Balancing Act (or) The Seven Billionth Baby
Budd Bike Works is something like a Fairy. Yeah, a magical winged thing that only exists when someone believes in them. At that point, that some soul believes enough to commission a custom frame build, the lights come on and I start designing and building. This fantasy world where I hone metal to earn my keep is not independent of the reality of the fact that I have to keep... Read More
The Physics Book Definition of Work (or) Fallen Fruit
There is no time like labor day to make an audit of your position in the workings of your place. Just a couple of days in defiance of the schedule you are regularly beholden in pursuit of the next paycheck, are a rare opportunity to take in the periphery once the blinders are removed. At least that is the case for me this year. Yesterday, I was lucky enough to spend much of... Read More
Low Contrast (or) Interdependence Day
In moments that I am feeling particularly proud of my toil wresting a bespoke, high performance bicycle frame from a pile of steel I am prone to seeing in myself that stoic, independent, spirit that has always been such an integral facet of the American mythology. Taking a step back I see the error in that thinking, I am but the smallest cog in a system of economic and social... Read More
29′er Build Update III
A real Nail Biter this one. Go Bruins. #gallery-2 { margin: auto; } #gallery-2 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-2 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-2 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } All the bits cleaned up after filing. Not... Read More
29′er Build Progress
Still much to tell, still going to just give a couple cursory pics of the latest in the jig instead. Got to get across town ahead of the twisters. #gallery-3 { margin: auto; } #gallery-3 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-3 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-3 .gallery-caption... Read More
Entry Fee for the Tournament (or) Built to take a hit
I heard a short piece on the radio from the guys that wrote the book Freakonomics (interesting takes on the sorts of causes at the root of effects in society and commerce) that is one of those little things that sticks in my head that I keep coming back to. The hypothesis was that the nature of the business of being a beauty queen was at its core very similar to entering the... Read More
Embryonic Bicyles out and about.
Gestation periods for bounds pushing bicycles can be a bit unpredictable at times. This one was not ready for the world in time for the first hardcourt bike polo tournament of the year at this past weekends Winter Lockdown at Hockey Town in Saugus. It has been shown that forming fetus can be influenced from the womb. This little guy’s tight quarters, one handed, handling... Read More
Irons in the fire (or) Precision is a c@#$
Progress is not cake. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Irons in the fire (or) Precision is a c@#$", url: "http://www.buddbikes.com/2011/01/irons-in-the-fire-or-precision-is-a-c/" }); Read More
Anthrapomorphising Metal (or) The Declining Likelihood of Procreation
I at long last put the last welds on a frame I was commissioned to build, a track bike for a local rider among the many pining for a closer velodrome to the Boston Metro Region. Here it is photographed in front of my fantastic BBW Banner. Finished welding and did the parts fit test, all passed and ready for paint Soon enough it’ll be painted up with my branding emblazoned... Read More
BBW #28 & #29 Build Progression, Sexy Top Tube Friday
Follow The Build on FFFFFFFFFFFLickR October 22nd, 2010 BBW #28 is to be a very small road frame that as I’ve mentioned I’ve explicit instructions to make “sexy”. Thinking about some of my experimentation with tube shaping and wrapping I thought I’d try something a little different with my sectional monostay rear end by utilizing the excess... Read More
