..

Just wanted to give a quick update and thank everyone who expressed interest in the 650B randonneur project. All five bikes now have a home and production is underway! To be tipped off about similar projects you can subscribe to my news page.

Also, I've been meaning to get some quality t-shirts made for quite a while, but they somehow always found their way to the back burner. They are now available for $25 shipped in the US. Printed on American Apparel tees in asphalt and light blue as pictured with a front chest logo only. You can now order these on the Merchandise page.

Report from The Queen City

I recently had the chance to build a touring bike for a customer in Cincinnati. A few months had gone by since she'd received it, and I heard from her the other day:

"Dear Mitch,

Just wanted to let you know that my bicycle is, two months later, still exactly what I wanted and needed.  I haven't been to physical therapy for my shoulder since it arrived (as I'm finally riding something that fits), and I have to schedule in an extra ten minutes to just about any ride because people want to talk to me about it.  Cincinnati isn't a very bike-oriented place, but I've had members of the pipe fitters local union stop to ask me who made such a beautiful machine (the pipe fitters send their regards and compliments on your welding technique).  

If I ever need another bicycle I am coming back to you.  Schlepping up three major hills to work has become a joy rather than a burden--it is worth every single penny that I put into it.  Thank you for the dedication you have shown to your craft.  Two thumbs way up, Mitch. 

Katie"

Thanks Katie, you made my day. 

650B randonneuse project

I've wanted to do this for a while, and now I think everything is finally in place for a small run of semi-custom 650B randonneurs. Five to be exact, to be built this winter and ready in spring. They will be available as a frame and fork or complete bicycle. See my flickr page to follow the progress: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mapcycles/sets/72157622852473295/

Each will be custom in that they will have a rider-chosen seat tube and top tube length (within the 54-58cm range) and each will have the opportunity to add custom MAP handlebar bag rack or small rear rack as part of the package. There will be a few other options in terms of braze-on placement and paint, but the heart and soul will remain the same. Light weight standard diameter tubing, proven rando geometry, and clearance for big 650B tires.

There are a lot of details to go over in terms of the build possibilities and packages, geometry, paint options, etc. that I am not going to go into here and now, but for any interested parties, head over to http://www.mapbicycles.com/news.html and come January, I'll provide all the details about just what this bike is and what it is not and how you can get one. Cost for a the frame and fork with single color finish will start at $2000.

For now, have a look at the prototype to get an idea of where this is going.

Product.

Alex B.
Originally uploaded by mapcycles

Finally got around to building up Alex's bike. This kind of build can test the patience, with fenders, rack, lighting all having to work together. It's a delicate balance and I cannot express how important the pre-paint mock build-up is for dialing it all in. It's rewarding to see this kind of bike when it's done, having started as a sketch on a piece of paper. Hopefully the bike lives up to the idea that inspired it.

Alex B.

Alex B.
Originally uploaded by mapcycles

Alex's bike is just about done. A few braze-ons and it will be ready for the painter. The last few days I've been working on the custom front rack that will be used daily with low-rider panniers, but with an upper platform for odd loads or even a handlebar bag. This should be a really versatile rack, and being designed as an integral part of the front end geometry, it will be comfortable and steer predictably loaded or not. I'm really excited to get this bike painted and built. Next will be a mixte for Heidi with a custom rear rack.

Currently...

Alex B.
Originally uploaded by mapcycles

Plugging away at Alex's commuter and it's shaping up nicely. Getting ready for the Oregon Manifest show Oct. 10-12 which should be quite a production. This photo shows the stays blended into the seatlug - a look I really like. If you're in Portland the weekend of the show make sure to come by my booth and say hello. Next week I'll be working on bridges and braze-ons and a custom rack for Alex's bike.

Metallurgy

Alex B.
Originally uploaded by mapcycles

Just out of the soak tank, wish I could preserve it in this state. So much better than paint. With the main triangle complete now it's onto lug thinning and the rear triangle.

Fresh start

It's been a while since I've posed anything here. If you've checked my flicker photostream then you know I've been keeping busy, but I have definitely been slacking when it comes to documenting build processes, which is why I started this blog. So, I thought I'd make a fresh start and try to document the bike I just started. Alex wanted hand carved lugs and pretty much gave me free reign with the look. These started off as Pacenti lugs and the final shape is very simple, reminicent of the shapes of a prominent french builder but...well, different. I feel like I've taken what I like about the original shape and made it my own, have a look:

A happy customer...

Natalie got a her new bike today and seems pretty happy about it. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Next up is a fillet-brazed 650B gravel road bike with disk brakes, Alfine group, saddlebag, and twin-plate fork crown.

new site

It's been a long time coming, but last night www.mapbicycles.com finally went from being a static placeholder to a bona fide website. There will be a lot added in the way of new bikes as time goes on, but there is a lot of information there now about what I do. Check it out and tell me what you think.

slowly...

In between projects I like to give myself a few days to work on the stainless lugged touring bike I've slowly been building myself. Over the last few days I've built the fork and started the bridges and braze-ons. It's finally resembling something that can be ridden which would normally mean the end is near. In this case I still have a good bit of work in the racks which I'm really excited about. A combination front platform/low rider rack with custom handlebar bag by Eli of Lemolo, and light rear rack for small panniers or saddlebag support. The racks will be nickel plated as well which will be a nice touch but sure does add to the work. Exciting stuff.

finger wave

I've always had a fascination with mixte frames. I remember the first time I looked seriously at a twin lateral design and how impressed I was with it even though the frame I was looking at wasn't much to speak of. There are surprisingly few custom mixte designs on the road.

This mixte is very traditional aside from the curved stays and their attachment at the rear of the frame. It solves a problem common to mixte designs involving chain clearance around the extra set of stays. I like the look of it as well. Reminds me of the finger wave hairstyles women wore in the 20's and 30' s. A lot of inspiration came from a mixte built for last year's Cirque du Cyclisme by J.P. Weigle and a Charrel mixte in the Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles.

The marathon continues.

Mocked up and ready to be brazed.
Originally uploaded by mapcycles

I've lost track, but it has been a non-stop 7 day week for me since late 2007. Don't get me wrong, no one is forcing me to do it, but lets just say my shop pants are looking pretty ragged lately, as are my hands. I'm really happy with the work that is getting done though. It makes all the time spent in the shop worth it. Here's a picture of my latest bike. It is a 50 cm mixte set up to be a capable touring bike when the need arises. I'm in the process of finishing the rear triangle and today made the curvy stays which you can see in the photo. I think they add some nice lines to an otherwise very traditional design. After this it will be bridges and braze-ons and then off to paint.

I'm looking forward to a 2 week trip to Virginia in the beginning of June to the Cirque du Cyclisme and then some bike touring around New England. I'll certainly be ready for it by then.