Millstone

Very nice really like the story!

I'd love to tour Finland some time. I visited Karelia (sp?) once, nice.
Hmmm.... Maybe a roadtrip, sometime. Netherlands, Germany, up to Denmark, take a boat to whatever plae it goes to, go along the coast to the polecircle, drive back through Finland,...

OK, I'll shelve that dream for when I have either time, money, or both

onre

Not a bad plan, really. Lots of nice road network with low traffic around here. Also, if your bike can handle gravel, tons of that.

The broken frame has proceeded a bit. I had it powder coated and assembled with parts a friend borrowed to me. Here it is with the original handlebar temporarily in place, sans fenders. I've been planning for glossy black ones with a round profile. Final handlebar choice is a moustache bar. Given how much fun this thing is to ride, I'd imagine it'll become my spring-to-autumn commuter.

onre

This sounds interesting! I could do fillet brazing at my little garage, but don't really have the financial means of coming up with a stable enough frame jig, and have been pondering about how to make do with something cheaper.

Doug Fattic 

I learned how to put on a rear triangle accurately without a fixture while apprenticing in England years ago. I consider getting a wheel to center with exactly the same length rear stays the most challenging aspect of building a frame. Using a lugged BB shell where the chain stays can move in and out really makes that task much easier. It is a little lengthy to describe in one post without multiple pictures. The tools required are a true wheel, a straight edge with an adjustable screw on one end and a homemade T tool that attaches to the dropouts and seat binder bolt to set the correct angle of the chainstays to the seat tube. By doing one joint at a time and making sure it is in the right position, it is possible to use the wheel to know where to spot braze the other side when it is in the center.

santa fe 2926 

Great post, great read.