Let's start "simple": lugged light town bike

[Hananas]

Alright, now that I’ve got part of my torch setup and things are getting more real I’ve gathered my thoughts and made a decision for what frame I’ll actually start with.

I’ll start with a traditional lugged upright bike for around town. Reynolds 525 tubing and off the shelf lugs. I’ll keep the 3D printed lugs for once I’ve got the basics down.

Geometry and riding style are inspired by this fished up krusty canal bike!

Frame details (not 100% final):
56cm top tube with a 2° slope
56cm seat tube (C-T)
71° HTA
72° STA
450-460mm chainstays
38mm tire clearance
Oversize Reynolds 525 tubing
1" threaded front end
130mm rear spacing
Caliper rim brakes

Build details (not 100% final)

Generally I’d like to go for the same classy neo-retro vibe as my road bike:

But with probably these lovely lightweight upright comfort bars

Tektro FL750 levers
Tektro R538 calipers or similar
For wheels I want to use these DT 240S hubs I once sanded down to brushed aluminium

Together with some delightful Sapim D-light spokes, but I’m having trouble finding 20H and 24H silver rim brake rims… I have the front wheel laced up with a DT R460 rim now but the partially black rim bothers me to no end. If anyone knows where I can get silver 20 and 24H shallow rim brake rims in Europe I’d be really happy.
For gears I might even go with a single downtube shifter for a 1x8 drivetrain!
Tires undecided but I’d like something supple and tanwall, like my preferred Panaracer Paselas or maybe, very maybe I might splurge on some Challenge Strada Biancas.
Maybe possibly a Brooks Flyer saddle? Not sure, I’ve never tried a good non-worn Brooks and they’re kinda pricy and have black rails.
For the fork I’ll use a fork I have laying around now but eventually I want to make a fitting fork as well. Does anyone know where I can find crowns that fit the 27.5x20mm Reynolds 525 blades? I can only find crowns for 28x19 blades. Those would be okay too but I’d like to use the R525 butted 1.0/0.7 blades.

I really want to put a permanently brazed on rack on the back as well, classic Flemish style!
Like this but a bit narrower / more sleek and light.

I’d need a tubing bender for that though.

[Hananas]

A quick doodle in BikeCad gets me this:

I couldn’t find a nice colour in BikeCad of course but I’ll find something really nice for the real life thing.

[bulgie]

@Hananas

1" threaded front end

Haven’t you learned your lesson yet after two steerers failed on you at the threads?

Kidding! I’m still a fan of inch threaded. They last a hundred years if you follow some common-sense precautions. Knowing what you now know, you’ll be fine.

OS steerer on single (not tandem) road bikes is for plastic or alu forks only. I’ll grudgingly admit, OS in steel is worth it for tandems or MTBs.

Keep us posted on your progress!

[Hananas]

@bulgie

I’m still a fan of inch threaded.

Same honestly! I may be too young to know a time when they were standard issue on most bikes, but I think for a classy sleek town or road bike they just have the right feeling / vibe / look.

@bulgie

Knowing what you now know, you’ll be fine.

Hopefully! Fingers crossed, I’ve cursed at plenty of bad threaded setups the past 7 years so hopefully I’ve learned how to make it work now.

@bulgie

Keep us posted on your progress!

Sure will! First gotta continue cleaning the garage to make room for brazing, then finishing up the setup and start practicing with the new torch.

I might even invest in a compressor for a painting setup when the time comes to paint this one… I love painting frames but I don’t like buying so many rattle cans. I also already have a makeshift paint booth in the basement with an extraction fan, and a nice NOS spray gun my former / first employer gifted me. Plus I would absolutely love being able to mix my own colours

[Duanedr]

@Hananas

I’ll start with a traditional lugged upright bike for around town. Reynolds 525 tubing and off the shelf lugs. I’ll keep the 3D printed lugs for once I’ve got the basics down.

This is a wise choice. I am always amazed at how many first time builders take on super complex full suspension bikes as their first try. Maybe they are already accomplished fabricators but it seems a bold move either way.

[Hananas]

Well I thought I might as well take the advice of you guys.

Plus, honestly realistically speaking I’m going to love a simple comfortable upright bike made with my own two hands so much more than anything really fancy.
I fell in love with simple comfortable steel city bikes from the moment I did my first restomod when I was 18 and needed a bike to get around as a student, one that was nice to ride but had little value to thieves and man I wanted to build my own fresh version of a vintage frame ever since.
That was 7 years ago which feels long to me but probably sounds like yesterday to all the older guys here.
I hope this build goes well because this is the kind of bike I’ll never stop loving. I still have the frame of that first restomod but it’s a basic straight gauge frame with stamped dropouts and needs to be repaired.
It’ll forever have a special place in my heart though, just like my blue road bike which introduced me to the world of quality steel frames and tubesets.

[markbeaver]

If you haven’t already had some practice brazing lugs, I’d strongly suggest getting two or three inexpensive lug sets and practicing brazing them then hacksawing them apart to see how good your braze penetration is. You might be able to pick up some inexpensive 0.9mm straight gauge tubing to use, in the correct diameters. It’s a valuable learning experience developing flame control and heat control before you start using the real stuff. You mention that you’re in the EU, well since Brexit Ceeway no longer is, but they sell a couple of inexpensive starter kits, see Tube and Parts Bundle. If you haven’t seen this before. Enjoy your nnew adventures!