I was hoping that would be the case, the stiff rear combined with the more compliant front seems like it would be a pretty good combination.
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I fully blame all of you for this.
It’s done. Send it.
I figure I’m gonna have to make two or three of these before I ever mix any resin, might as well get started.
I spent $7 on a styrofoam panel and a couple hours with a hand saw and some tape.
Things usually have to get real ugly before they get pretty. However, I’m really seeing the potential here already and am incredibly excited to continue with this experiment.
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Elmer’s wood glue wroks really well for gluing these sheetes together and by some insane stroke of luck, this stack up is almost exactlty the correct width so tha’s cool.
I spent about and hour with some 100g sandpaper on a paint stick and got here. I’m having a really positive feeling about this, which means I’ll probably wreck it the next time I touch it.
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Looks flexy. Did you CAD it?
Can’t wait to see the progress.
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You’re just saying that because it’s made out of styrofoam. 
It’ll get more robust with multiple layers of carbon on it. If I even use this one. I’m just playing with foam right now, seeing how it shapes, how many grits it likes. I was really just trying to see how deep of an s-curve I could carve into a 1" chunk of foam. I haven’t decided if it’s gonna stay blocky and kinda square or have more curves to it, this helps me visualize.
Did you forget whose build thread you’re reading? I barely used my eyes.
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Trust me I know. I am a wing and a prayer type of builder also.
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Haha!
« I barely used my eyes. »
That’s the best one yet!
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Really stoked to see how this shakes out! Less unsprung mass is never(?) a bad thing! Good luck!
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Carbon likes wrapping over curves better than sharp edges. Also don’t forget to allow for the thickness of the carbon over the top of the foam (only 1-2mm but if your chainring’s too close…). Looks amazing so far.
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Thanks! When I said curvy or square, I didn’t mean really mean square, square. Most of the carbon stuff I see is made from a machined mold or a 3d printed form so they have a a kind of straight square-ness to them, they look like CAD models, obviously. Very efficient and German looking 
Since I’m just finger-banging this whole thing, I can make it look much more swoopy and organic, asymetrical and weird. The piece I have carved out already kinda looks like bones, I’m not sure I’f I like it or It’s gonna look stupid against the straight steel of the front.
I’m already way ahead of myself and need to get some bearings and finish weld this front triangle before I do much more shaping. I’ve never done any carving or sculpting (other than bondo) and, I gotta admit, it’s pretty cool watching these things that looks like swoopy chain and seat stays appear from this square ass block of foam. This part is fun.
****HEY! Why is it when I quote a previous post in its’ entirety, it often gets auto removed? It just happened now and I hate it.
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So. If anybody has any interest in actually watching this transpire, let’s see if we can get it a little traction. I’m getting a little tired of yelling into the darkness, so if there’s not sufficient interest, I’m probably not gonna take the time to film and fight with that whole side of it. So, go leave a thumbs up and a comment (a NICE one!) if you want to watch me struggle.
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I like this very much
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It was the Robocop butt, wasn’t it?
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Real carpet fiber?
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I’ll enjoy watching the progression through the curve. Maybe mine won’t be so deep If ever I decece to try CF. 
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One builder’s struggle is another’s entertainment! Close your eyes and gas it.
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Hi.
Long story short.
I’m not gonna film this. I’ll update here if I get something that works but I’m not gonna film any of it.
because I don’t want to.
Talk later
XOXO
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I got materials. I got dropouts figured out. I got aluminum tube wrapped in fiberglass. I got progress.
The front traingle is finish welded/brazed, except for maybe one cable guide (if I can find it) and I got the BB chased and faced today.
I decided that these wheelbarrow bearings, while hilarious, probably aren’t really the right answer here. They’ve got too much slop in them. That said, I’m switching to a needle roller bearingfor the main pivot. I think they’ll be better for what I want a bearing to do and they’re a little smaller and lighter. Much less wiggly too.
I was about to put the front back in the jig and start carving the rear (that dumb bones looking thing isn’t gonna fly, except maybe into the trash)…
then I had a silly paint idea that should be done sooner than later for several reasons, so it looks like I’m gonna try painting over the long, thanksgiving weekend. That’ll be fun. Then we’ll go back in the jig and start this carbon ass end. Good times 
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I decided I’d be clever and paint it before it rusted. I wanted to try this candy over bare metal deal and I absolutely hate the color. So, it’ll be coming off. I’ll probably just end up rattle can-ing it because between the carbon fiber and now the paint and the 2 bearings I wrecked and the new reamer I probably need I’m basically just spending dozens of hours to turn perfectly good, legal tender into parts I can’t use. Double damn it.
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