Re: [CR]Re: Richard Moon frame

(Example: Humor:John Pergolizzi)

Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 09:55:07 -0800
From: "Brian Baylis" <rocklube@adnc.com>
To: Mary Kaminski <marykaminski@mac.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Re: Richard Moon frame
References: <5625495.1048105387322.JavaMail.marykaminski@mac.com>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Mary,

As you know, Tom was wise enough to document the process for us. I apologize for teasing everyone with my writing, but that's part of the fun for me.;-) If I get a camera I may loose my touch at the keyboard. But I will get a camera soon, it's high on my list of things to do.

I intended to participate in Toms' mystery bike game the other day, but time would not allow that. Now everyone can see what Richard Moon did on this frame. Unfortunately, even pictures would not do justice to the subtle details of what Richard did with the fork crown I suspect. Now that I have put paint on it only Tom, Richard, and I have been able to fully appreciate the work.

Stay tuned, no doubt Tom will fully record the finished product in a photo collection.

Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA Had a BLAST riding with Pergolizzi yesterday. Beautiful day along some of Californias' most incredible coastline. John was in rare form. I watched as he cheated death twice within the first two miles; once as a surfboard nearly flew out of the back of a pickup and pierced Johns' head! I am a little out of shape so I had to suck wheel for the whole ride. Well, all except for when a large Navy flatbed truck pulled in front of us as we were up on Point Loma, and I sucked that wheel instead. It must have caught John by surprise because he didn't get his ticket punched for the free ride. When the truck turned off the road about a mile up the road John was "too far back" ;-) for me to wait, so I pressed on to the end of Point Loma. John was a little "disappointed" in a friendly way that I took the handout. Sorry man, I gotta go with the fastest wheel. Nothing personal.

I love riding with John; we are very simular and he's a real gamer on the bike which makes every ride fun. If I was in better shape I'd let him draft me, but alas, he keeps being more fit than I, forcing me to stay behind him. It's really not my fault. ;-)


>
> Brian,
>
> Puulleeze, puulleeze tell us you took photos of this frame before and after you painted
> it! It's not fair that you got to see it & all we get is a description. Please have some images
> to post! Or you lucky dog, Tom Rawson, do you have some to share with the list?
>
> Yep, it's out of the timeline & OT, but ya gotta share at least one or two images....not all of
> us will make it to CA to see it. Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease!!!
>
> Mary Kaminski
> Philly, PA
>
> Snipped from Brian Baylis:
> >
> >I have been super busy lately and I haven't been able to join everyone
> >in Dales' living room as much as I would like. I'm aslo behind on
> >communications with a lot of business matters, but I NEED to take a few
> >minutes here to add a little something about the "Frame/Mojo" issue. I
> >basically stated that details and handwork are the cornerstone of
> >building Mojo into a custom handmade bicycle frame. One of the marvelous
> >things about frames, lugged steel ones in particular, is that they
> >afford the builder infinite options for styling and adding details to
> >frames. I just recieved a new Richard Moon frame for painting, and I
> >have to tell everyone about a few things that probably only Richard Moon
> >and myself have the pleasure to see and fully appreciate. Since I will
> >be committing the crime of painting over this incredible piece of
> >metalworking, it is my duty to describe it to everyone so that it does
> >not go largely unappreciated. There are so few occassions that I see a
> >frame that is a crime to paint, but Richards' work is so distinct and
> >crisp and finely detailed, that it is a monumental challange to paint
> >such a work in a way that will enhance the creation underneith. I will
> >do my best! Fortunately, the lugs have been thinned very nicely and all
> >of the lug edges are a perfect 90 degrees to the tube and razor sharp.
> >This kind of work allows me to do my best work as well; not only is it
> >inspirational to look at but I'm personally proud to add to Richards'
> >unique display of talent.
> >
> >I must ammend or clarify one statement I said regarding lugs and Mojo in
> >my previous post. One does not see too many frames built using
> >investment cast lugs as a foundation that really exhibit individuality
> >on a completed frame. Often the purpose of using IC lugs is to quickly
> >and easily produce a product that is consistant in quality and
> >appearance. Most of the time the IC lug also eliminates nearly all
> >handwork on the lugs if the builder chooses to do so. Some builders thin
> >the lugs which is nice, but don't alter the profile much if any. Richard
> >Moon treats IC lugs almost like blanks, exactly like I'm working with
> >the Pacenti lugs, to create simple (sort of) and unique lug patterns
> >that are often cut from Columbus IC lugs. His thinning and detailing
> >show a very keen eye for nice curves and consistant sculpturing of lugs.
> >There are many ways and styles to finish lugs and I like the even
> >thickness lug edge with filing that relieves the crotches of the lug
> >intersections with a gentle curve. Richard does this well.
> >
> >The lugs are really magnificent. The time spent and passion invested
> >ooze from this frame. But much of the design and detailing on this frame
> >is concentrated in the fork crown and the fastback stay treatment. I
> >mentioned how a bike and lugset should have a "theme". I think Richard
> >learned this from me, but if not, he still understands this concept.
> >There is a design that appears at the fastback junction of the stays at
> >the binder that is also repeated in the chainstay sockets of the BB
> >shell. One MUST appreciate his concept, probably worked out in
> >conjunction with the customer, and displayed as pure genius on this
> >frame. The lugs are petite, nothing was added to the lugs; the design
> >was cut entirely from the original lug. Very nice.
> >
> >My favorite part of this frame is the fork crown. It began life as a
> >standard Vaugner(?) crown. They are nice except underneith, where
> >Richard did a stellar job of covering it. He did a nicely concaved
> >bottom that is even more work than I normally do on these. Too bad I
> >covered the thing with paint, it was really cool to see how he went
> >about it. Major Mojo in my book. But it doesn't stop there! The top of
> >this crown was flat where many of these crowns have a "chevron" flycut
> >in the top from the factory. Richard did his own chevron that looks
> >almost like the original, but not quite. A keen eye will see the
> >difference. But most impressive are the three holes of different
> >diameters MILLED into the chevron with a center cutting end mill bits.
> >Hily smoke, Richard! That theme is carried out on the inside of the fork
> >tangs and under the bottoms of each lug. This is how one handmakes a
> >frame. In this case beginning with IC lugs does not detract from the
> >outcome. He has successfully Mojoed the hell out of these parts. The
> >lucky owner of this frame is listmember Tom Rawson. I know a certain
> >amount of what involvement Tom had in creating this magnificent frame.
> >It is light, and supremely beautiful, and I'm sure Tom will enjoy this
> >frame for the rest of his life. Congratulations, Tom!