Barry
new member
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 3
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Dave K. do you build with Stainless Steel Lugs? Are their any disavantages using Stainless Lugs?
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Dave_Thompson
prophet
   
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 719
Loc: Spokane, Washington
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Barry: Here's Dave's website: http://www.kirkframeworks.com
you can also contact him directly here: info@kirkframeworks.com
When I got my Kirk I was thinking of stainless lugs, but I went with hand carved steel lugs http://www.bikefanclub.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=680&password=&sort=1&cat=518&page=2
Dave is a neat guy to work with. I was taken through each step of my frame build as if I were there. I received frequent e-mails and pics as the frame progressed. I felt a lot more 'ownership' when I finally received the frame because he kept me involved.
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Barry
new member
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 3
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DT thanks for your insight, what steel did you use for your bike?
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Dave_Thompson
prophet
   
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 719
Loc: Spokane, Washington
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I told Dave what I wanted the bike to "feel" like, the ride characteristics, etc. I like to ride longer rides, centuries, all days or multiple day long rides. I wanted the bike to handle a little slower than a race bike, like I told Dave: "I want to be able to unwrap my Fig Newtons with both hands while riding". After our many pre-build conversations, he used Reynolds 725, which turned out to be spot-on for what I wanted. The bike was so dialed in, specification-wise, that there was very little fiddling to do after it was built. Just some very fine tuning.
The big lessons that I have learned is to have intensive dialog with both your fitter and builder. Be very honest about what you want and expect from a bike (if you're not a racer don't have your bike built like one, it won't be right for you) And don't tell your builder how to build your bike unless you know more than he does. Open and honest dialogs with your fitter and builder will reveal to them what would be best. Let them do their jobs, that's what you are paying them for.
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dbrk
contributor
  
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 201
Loc: Finger Lakes, New York
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Today brought my wife's new bicycle, a mostly filet-brazed 650c sized frame that's about 40cm c-t with 6d of slope and a 47cm or so toptube. Yes, my wife is tiny, she doesn't really break 4'10" and her saddle height is about 61cm on a tall day!
The bike is just beautifull, the craft truly breathtaking. This is as fine a frame as I have ever, ever seen (and that includes all the best: Sachs, Goodrich, Nagasawa, etc.)
But here's the best part: it's HelloKitty pink with creme decals. Dave was such a huge sport. To say that my wife loves HelloKitty is like thinking that bicycles have wheels. For those unfamiliar, Hello Kitty is a Japanese anime character made for little, little kids. She's been around since the 1970s or so. Dave put on the stickers I sent to him and had the color picked out _perfectly_. It should be ready by Christmas Eve. I also bought a BIG red bow. That will top it off.
Now I am scheming one for myself
dbrk
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davids
new member
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 26
Loc: Boston, MA
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Dnovo,
I know that Dave Kirk is posting pics of all his completed frames, so upon reading your description of your wife's bike, I immediately sought out the pics. Since you didn't post the ling, I am:
-------------------- DavidS
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dbrk
contributor
  
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 201
Loc: Finger Lakes, New York
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I want to thank davids for posting this picture. It's actually my wife's new bike, not dnovo's...This copy of the picture is brighter and clearer than the one I have. Everyone notice the Hello Kitty stickers?
Today I went to a few shops looking for pink Cinelli tape. No luck yet. I'll find some....then it will be VERY pink, even MORE pink. Hopefully I'll get it done for Christmas Eve. Aimee has no idea this is coming...
dbrk
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dbrk
contributor
  
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 201
Loc: Finger Lakes, New York
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A few pictures posted this morning...It was a surprise and brought huge smiles and sweetness.
Kudos to Dave Kirk being so helpful and brilliant in his work.
dbrk
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davids
new member
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 26
Loc: Boston, MA
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Quote:
dbrk wrote: I want to thank davids for posting this picture. It's actually my wife's new bike, not dnovo's...
dbrk
D'oh! Apologies, dbrk. I was at work when I did this and, hey, who has time to read past the first letter?
Can't wait to see more pics, all built up. Black and pink is a great combo...
-------------------- DavidS
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easypedaler
contributor
Reged: 02/08/04
Posts: 149
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Now that is a one of a kind. Enjoy the ride.
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