Saturday, May 17, 2008

Bring the heat!

Yesterday it was 90 degrees out and a little bit hotter in the shop. I stand between a 400 degree powder coating oven and a 6000 degree torch. Whats a boy to do to beat the heat?

MMmmmmmmm.....



...tasty fruity deliciousness.

In other news, I decided to do a little "JRA" bench testing. For long time bike shop folks "JRA" means "just riding along", and is usually applied to bikes that have been the worst kind of mangled and then returned for "warranty" work. IE-"I don't know how it cracked in half, I was just riding along!"

In this case "JRA" means "Jury Rigged and Anecdotal". Just like my stem testing this is non-scientific "beat on it and see what happens" testing.



Here your 175lb frame builder is bouncing on the head tube with nothing but the bottom bracket supporting the frame. That look on my face is me realizing that the cement floor could get closer at any second. Fortunately, steel frames are rather (reassuringly) over built in the strength department, and my "testing" didn't even change the front end alignment. Not to shabby.

And, just in case you were worried, rest assured this frame will not be sent out! It will undergo a few more "impactful"* stress tests before getting cut up and recycled.


Big things are in the works here at QB. Summer is here, and things are rolling! A few more bikes were just added to the hopper- stay tuned for more updates!



*Tee hee!- I like the double entendre and say "so there grammar police"!

3 comments:

Andrew Campbell said...

Whooo-nelly! Popsicles and what looks a lot more ink-art on the arms since I saw you last.

Oh yes, nice strength-testing technique, too!

best
A+M+M+J

Quixotic Bicycles said...

Pre-popsicle brain heat was the stress-test that sent the rest.

Ink-art: money suck since 10,000 BC (keeping it old school).

steve garro said...

nice QC, mr. E! that's what i'm talking about! that's the kinda thing that makes you sleep better at night. you ever think that maybe it's the full-sleeves making you hot? i'm actually jealous {again} - intentional punk rock reference - it's been snowing here for 2 days! keep up the good work! steve.