Albatross Bikes

\\ Headbadge Development // - We consider the headbadge to be one of the last bastions of the Golden Age of cycling where aesthetics carry as much weight as performance. When we decided to develop a headbadge, we knew we had to build a piece that fit well with our performance goals and aesthetics. To do this, we partnered with @formlabs to 3D print samples as well as the final piece that was nickel plated. In this way we are able to scale the headbadge easily to work with custom sized frames but still have the weight and feel of nickel plating that we wanted. - From here, we will be continuing our environmental testing and refining the finishing steps to ensure that your headbadge will be only the finest quality. - - - #albatross #albatrossbikes #ridefastridefar #goneriding #headbadge #3dprint #nickelplating #rapidprototype #formlabs #formambassador #prototype #development #3dprinting (at Bonny Doon, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPlOHj9hyQr/?utm_medium=tumblr

\\ Prototypes In-Progress// - To ensure that our customers have the best frames possible, we've been working to develop our own dropouts for Sram's UDH. We have been fortunate to team up with our friends @tahoetrailtools to get these first prototypes machined so we can build them into a few test frames for ourselves. More to come soon! - - - #albatrossbikes #ridefastridefar #dropouts #udh #sramudh #steelisreal #cnc #bling #process #tahoetrailtools (at Lake Tahoe, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/COQUZnQhxDT/?igshid=hx6faai3561x

\\Hold Your Wheel and Watch This// - We've got a soft spot in our hearts for dropouts and this one definitely fits the bill. Nice integration with Flatmount and generous tabs to work with, these @paragonmachine dropouts were and obvious choice for this test build. Accurate, well made, and easy to use. What's not to like? - #albatrossbikes #ridefastridefar #dropouts #abomination #flatmount #framebuilding #4130society #steelisreal #steelframe #filletbraze #process #processporn #lightbro #studio #lighting #photography (at Bonny Doon, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNsa2rGBGT1/?igshid=1xhcqnszhg5vm

\\ Yoke Clearance // - With the mtb tires (29x2.25") and a standard road/gravel drivetrain (40t at 45mm CL) we didn't have a lot of room to fit in the chainstays. To do so we assembled a yoke out of a number of 4130 pieces that we had around and built them into something that can clear the components and yet be as strong as required. It's thin and it works. What more else do you need? - - - #albatrossbikes #ridefastridefar #gravel #abomination #clearanceisclearance #yoke #chainstay #4130society #tireclearance #gravelbike #monstercross (at Bonny Doon, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNp1ASABdp3/?igshid=f337j9ucjwpd

\\ Clearance is Clearance// - With tires getting wider and chainstays getting shorter, we see clearances get smaller and smaller. Sometimes when you mix 2.2" tires with road chainlines you need to take little off the top to make sure everything clears when you get a bit of mud. This time around, it was a lot easier just to mount the frame in the mill and take a little skim pass off the top. As every machinist knows, #clearanceisclearance - - - #albatrossbikes #ridebikes #ridefastridefar #process #mill #machining #machinist #clausing #clearance #gravel #4130society #tight #mood #lightbro #processporn #engineering #enginerd (at Bonny Doon, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNVCuRGlq33/?igshid=888wlibxw3yc

\\ Functional Prototyping // - We have been able to 3D print visual prototypes for some time but we are only just now able to print prototypes with materials matching the production parts. We have here a chainstay guard for a recently finished build that has been printed in 80A durometer material. This was we have the function that we need with the lack of tooling that we require for low-production parts. All of this thanks to @formlabs and their incredible printer. - - - #albatrossbikes #ridefastridefar #3dprint #3dprinting #formlabs #form3 #formlabsambassador #chainstayguard #guard #prototype #engineeringdesign #design #industrialdesign #bikedesign #future #futuretechnow (at Bonny Doon, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CM2IG7nFdFs/?igshid=194bmktwj6gru

\\Formlabs Resin Development// - We were recently asked to help develop the newest @formlabs engineered resin: Draft Resin. Using what we knew from years of printing we were able to assist Formlabs in improving their resin to be faster, more accurate, and stronger. The end result is a printed material that we use every week to help develop the frames that we build. Form has written up an excellent post outlining the development process and improvements to the resin that you can reach through the link in our bio. If you do any design work at all, we highly recommend their printer for quality prints that can be used in your products. - - - #albatrossbikes #ridefastridefar #formlabs #formlabsambassador #3dprint #draftresin #slprinting #nextlevel #design #engineeringdesign #engineering #cad #prototype #behindthescenes https://www.instagram.com/p/CL7Rnk-lHpR/?igshid=zwsfyozbfhyd

\\Maximize Clearance// - Some configurations require a bit of fiddling to make all the parts fit. The latest build fits 29x2.25" tires along with a road 1X chainline and 420mm chainstays. You could say it's a bit cozy. But we have solutions and we can make it happen if it's what you are looking for. - - - #albatrossbikes #ridefastridefar #abomination #gravel #process #processporn #behindthescenes #blackandwhite #blackandwhiteisworththefight #brazing #4130society #filletbraze https://www.instagram.com/p/CLcG8Gjle9p/?igshid=5eq4gabhj524

\\Details Matter// - If things go as planned this is one side of the headtube ring that you will never see on your own frame. The inside of this ring has two features that help us ensure quality: a punch strike, and a filed line. The punch strike is an age-old trick to tighten up the interface between two fitted parts. When you machine the ring to slip into place and provide a large enough gap for brass to fill in, it is loose on the headtube and this small punch strike tightens it up just enough so it doesn't move around. The filed line is used to help promote the brass to flow in deep into these parts and improve adhesion for the component. You'll never see them again but they are critical for parts to function as designed. - - - #albatrossbikes #ridefastridefar #brazing #headtube #details #process #fillet #braze #joint #solder #everypartmatters #steelisreal #4130society https://www.instagram.com/p/CKXFUp9FDNU/?igshid=vsc628l5ltfc

\\ Frame Design Analysis // - Link to full article in Bio - While we have been quiet, we've also been quite busy lately and have put together a comparison of our Dropped Stay Concept frame and a conventional double-diamind frame and a more traditional dropped seat stay frame. While some of the results were expected, we definitely found a few things that were completely unexpected. Head to the project journal on our website to read more on why we are using the Dropped Stays on some of our most advanced bikes. - #albatrossbikes #ridefastridefar #droppedstays #droppedstayconcept #fea #engineered #enginerd #engineering #design #analysis #cad #cam https://www.instagram.com/p/CI6InkGFWC0/?igshid=wqh8vxwmzizb

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\\ Warmer Days // - While not intolerable, the weather has been colder here in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It just makes us think back to that happy week of perfect weather between summer and autumn. For now we'll just enjoy the changing of the seasons. - - - #albatrossbikes #autumn #riding #ridefastridefar #outriding #cxp-01 #pinkbike https://www.instagram.com/p/CIB6fjylkcv/?igshid=1ui8lxmwrbw19

\\ Digital Iteration // - Through our work with @formlabs we are able to iterate on our designs very quickly and easily. What you see here is some of the early work on designs for a chainstay yoke. These designs vary from laser cut and brazed to investment cast and machined but all solve the problem of what it takes to get between a tire and chainring. Using the #form3 we can make all of these parts within two hours and be able to have a real physical model to evaluate. CAD by itself is often misleading. This way we can bring our real-world knowledge to bear and design the best products possible. - - - #ridefastridefar #albatrossbikes #3dprint #formlabs #form3 #draftresin #digitaldesign #modernworkflow #engineeringdesign #engineered #models #scalemodel #thefutureofdesign (at Bonny Doon, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGkgqO7lXMP/?igshid=cvsy50r6dcyj

\\ New Project // - With the singlespeed off and riding out in the woods of Santa Cruz, it's time for the next project. In this case, we're working on a new big tire gravel bike to help our customer explore whatever roads and trails that he wants. This is just the first draft but look for more details in the weeks to come. - - - #albatrossbikes #ridefastridefar #gravel #render #fusion360 #fullcustom #wideline #widelinegravel #getitdone #engineered #engineeringdesign #engineering #monstercross (at Bonny Doon, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGVEhUHBbFq/?igshid=1ppluvvl7e2ot

\\ HT-SS-JRebol Complete // - Despite delays with sick powdercoaters, moving, and an evacuation, we were able to put the finishing up touches on our latest frame; a singlespeed MTB for @ridebikeseatdonuts . First ride impressions are as follows; "... 🤯mind blown! So good. Handles perfect. Nimble but stable. Fast... So stoked. Thank you!!" - We aim to make the best bike for you where you want to ride and are always happy when we pull it off. Here's to many more happy days on the trail @ridebikeseatdonuts ! - - - #albatrossbikes #ridefastridefar #singlespeed #steelisrealmtb #hardtail #happycustomer #gofast #4130society #bikefab #framebuilding #framebuilder #custombike #illusionblueberry #onespeedtorulethemall (at Bonny Doon, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGATSQ_lrtS/?igshid=1rwzd429u0dm7

\\ Side Projects // - We will be taking a break from our usual projects as we are currently moving to a new shop. We were, however, able to fit in one final small job before packing things away; a dropout replacement on a cruiser frame. Our customer was looking to run disc brakes on an older frame and just needed a change of dropouts. We were happy to help and get this bike sorted for it's new lease on life. - - - #albatrossbikes #ridefastridefar #klunker #cruiser #dropouts #singlespeed #newbike #schwinn #brazing #fillets #filletbraze #newbikeday https://www.instagram.com/p/CDgo2jzFb0a/?igshid=p6ddfiw1g1se

\\ Deep Dive on Design// [LINK IN BIO] - We know that many of your would like to know more about the details of our latest frame so we put it all together in a blog post on our website. Click the link in our Bio to take you right to it. We explain why we built it the way we did, some of the engineering challenges and how we solved them all. We also have additional photos that we haven't posted here. Enjoy! - - - #albatrossbikes #ridefastridefar #framebuilding #fabshop #engineeringdesign #fillets #filletfriday #filletbraze #4130society #4130 #lightpainting #photography #steel #steelisreal https://www.instagram.com/p/CDOuRFNFuU8/?igshid=96zeczdt69lz