Instagram story viewer> @chapmancycles> Posts

Brian Chapman

@chapmancycles

193.4K

followers

2949

following

Mostly the bike stuff that I make.

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

Building a lugged steel bicycle frame. This one is getting handmade brakes, quill stem, rack, and lowriders too! Many steps are omitted here but you can kind of get the general idea of what goes on. The old Prugnat French lugs have been heavily modified. That part was time consuming and not filmed. A lot of preparation goes in to the frame before the torch is lit. Enjoy! #bicyclebuilding #chapmancycles by @chapmancycles

4k

118

2 days ago

Some people asked how these short pull TRP levers worked with the long pull brakes… by @chapmancycles

2k

43

11 days ago

Some additional detail shots of Noah’s bike. The head tube color is white with a 10% purple/clear basecoat mix over that. 11-speed Shimano GRX drivetrain with an 11-40 cassette on the rear and a 46-30 on the front. Capacity is no problem with a cage that long! This was the first drop bar bike that I have ever built with v-brakes. Finding a decent long pull lever was not easy. I ended up modifying these short pull TRP levers in the end. #lugsnotdrugs #randonneur #chapmancycles by @chapmancycles

3k

63

12 days ago

Noah’s 700c randonneur has been a long time in the making. There are lots of other projects happening at the shop but it doesn’t excuse me for taking so long with this one. I think it came out great but most importantly I hope Noah likes it! Hi-res photos of this one are on Flickr and more detailed shots are coming here soon. #randonneur #chapmancycles by @chapmancycles

3k

90

13 days ago

In my world I frequently encounter the battle and balance between black and silver components. People who want to ride a more modern drivetrain from readily available components tend to have to concede to having black as the only option. Sometimes the battle gets real like when you have a pair of Dura Ace 11 speed bar end shifters that look like a sore thumb on a bike with mostly silver components. I had to do a similar modification to the GRX rear derailleur. Those silver GRX derailleurs are really not available anymore. Pictures of this one will be coming soon! Finally! by @chapmancycles

2k

62

18 days ago

I had lot of fun with the paint on this ornately lugged frame. The head tube is a lighter shade of the main metallic purple that was mixed with a clear base and sprayed over white. Lug lining is a funny thing in the bicycle world. It has a long history and it is seen as antiquated because, well, lugs are seen as antiquated. I still have a soft spot in my heart for it. The Silca pump was machined and painted to match. Looking forward to building this one up once the rack and stem are back from the plater!

Unrelated but I wish all my bike world friends the best of luck at @made.bike this weekend in Portland, OR. If you’re anywhere near there (I am 3000 miles away unfortunately), I highly recommend checking it out! #lugsnotdrugs #lugs #bicyclepainting #chapmancycles by @chapmancycles

23k

169

2 months ago

In order to get the bars in the correct position without having too much stem exposed I will sometimes add a little bit of extra material to the top of the head lug. Finally getting primer on this one today! #silverbrazing #bicyclebuilding #chapmancycles by @chapmancycles

10k

86

2 months ago

Brazing a pretty ornate (by my standards) seat cluster for Noah. Hopefully these 3+ minutes can be a little meditative escape from reality…maybe not the loud grinding parts. #bicyclebuilding #brazing #silverbrazing #chapmancycles by @chapmancycles

6k

120

3 months ago

Summer check-in! If this fresh @chapmancycles rando bike with the super crisp and clean box striping doesn’t get your attention, I don’t know what will! 😜

Now that I’ve got your attention - we had mixed feedback on grouping the randonneuring builders together at the Expo. What say you? Do you like having all the rando goodness in one area or prefer them sprinkled throughout the show floor?

📸 @brad.quartuccio by @chapmancycles

2k

25

3 months ago

Modifying the Pacenti PBP twin plate style fork crown casting to match the Long Shen 303 series lug set. The LC303 crown is beautiful but didn’t have the width that I needed. Builders do not have to match the lugs to the crown but it’s really nice when they compliment each other. The fork on a bicycle is not a component but part of the frameset so they should look like they’re from the same maker. NOTE: Don’t worry about that fancy Long Shen BB shell that donated its fleurs de lys details (you probably weren’t). It will get re-carved and used with another lug set. #lugsnotdrugs #brazing #chapmancycles by @chapmancycles

12k

116

5 months ago

Some additional shots of this fixed gear that I shared yesterday. The recurring conversations about how fixed gears are the essence of the bicycle are not lost on me. Much less to go wrong means much less that can consume your mind when riding. This one was indeed a joy to test ride. Makes me wish my Circle A Cycles fixed gear with 28mm tires had a little more real estate! #chapmancycles by @chapmancycles

2k

28

6 months ago

Ted’s 650b single speed was the second of the two bikes I brought to the @phillybikeexpo. As far as single speeds go, this one was a pretty unique build for me with the larger 48mm tires. The frame was built with @therichardsachs lugs, @columbus_official Spirit for Lugs tubing, and a hand carved version of the @bassi.bikes designed Allotec twin plate crown. Super fun bike! #chapmancycles by @chapmancycles

4k

53

6 months ago