Lugged bike frame build

I've just taken the first step on the bike build project. Having done the preparatory work such as reading everything I can lay my hands on, setting up the workshop and buying the necessary basic tools; this weekend I did my first practise brazing. You can see the results below - not cosmetically pretty but full joint penetration which I was pleased with. Now this is brazing with brass, so significantly more difficult than silver based brazing because:

• A much hotter flame of (850-900 C) is needed (650-700 C for silver) but I managed to achieve this with an air/propane torch, so there us less chance of overheating the steel tubing.
• The flux is a bitch to get off afterwards.
• Brass doesn't flow as well as silver.

A little more practise is needed to tidy up the shoreline and make sure that I'm not overheating, but brass is cheap so many trials are possible and when I am competent enough silver brazing it will be simple by comparison (hopefully).

SBCC tour 2012 - 7

Recovery ride.

After yesterday's exertions we elected to have an easy day so offed to Carhaix for a return visit to Decathalon where I made some more impulse purchases. So only 50 km today, via café au lait and biere stops. Last night at Huelgoat so we are off out for a good feed.

SBCC tour 2012 - 6

Another day at the seaside. The wind blew us there up hill and down to the north Brittany coast where we refuelled with Breton Far (flan). The return was not so much fun into a 30 mph headwind for 50 km. Legs completely knackered now.

SBCC tour 2012 - 5

La Plage

Today we went to the seaside. But not before we watched the start of the Huelgoat triathalon - the girls at home missed out bigtime as 200 finely honed male triathaletes passed us in wet skintight lycra (there were a few female entrants too . . .) As it turned out JJ decided not to run and elected instead to take a rest day as we departed for the coast via Sizun and Daoulas. The sun shone most of the time for a 109 km lumpy ride which included the last part of the tri course on our return, though alas for us we did not win a prize