Sir Maldoror

If you follow my blog, or talked to me at or after the 2007 North American Handmade Bicycle Show you know I'm a big fan of Sir Maldoror/Carlos Martell. http://jonnycycles.blogspot.com/2007/03/saturday-at-nahbs.html






At the 2007 show Trevor (owns these two bikes I built for him - Big Pink and Super Skinny) met Carlos and commissioned a new bike from him. I told Trevor to keep me in the loop and send me some photos of the completed bike. I enjoyed working with Trevor as we came up with some really great ideas for his frames and I assumed that Carlos and Trevor would come up with some equally interesting results .

Carlos has a very unique and refreshing style that I have yet to see anywhere else (in bicycles at least). There is obviously some Brian Baylis influence in his work and I like how he has taken that and added some style elements not often found in the bicycle world. I really dig the pin striping, the hand lettering in the panels, and the color selection (way over the top, but in a good way).

Obviously this style won't appeal to everyone, but at the least I think you'll find the photos enjoyable:










Carlos doesn't have much of a web presence and prefers to work locally, but you can see some more work from him here:
http://www.maldororbicycles.com/gallery/main.php

Try sm13000maldoror@gmail.com if you want to get in touch with him.

Hopefully we'll see more of his work soon.

Custom treadless stem

Just back from the chrome plater: A custom threadless stem with integrated top cap.

Pretty cute huh?









In other news everyone at the shop has been pretty busy and things are looking a bit cluttered:




Time for a much needed spring cleaning and some organization (I'm pretty sure spring is here...today HAS to be the last of the snow in our 100 inch + season)...especially since Ahren (http://www.banjobicycles.com/) is tooling up for powdercoating in house which means we need to stuff a curing oven, sandblast cabinet, and large air compressor in here somewhere.

Speaking of Ahren check out this tandem he's working on (sorry for the lackluster photos).







Zack (http://zrcycles.com/) just found this cute mini-lathe and drill press in Janesville:

M-B-M: H8TR100

It's going to be fun, I'm racing and so should you.






http://www.kittenfactory.blogspot.com/

Trans Iowa v.4

http://transiowa.blogspot.com/


Not sure what I've gotten myself into here. Awhile ago Zack and I sent in our Registration postcard for the Trans Iowa race. We didn't make it in time and were put on the waiting list. I forgot all about it until this morning I received this e-mail :

-------
Jonny,

Guitar Ted here with Trans Iowa. I hope all is well with you. I am writing to let you know that your name is next in line for an open spot on the T.I.V4 roster. I have your card here on "the waiting list". If you are still interested in getting on board with all the gravely fun, just respond to this e-mail within two days and i will add your name to the roster.

If I do not see a response within two days I'll move on to the next name in line and yours will go to the end of the line.

Cheers!

Guitar Ted

----------

Now I have until April 26th to prepare for a non-stop all gravel road 300+ mile race w/30 or so hours to do it.

Time to start riding....

Banjo Cycles

Ahren now has a web-site up, check it out:

http://www.banjobicycles.com/

Across the hall with ZR Cycles

Check out what Zack has been up to over on the other side of the shop:

A lugged 650b S & S coupled single speed mountain bike.





I think the made from scratch lugs are a nice touch and bring a bit of (much needed) style to the mtn bike world.

More photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9071768@N04/sets/72157603655073475/

I'm sure more photos will follow once its back from paint.

http://www.zrcycles.com/

Leah in Argentina

Leah, who's usually hanging out in the shop building custom racks has been traveling in Argentina (and will be for a couple more months!) with two of her friends.

They have a good blog going, check it out:

http://overtheandes.blogspot.com/

Cute little book

Found a neat book the otherday: "Everyday Engineering" by Andrew Burroughs + IDEO. Its essentially a collection of photos illustrating several ideas, divided into several sections with a short description before each section. The titles of each section are Craftsmanship, Unseen, Illusions, Interfaces, Elegance, Function follows form, Challenges, Corners, Ugliness, Materials, Repetition, Consequences, Nature, and Time. Flipping thought to the Elegance section you'll find a photo of one of my frames (which I build for Jenny in Chicago). Needless to say I'm quite flattered.




Even if it didn't have a photo of one of my frames I'd still recommend it. A nice inspiring little book, especially if your into engineering, design, aesthetics, and how they all relate. If you want a copy check out:
http://everydayengineeringbook.com/buy

at the races...

Didn't have the time (and I didn't put in enough miles on the bike to make it worthwhile) to do any cross racing this year. I do have this great cross bike I built, and I figured someone should race it. My friend Frank C. was racing on a Fuji touring frameset...which worked but wasn't ideal. He's about my size so I loaned my my frame. His standings improved on the new bike (I'd like to think it was the frame!) but it was more likely due to getting a few more races as this was his first season racing. Hopefully I'll be able to get more of my frames out there next season, until then enjoy some photos of Frank:

Cool frames in the shop

Couple of cool frames in the shop this week.

Reynolds 953 frame #1 is back in the shop for some fenders,custom racks, and a Brooks saddle w/copper to match the copper highlights on the frame:









A really cute and tiny Richard Sachs frame came in today for a rear triangle re-spacing:

On the fixed gear gallery again...

...and this time its my new bike!

http://fixedgeargallery.com/2007/dec/2/JonKendziera.htm

Squid and hammerhead stem in Bicycling Magazine

The December issue of Bicycling Magazine has page about Squid, and he's riding one of our Hammerhead Stems...



http://cyclehawk.com/

Welded frames now available!

The project took a bit longer than expected...but its done:

TIG welded Jonny Cycles track frames - A lower cost/less waiting alternative to the standard lugged Jonny Cycles track frame. Check it out:

http://jonnycycles.com/TIGtrack.html

COG magazine article

The first issue of COG magazine is available. Out of Milwaukee COG is a visual journal captured from behind the bars of city bikers and messengers around the world.

http://www.cogmagazine.com/

Issue #1 has an article about Jonny Cycles, check it out -

http://www.cogmag.com/01/jonny-cycles.html

Fun frame modification and re-paint

Awhile back Glen brought his old Trek touring bike into the shop. He wanted it to work with 700c wheels and modern components, so we did the modifications. For the re-paint we had Keith Anderson do the base coat, then send it back to Glen. Glen gave his two daughters some sharpies and let them draw on the panels, and sent the frame back to Keith. Keith cleared over everything and the end result is really nice...check it out, a truly unique bike!

Shop website

Our framebuilding shop now has its own site, check it out -

http://madisonframebuilders.com/

A collection of photos and links to our sites (hit refresh for new photos).