[Barracuda]

Each Kirk Frameworks is hand built, one at a time, by Dave Kirk. He either does lugged (as my bike is) or filet brazed. He uses lugs by several different makers, but all of his JKS series bikes (like my bike is) uses llewellyn lugs. Dave shapes and customizes these lugs to his aesthetic, and yes, it’s not easy to get that sharp of a lug line nor sharp of a point on the lug. Each tube is hand mitered for fit before the lugs are brazed. Dave also hand bends each of the Terraplane rear seat stays (the tube that runs from the rear wheel up to the seat post) for each specific bike he is building, tuned to the rider’s size and needs. Fairly sure he bends the fork blades himself on his own built tooling as well. Add it all up, it’s one finely crafted machine, who’s looks are only superseded by the performance. All of that, of course, doesn’t come cheap. But it’s a cost that I was willing to spend after 7 years of riding and not planning on stopping any time soon. I’ll take this over any wonder-light carbon mass produced machine built by the big names in bikes.

[Barracuda]

It’s arrived. After a year’s wait, and the longest morning and afternoon in a long time, FedEx arrived with my new frame around 4:30 today.

more photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/102637182371352471338/KirkFrameworks?authkey=Gv1sRgCLWc7KC1uILNaQ#

While waiting for my frame, I did some planting in the front yard, then brought out the camera with the old Nikon 135mm attached:

[Barracuda]

At work we only give “awards” for doing bad/stupid/etc things. We have one called the “Tony Award” which is a copy of a very ugly 70’s, likely easy listening type, era album cover. If you get awarded the “Tony” you have to display this on your desk (not to be concealed behind other stuff, but prominently). Forget the last name of the artist, but it’s a pretty ugly 70s dude trying to look cool and failing in every possible way.

// we also have the “Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Programming” award, which is the “Absolute Beginners Guide to Programming” book, which is given when you make a very elementary mistake in code which makes it to code review or production.

[Barracuda]

orionid, that’s not a woman’s frame. Bicycle manufactures started producing slated top-tube bikes about 10-15 years ago as a way to be able to produce fewer different sizes to fit riders. Looks like a solid little hybrid for the price, though in time you may find that the wide seat and suspension seat post pose more problems than solutions. Easily fixed though.

My new bike frame is to be delivered by FedEx tomorrow. Tonight I cleared off the work bench in the “Man Cave / Bike Cave” room and put out all of the components and organized and located all the tools I’ll need to get the bike assembled. Spending the morning working on the lawn and/or in Lightroom processing an evening’s worth of sunset photos I shot earlier this week till the frame arrives. Then I’m going to put on some music in the bike room and savor the process of building up the bike.

Don’t ask how nice of a body & lens would be the equivalent $$$ as what I’ve put into this thing. I’ll just say it’s more than a 5DmkII body and then some nice glass.

[Barracuda]

Still hoping to dive into the archive for a shot or to this evening. Votes won’t be squat, but it’ll be something.

[Barracuda]

Good idea on the archive friendly, all the new picks look great to me. I need to get down to White Rock Lake for the water craft theme some time real soon. Been meaning to take a few vacation days as it was.

[Barracuda]

Been waiting for this one to pop up. I think I’ve got 2 of my 3 already, or at least planned if I need to improve on the originals.

[Barracuda]

The photographer in me says “Ooh, nice shots – pretty!” The allergy sufferer in me says, “Fark you, trees!”

This. I really need to go down to the Dallas Arboretum some time soon. Planning on taking a week off in the next 2-3 weeks or so, I’ll probably have time then.

[Barracuda]

Lots of good entries again this week, with the participation back up I’m once again happy to capture a couple top 20’s. Seems like my ‘Blueprints’ shot didn’t fare as well as I would have thought, but that’s Fark.

[Barracuda]

Glad to hear you’re taking the first steps to pulling out of the funk.

[Barracuda]

Yeah, they’re showing up for me now as well. I’ll say this, voting is going to be up this week because I’m going to be voting for a TON of these photos this week.

[Barracuda]

bob_ross’s photos are busted for me

Linguine, great B&Ws.

[Barracuda]

Finally picked my 3rd. It was a shoot-out between a bunch of options from the archives. Yogo’s car shoots got me thinking about a few of my old shots, but nothing made the cut. My B’s for this contest start here: Farktopgraphy B_Sides @ Picasa (4 total)

[Barracuda]

My thought: If that’s your “B” I’m already screwed!

+1

I agree that if you could bring more of the blue/purple over while eliminating the gray cast, that would be ideal. Maybe back down the curve 10% from where it ended up just to start? I haven’t played with Lightroom near enough to be giving out advice, but that’s where I’d start.

[Barracuda]

Been adding a lot of new stuff to my Picasa albums, thinking about opening a SmugMug account specifically for the “really good” shots and keeping Picasa around for hosting Farktopgraphy entries, family photos, etc.

Most of the new stuff is here: Parks & Nature

And a few of my favorites:

Sunset at Bethany Lakes Park, Allen TX

Nectarine blossom, my back yard, Allen TX

Farmland at dusk, Allen TX

[Author]

Posts