Drillium Dude 

After departing RogerM's 50th birthday party, I drove north to Marysville to drop in on Alex Moll.

I've had a spare pair of Colnago pantographed gear levers kicking around, not to mention a couple off-color Campy gum rubber hoods. Alex needed one good hood to replace the slightly-torn one on his 1980 Colnago Super - and he was looking for a pair of panto'd gear levers. We worked out that I'd bring this stuff over this afternoon; he also let me know he'd be done with a "project" for me and he'd show it to me today.

I had no idea what it could be...

To foreshadow a bit, I have left my 1983 Colnago Mexico in his care. The original intention was that he take it to March's Seattle Bike Expo and the Vintage Bike Show. Bob Freeman runs the show, and this year his theme is "Super-bikes". Since the Mexico is fully-pantographed, what better bike? Additionally, if I do not move back to WA after my DG tour is up, there will always be a bike waiting for me should I come to visit. I plan on leaving three with Scozim in Eastern WA, too; what better people to entrust your bikes with than a fellow Brother (Chief) and a guy who rocks a flattop even better than I do?

I got to Alex's at around 1600 - he was waiting outside the garage. My Mexico was dropped off a couple weeks ago, and it was standing center-stage in the garage on a new wooden stand which I was sure he'd built. You see, Alex has been building custom wooden bike stands since last year - I first saw his work at last year's Show. I figured he'd made another one so that he could display my bike in March - but, wow, I didn't expect this:



Isn't that the bomb? Not only custom-made, but personalized with both my Flickr and Bike Forums handles (and countersunk Drillium, too!). I had absolutely no idea this was the project he'd been working on for me until I got a gander at the laser-engraving.

I swapped out the pantographed gear levers on the Mexico - the display stand works as a work stand, too:



The rails are mahogany and the end plates are maple; it's designed to hold either wheel for display:



Here's a shot of the Mexico in cold-storage down in Alex's Man Cave:



I am completely overwhelmed by your generosity, Alex - I know this work of art took a great deal of time from concept to completion and I am grateful beyond words for the thought and effort. An absolutely fantastic utilitarian piece of art which I will cherish to my dying day.

Thanks, Brother - you're the best

DD

poprad

That is an impressive piece of wood-art, and a helluva gesture.

scozim 

Fantastic looking piece of art. Great job, Alex.

Lascauxcaveman 

You have some pretty nice bikes. If you need more storage, I'm a ferry ride away in Port Angeles. They'll feel right at home with my old Nishiki Lanadau with the drillium alloy chainrings.

Johnonaschwinn

The stand is a great design and built nicely. I am a cabinetmaker by trade

ftwelder

That is beautiful. A perfect match for the machine.

gomango

Classy.

...and very thoughtful.

Bianchigirll 

Great looking stand and nice gift. The bike is pretty nice too. When do you live for the DG?

Michael Angelo 

Beautiful work. It's a great feeling to have a really good friend.

rootboy 

That's for sure MA. Many very generous guys on this forum and that stand is an excellent example. Great looking piece Alex.
Being a tinkerer, I have to ask how it was done. Laser cut? It's really sharp.

Italuminium

Stunning work! And a great gesture, Alex.

Alex Moll

Thanks all.

Scott: Yes - the front was laser engraved.

I enjoy attending and showing bikes at a couple of C&V shows each year. I've been helping Bob Freeman with the "big one" - the Seattle Bike Expo in March. We put on quite a nice, non-judged, show that's a popular attraction every year. Occasionally, some bikes show up with fantastic vintage cast metal stands. Most of them belong to Nelson Miller - who lives in France part-time. They seem to be hen's teeth over here. As I'm not much of a metal-worker (yet), I've been trying different designs in wood. They all work fine, but this one is my favorite so far.

I'm going to build a variation of this stand over Thanksgiving weekend, that will work with 650B+fender. Stay tuned . . .

Alex Moll

Here are my other designs:



Purpleheart and White Ash.



Good for bikes with tubulars and/or latex tubes.


Good for bikes with fenders.

A few more pics and details here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/3915149...th/8196735413/

russd32

That's beautiful! If you aren't selling these already you should be.

ColonelJLloyd 

Wow, indeed. Great looking stands, Alex!

Otis

Very nice work Alex. I was going to ask if you made one to hold the entire bike off the ground, and now see that you do. Not easy to get the geometry right on those so the bike sits level. I remember the last time I tried to make one it gave me a headache.

But what I really want to see is photos of the slot car track

I'm going to try and come of for the next Seattle show.

Drillium Dude 

Okay, and I'll add in a pic of the train set, too:







The very definition of Man Cave

DD

Drillium Dude 

Ditto! I think he may get more than a few requests from this thread; in any case, one reason I opened the thread was to drum up interest in addition to sharing a cool story. I'm sure there are quite a few out there into wood for displaying vintage steel.

DD

gomango

Looks like Scalextric race track.

Our track is down atm, but she'll come out during the holidays.

Your race circuit looks familiar.

Original design or modeled after a circuit I wonder?

Enquiring minds want to know.

rootboy 

It's the new F1 track in Austin. You can tell by the Tetons in the background.

rootboy 

Those are beautiful Alex. Is that purple heart on some of them? I've been brainstorming one that holds the bike up off the ground, so the tubulars don't sit when they deflate. This is pure inspiration. Thanks. Great work.

cobrabyte

There is so much awesomeness happening in this thread!

Alex Moll

Yup - Scalex. Not after any particular track - just wanted a variety of turns. This was a huge stress relief for me for a few years, and that's probably why it's kinda tough to let it go. But it hasn't seen much use over the last few years. Originally, I wanted my boys to have a basement similar to that depicted in the movie "Stuart Little." My oldest did use it for a few years (you can see his "artwork" on the train layout.) The boy have moved on to other interests, but I'm grateful they still love the outdoors, cycling, camping, etc. We have wonderful summers together, and snowboarding at Stevens Pass ain't bad either.

Alex Moll

Yes, Purpleheart. I have to admit it's pretty, and a nice contrasting wood. Not much fun to work with, though. It's quite hard and dense (tough on tools,) and the smell while working it is not my favorite. It's not horrible, but it's not a good smell.

rootboy 

Yeah. I have some of it and don't much care for working it either. Prefer Padauk, which is not quite so noxious.

Have plenty if you need a hunk.