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Ahearne Cycles

Process

Spring Projects, 2013

City Bike, News, ProcessJoseph Ahearne

We’re pushing the tail end of spring, and it’s starting to feel a lot like summer. I've been busy with a lot of unique projects. A lot of bikes with a lot of racks. Meaning big, elaborate racks. Quite a few of them are integrated into the frame, meaning they're brazed on, and are a part of the bike. I love that sort of devotion.  

Double Seat StaysLillian's Mid-tailI’ve just finished another mid-tail that is on its way to the powder coater. The last mid-tail I built was for a very tall man, and this one is for a shorter woman, so the design is similar, but the proportions have changed. This bike is scheduled to go on a year-long world tour. 

I am most of the way through a crazy commuter with a 24” front wheel and a 28” rear, very similar in design to the bike I built for the Oregon Manifest a couple of years back. It has a basket that bolts to the head tube, and a couple of different places for frame bags to be mounted. It’s one of the coolest and most generally useful bikes that I think I’ve ever built. Maybe I say that only because it’s the one I’m working on right now, which always seems to be my favorite bike. All-round Bad Ass Commuter

Also this spring I made my first attempt at double seat stays, which came out looking bad ass, if I do say so myself. These are on a single speed cross bike with disc brakes that should be coming back from the powder coater in a week or so. 

Another bike I want to mention is a step-through commuter bike with the rear basket integrated into the frame. So many tubes, and it came out to be such a gorgeous bike. I’ll post a full photo run of the finished bike soon. 

 Here are photo highlights from some of the projects I’ve mentioned here. 

Enjoy!

Emre Stainless Steel Road Bike

Process, RoadJoseph Ahearne2 Comments

Stainless Steel BicycleEmre's bike is a full stainless steel lugged road bike. The geometry is more upright and relaxed than a racing bike, meant to be comfortable on longer rides. The frame design is pretty straight-forward. There is clearance for 28c tires and fenders, and the bike has a very minimal rear rack. Custom panniers are currently in the works from Philosophy Bags in Camas, Washington. 

Shiny Head Lug

One noteable thing about the bike is that I used the Pacenti Artisan lugset, which is now a piece of history. I'd had these lugs sitting around for a couple of years, and they are no longer being made. 

Shiny Seat LugI don't have much more to say about the bike. Understatement of the year is that there was a lot to polish. The finished product is pretty amazing. I think the photos speak way more than words can. I've included quite a few photos of the build process as well. Particularly of the steps involved in the down tube logo. The logo is laser cut stainless steel, brazed on and polished, then masked and the panel was etched, then re-polished. Quite a few steps, and pretty interesting I think. All the photos of the finished bike are by Arthur Smid.

Head Badge Design Process

News, ProcessJoseph Ahearne

 
Head Tube Badge
The new head tube badge has received quite a bit of attention. A lot of people want to know how it was made, who made it, what the process was. The artist, Karl Edwards, put together a really thorough and thoughtful post, detailing the proceedure. It's a good read, and an interesting story, if you care to check it out.

I'm very grateful for all the time and energy Karl put into the design.

Here is a link to Karl's version of the process of making the head tube badge. 

Enjoy!