[CR]Re: Eddy at Speed....Bike Fit, overnite build

(Example: Framebuilding)

Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2006 18:06:53 -0500
Subject: [CR]Re: Eddy at Speed....Bike Fit, overnite build
From: "Doug Fattic" <fatticbicycles@qtm.net>
To: "classicrendezvous@bikelist.org" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>


As one of the few it's-my-day-job framebuilders/painters that hang out on this list, it seems I'm obligated to respond to this subject thread. Another way of looking at this is how fast can a decent rideable frame be built discounting aesthetics. I'm kind of assuming their was a bit of exaggeration somewhere in the description of a "complete" bicycle being built "overnight". No matter what the actual short length of time was involved, something pretty decent can be put together in a day - particularly if more than one person is involved and length of time = length of fish stories. I would presume that the change Mr. Merckx might want Mr. DeRosa to make would be something like a 1/2 degree less seat angle and maybe a 1/2 centimeter more top tube length. Whatever.

A lot of what separates the better from the lesser is the time spent in hand filing work and double checking accuracy. A Campagnolo 1010 dropout of that period needed to have the window and outside edges filed to make it look nice. This can take several hours to look really good but 5 minutes can also make it acceptable. What I would guess he would concentrate on is function and not aesthetics. Thinning lugs wouldn't take a priority but a belt sander can do some quick work. As others have suggested, the Italian way was to make subassemblies first. I'm betting that the dropout to chainstay braze and filing, however the top of the seat stays were done and the fork were already waiting to be mated to the next frame when he "started". Most Europeans could braze up a frame in 1/2 a day. Painting can be done with just primer and color coats with decals placed after the stove enamel is baked off. Maybe a couple of hours total were needed.

By the 80's, an Italian company called Bike Machinery made equipment so that the time to make bicycle frames could be greatly reduced. Eddy himself told my framebuilding friend Rich Gangle that his frames took 15 minutes to build and this was slow compared to other outfits. How far back into the 70's this company made stuff to speed up the process, I don't know. If memory serves, DeRosa was the one that set up Eddy's framebuilding company with this company's equipment. It is a bit of a myth that one guy labors from start to finish with just his jig, torch and files.

I also remember watching Pogliaglis and Bob Jacksons being built by a group of 4 or 5 guys in the mid to late 70's. I'm sure that each of those groups turned out several frames in one day. I think it was 25 or 30 a week.

At times in the distant past, I have tried to see how fast I could put together a decent frame. Not a Doug Fattic frame where I sweat the details to perfection but not sloppy either. It took me about 6 hours. I could probably do it faster now - especially if a tig welded it together. One time I remember starting with a box of tubing on a Wednesday night and by Friday night it was all painted with clear coats over the decals and assembled into a complete bicycle. I did have to have the attitude to keep moving forward and not checking or caring if something wasn't just right and I didn't sleep much either. It ended up in Ukraine and is still being ridden. For comparison, it takes me at least 40 hours to build a plain lugged frame to my liking and it is impossible to do it in 40 straight hours, I would go completely nuts. For my own sanity, I also don't keep track of how long I actually fiddle with details.

By the way, a good paint job can take as long or longer then the frame build itself. I always wonder why this skill - which I think requires more talent than framebuilding - doesn't get more respect. It is harder for students to catch on to painting than framebuilding. It requires a greater "touch" or "feel". It doesn't require as much patience however nor is there as many variables to keep track of.

Doug Fattic
Niles, Michigan USA