Treats for the back side

I have sourced a saddle yesterday - a Brooks B17 Special. It's black with hand-hammered copper rivets. I really like the contrast between the rivets and the black leather, which will go well with the black mud guards and the black tires. Human Powered is just in the process of putting the whole thing together, so there should be a test ride on this saddle soon.

Mick has put in love and effort and detailed most of the frame and some parts. Check out the photos on his blog: http://busymanbicycles.blogspot.com/

Human Powered Cycles has built the wheels with the internal gear hub and drum brake at rear. Mick will drop the frame out this week for assemblage and then we should be close to a first test run. Just need to start a fire...

It's back & it's red

I have just returned from the MFB workshop in Thornbury where Philip stayed back the other day in order to give the frame this beautiful finish. It's all coated in signal red and I reckon it is just perfect. A huge thanks to the guys from MFB for all their help and support; especially Philip, Joe and Albert.

The wheels are next on the agenda...

This morning the frame rode on my shoulder all the way to Thornbury to visit Moz at Human Powered Cycles who was very helpful in choosing parts. Then I dropped it off at the workshop of the MFB, where Philip took over. He is charge to coat the frame with the original red of the fire trucks - something that will happen some time this week. To be continued.

Naked...

Over the weekend Mick has put in the hard yards and muscle power to strip the frame of it's old coat. Now it is ready to go to Human Powered Cycles tomorrow and then to the boys in the workshop at MFB. It looks quite pretty naked though...

Graphics

These stickers were given to us by the guys at MFB. I will play with them for a bit but expect that the final reference to the fire engine will more likely be less bright. I liked the shot I took of the door detail at the workshop - the white and red go well together.

Site: MFB Workshops

I got in contact with Albert Lindner, who is the executive manager of the Mechanical Engineering Division at the Metropolitan Fire Brigade here in Melbourne. Without having even met me, he agreed to help me with this crazy project and signed off that the MFB body shop will powder coat my frame.

Mick and I went out there today to have a chat to the people in charge. We were greeted with much openness and generosity. After a tour of the workshop we left with advice and supplies in head and hand - ready for the next step. The pump in the picture above had just been resprayed.