31 Jul 2011

In a huge wave of primarily self interest, I’m going to pony up and place an order with H Plus Son for some of their rims. At this stage, all I really want to do is meet minimum OE order so I can get on their books and get a set for my new steed for a reasonable cost, so anyone who piggybacks’ onto this initial order will get a cracking deal.

With this first order, I’ll order exactly what any potential customers order, so you can take your pick of models, drillings and finish. However, any subsequent orders will only be for the style(s) of rims that generally suit your average Thylacine customer, so think TB14 and possibly the SL42. The rest are really for the trendy fixie riders and I’m not sure many in Australia will pay the extra over your average Velocity. In fact, I know they won’t.

So, the basic deal is, is that if you want a pair of H Plus Son rims, drop me an email at info@thylacinecycles.com and I’ll furnish you with a price. The plan is to place an order sometime between now and when I meet MOQ’s, which I hope will be within the next 14 days. This offer is for anyone, not just Thylacine customers, so if H+S make something you like the look of, let me know. ORDERS MUST BE PAID FOR UP FRONT.

Please also don’t think these rims are cheapo alternatives to Velocity or Mavic or whatever - these things are boutique items. There’s nothing like them on the market at present so they hold a very special niche - especially the TB14 which is what’s been needed for ages - a clincher version of the classic Ambrosio Nemesis at a very modern 23mm width. I can’t wait to try them.

I’ve also made an executive decision to try out the American-Made C-4 hubs and see how they go. Very nice specs, very competitive price when put up against Hope and White Industries, so I’m keen to give them a thrashing. They’re a progressive company that is very design focussed so they’re well worth my attention, with good customer feedback and customer service. As with the H+S stuff, anyone who wants a set now, feel free to contact me.

Looking forward to some new toys!

*EDIT Aug 30*

Rims are on their way and could possibly be here as early as Friday! Yay for EMS!

Posted by warwick @ 8:22 am

30 Jul 2011

I just noticed that my new Thylacine Tephra XK was actually finished in Feburary, before it got a grand tour of the US including going to Strong frames where it was deemed “unmediablastable” (I have it on good authority that’s a real word), then to NAHBS where it was deemed “unshowable”, before going back to Idaho, then on to Spectrum Powder Works in Colorado where it sat in the queue for almost 3 months, then Arizona for freight consolidation, before finally making it to sunny Melbourne Australia and Thylacine HQ. It was one of five frames I had to prep and ship this week, so it’s been a bit full-on.

Take a second now to catch your breath.

Half of that is highly unusual, but the Spectrum part isn’t, so it’s pretty safe to say that if you want your frame Powdercoated, your 2 month leadtime is now 5. Or thereabouts. Which sucks quite a bit, but hey, a custom frame is for life, not just for Christmas, so suck it up. I had to.

As per usual, I was incredibly slack with ordering the parts for this frame, so I’ve been caught with my pants down a bit. It’s going to be a bit of a ‘Ghetto’ build because I don’t use new glamour stuff for bikes that are going to be my Daily Rider. Initially the only new parts are going to be ones that are specific to ‘Cross frames that I don’t currently have - namely, forks, tyres and brakes.

For forks, I’m still up poo creek. Enve have still got their fingers up their bums and can’t ship to us plebs down here in the Antipodes, so I have a Wound-Up on order, but of course they don’t have any in stock. I could go with a steel fork but that would take even longer to get made, to the ceramic coaters, and then to me here. Still don’t know what the heck to do with that one.

Tyres are a bit of a struggle, too. I really want to get some new wheels with wider rims so I can fully take advantage of 35c tyres, but that’s going to have to wait. This bike spends almost all of it’s time on-road, so nothing too ‘Cyclocross-y’ is the order of the day, but I don’t want them to be too wussy, either. Currently on the list are Maxxis Overdrives, Schwalbe XR / Dureme, Conti Cyclocross Speed, or the WTB Pathway.

For brakes, I got some TRP’s for a really good price, but something tells me I’ll end up with Pauls.

The wheels I’ll probably end up getting are a set of Hope Pro 3’s or White Industries laced to these new rims I stumbled upon by a company called H Plus Son. Styled after the ubiquitous Ambrosio Nemesis, but 24mm wide and clinchers with a machined sidewall. Classico!

Also temped by the C-4 hubs but they’re a little bit of an unknown quantity, but I should give them a shake because I already know the Hope and WI hubs are good, so why play it safe, eh? Afterall, I expect my customers to pick me.

So, enough already, show us some pictures of this new frame. Why, I’m glad you asked…..

So what do you think? Is the new Tephra XK ‘unmediablastable’ and not worthy of a NAHBS unveiling? I’ll let you be the judge.

Thanks to KVA Stainless Steel for their support.

Posted by warwick @ 9:26 am