Vallie Components - bicycle part and accessory design

Somewhere along the way, I've become a weight weenie.

I took my trusty Seshin BMX out yesterday for a workout at the Brooklyn Banks. My bike is built to 2005 spec, with 14mm 48H wheels, heavy forks, and mostly overbuilt parts. I did that intentionally at the time, knowing I would be crashing the bike repeatedly. I wanted it to hold up to my hack riding.

Now I'm feeling like the bike could stand to lose some weight here and there. I ride with a little more grace than I did back then, and I am not doing any massive drops to flat. I weighed it yesterday and it came to 28.2lbs. That's not terrible, but its still pretty high up there when compared to today's street machines. Even some completes weigh in less than my bike.

Thinking about it a little more, I wanted to know just how much difference some new parts would make. So I devised a little spreadsheet

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I'm going to be setting up the REAL valliecomponents.com site pretty soon.
Its done in Joomla, so I'll be porting this blog over there, as its a much more powerful content management system.

In other news I've got all the stainless hardware I'll need, as well as spokes and a rim for the new wheels. I'm currently waiting for the UPS guy to bring my bearings.. and to hear from Super Rat on when my prototypes ship.

I've also been inspired to figure out how to look at 3D modeling from a frame builder's perspective. An email from a local builder here got me thinking..



This is going to be a very exciting year (..not to say that 2008 wasn't).
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I'm looking forward to NAHBS 2009, which is the North American Handmade Bicycle Show.

It was started by Don Walker, and is now in its 5th year. I attended the Portland show last year, and was incredibly inspired.

This year it is being held in Indiana, and since I'm on the East coast, I'll be travelling there by train!

There's only one catch. The train that goes direct from NYC to Indianapolis does NOT take baggage! So I get two carry ons.

One of these carry ons will be a folding bicycle. I'm stoked that a friend here is lending me a bike, but at the same time bummed I will not get to bring a working rear wheel with my hub in it.

I'll have one on me though, so if you see me, just ask =D

 

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Yesterday I had the final design meeting (phonecall) with Phil at Super Rat Machine Works, and we hammered out the last of the design details on all four pieces of my hub. Everything looks good.

He's taking this on as his winter project, and I cannot be happier. I put 50% down, and will be paying the remainder upon delivery.

Delivery of my hubs.
Delivery of a product that has been in my head for over a year.


I absolutely cannot wait to build the first one up and start thrashing.
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