Shuv's 2-wheeled antics *SLOG

[sevenfourate]

Glass-fronted display case I bought and mounted in the man-cave: and which I’ve now filled with my favourite components I already had….and have bought more - as spares for the BMX:

 

[sevenfourate]

I’m usually quite impulsive. But after way too much time and deliberation (3 months ?): yesterday i found the frame I want for the start of building up the ‘dream’ daily 20” BMX rider 😁 *Need to speak to the shop selling these Colony Prody frames on Pre-order; Monday about something - but essentially it’s a modern full 4130 CroMoly frame with 990 brake mounts, heat treated mid bottom bracket, 14mm dropouts, heat treated head tube, 6mm thick dropouts, bang up-to-date geometry: but all based around Clint Millar’s frames from 1994 style wise. With the retro rear platform. And stunning Chrome finish - fresh out of ‘back in the day’. Old school looks. New school performance……..😍

As well as now thinking about forks, cranks and wheels. To get those “big” components nailed per-se:

Last night I’ve ordered my very favourite Skyway 130mm long Flanged grips, Chrome United 1/2 link chain, Unite seat-clamp [UK CNC made - and the same as already on my FIT 22”] and Odyssey clear compound brake pads. As these aren’t going change whatever frame I go with…..😁

Way more excited than a 53 year old man really should be…..😁

 

[sevenfourate]

On the Cycling theme - I’ve also started collecting retro BMX Magazines. I decided to only collect those with at least some Freestyle BMX content [ie: Not just racing]. And of course rather than be normal and collect a whole set of one Magazine / a whole year etc…..

What I’m trying to do is collect as many different magazine titles (Again - with a Freestyle content) from 1984-1989. Which are the years I rode from back in the day.

Most have come from the USA. And got cumulatively expensive quick. Some of the mags alone were over $50. And the cheapest International postage I’ve paid so far is $17 for one magazine. I’ve amassed the 14 pictured in-hand so far; and I did find and win another on ebay last night.

But things are really slowing down with these. So I think even getting to 20 different titles could take some time and be good going !

 

[sevenfourate]

Rainy Sunday afternoons on eBay have alot to answer for. I’ve wanted a BMX project for a while. Looks like I’ve probably now got two….

This 4130 CroMoly, Mid-School GT Vertigo frame and forks - with interesting / scarce ‘Pac-Man’ style fork dropouts appeared on eBay as a buy it now. I didn’t know its value but was happy to pay asking price. So buttons were hit:

I’ve got quite a head start of parts in the Stores at home already. I’m planning on a loosely veiled Eddie Fiola tribute colour scheme from the mid 1980’s. Frame will certainly be re-done in Yellow. With some combo of Polished, Black and Blue components. Kinda like this (Although “The Flying Banana” had many component and colour variants of this bike):

 

[sevenfourate]

GT Eddie Fiola ‘Tribute” build now has all parts required in-hand:

…….after I gave our post-person a bad back today (Below)….😁

Bike is VERY loosely based on The Flying Banana’s bike from the mid to late 1980’s.
Being a GT - and being Yellow and Blue at the very least !

The Vertigo F+F is from the late Mid-school. And although not top-top echelon components: there’s nothing cheap and nasty going on. I’m guessing it’s going to be very close to a 4-figure (UK ££) build: come completion.

Bearing Cups were all knocked out today. Off the F+F goes for paint tomorrow.

Being a GT guy, not having a ‘modern’ish’ 20” bike with Gyro as a rider - and even having some Eddie Fiola artwork in the man-cave right where this bike will live (Middle left)…….

……….I’M GENUINELY EXCITED 😁

 

[sevenfourate]

Having knocked the bearing cups out, removed all cabling etc - and bared the frame ready for PowderCoat today; this Morning saw me Googling “RAL Code for Eddie Fiola BMX”……

Most people seemed to agree in unison that RAL 1023 (Traffic Yellow) was the best shade match.

This is both Yin and Yang for me. Good in that I can now get it done FREE OF CHARGE 😁

…….because working for an Engineering Manufacturing Company: we make lots of Safety barriers. Here’s a pile in our yard today - waiting to be fitted:

And it turns out the standard colour we have these done in - is the very same shade as is required by the Eddie Fiola type bike. So although FOC / won’t cost me a penny to be re-done…..all I’ll be able to imagine every time I see / ride this bike is effectively a ‘Barrier on Wheels” 🤣🤣