Monday: A Rough Start
Mondays are rarely uneventful, but this one was particularly challenging. Fresh off a day in bed with flu symptoms, I attempted to rally for Maurice’s first day on the framebuilding course. It was an uphill battle, as even the smallest tasks felt monumental. Maurice, however, came prepared and enthusiastic, with his meticulously prepped lugs ready for action. Despite my weariness, we managed to get the bottom bracket tacked on and brazed by the end of the day.
Tuesday: Still Under the Weather
Trouble continued overnight. Sleep evaded me, and a host of lovely flu symptoms took over, including muscle aches, chills, and a cracking headache. To add to the misery, Elena also succumbed to the flu and was down for the count. Nevertheless, Maurice and I soldiered on with the second day of the course. The focus of the day was perfecting the hand mitring and filing of various tubes, followed by assembling the front triangle for tacking and brazing. Maurice, ever the diligent student, made steady progress, learning to tackle even the trickiest of lug brazing jobs.
Wednesday: A Slight Improvement
A better night’s sleep worked wonders (relatively speaking), but the flu still hung on stubbornly. Maurice was determined to finish brazing the front triangle, so we pressed on. Afterward, it was all about filing – tedious but essential for a polished final product. I have to say Maurice took to filing like a duck to water, creating joins smooth enough to pass even the toughest inspection. The front triangle now resembled the beginning of a bespoke frame, a reward for Maurice’s concentrated effort.
Thursday: On to the Rear Triangle
The fourth day saw us delve into the rear triangle and the fork. Brazing dropouts and attaching the topeyes to the seat stays requires precision, and Maurice rose to the challenge once more. By mid-afternoon, he had brazed his fork crown as well, producing work that was free from excess brass and cleanly executed. It’s always a joy to witness a student’s confidence and skillset take a leap over such a short time.
Friday: Wrapping Up
By Friday, it was time to put the finishing touches on Maurice’s frame. Rear stays were brazed in, bridge support was added, and the remaining braze-ons completed the week’s work. Maurice’s frame stood as a testament to five days of focused craftsmanship. Although my flu lingered, I felt a sense of satisfaction and pride in facilitating Maurice’s journey as a budding framebuilder. Here’s to another successful course, and Maurice’s hard-earned, bespoke frame!
Upcoming Dates
3 March 2025 – 7 March 2025: Following the framebuilding course with Maurice, I will need time to catch up on pending work and emails. Work availability will be limited, and response times will be slower than usual.
17 March 2025 – 28 March 2025: I will be running a framebuilding course with Stan and will not be available for any other work during this time.
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