Brush Strokes On The Soul
I dream of painting and then I paint my dream.
-Vincent Van Gogh
Poor old Vinnie may have been Dutch, mad as a cut snake, riddled with gonorrhea, a romantic in the most insane sense, and a raging alcoholic, but despite these encumbrances he knew a bit about the use of colour. He also spent a good chunk of his short, sad life in Belgium and France, so there are more than a few virtues that he and I share. (For the record, I’m not Dutch, so you can speculate on the other common denominators…) If he was alive today, he could possibly hold down a job in the paint shop for Jaegher. Because those guys know a bit about the use of colour too, and have just painted my dream. What, you didn’t think I was going to call them earless drunkards now, did you?
When this dream of mine was first conceived, the most difficult decision to make was not what materials to use (there could only be one), not which components to use (ditto), nor how I would actually be able to afford to realise it. No, the thing that most often kept me up at night was the choice of colour. After all, I’d have to live with this for the rest of my days, much like VVG and his problems both upstairs and down. Just when I’d think I’d found the right combination of hues, another option would present itself and throw the whole process into chaos once more. Too often I would revert to the safety of black, then change to something more risky like a Belgian blue or mossy green, before once again ending back at black. But there are way too many black bicycles in the world, and while 99% of them definitely look badass, there had to be something else out there to state that this bike is a one-off.
Gritty Grey. The name alone conjured up images that I could relate to; the tone and texture of the cobblestones of Northern France and Flanders for one, and as that’s where the bike would be born and christened, it seemed like a logical choice. To give what could be a monochromatic canvas some punch, the logos and highlights had to be orange. After all, it’s the shared colour of both Jaegher and The V. Commitment was needed, and made. There was no turning back.
The suspense and anticipation was almost unbearable. What if I’d got it wrong? It wasn’t like I’d had the chance to walk into a shop and look at the choices in the flesh, not that one gets any choice when buying off the shelf anyway. When the email came through with a file attached, the opening of it actually made my heart race. Open file. Relief. Joy. Ecstasy! Each new image put a bigger smile on my face, and I think I actually let out a few ‘whoop’s and ‘fuck yeah’s as I realised that this was my bike, in my colours, just for me. The Jaegher artisans had excelled once again, and the result exceeded all expectations. The finished project will no doubt take the stoke levels up a few further notches. Only two more weeks to wait.
My dream is in living colour, and Vinnie would be proud.
@Brett That is stunning. You’re going to have to ride the full distances for Paris Roubaix and the the Ronde now, though, to do it the justice it deserves.
Beauty. Aside from the obvious overall effect, I love the accents of the stem and the interiors of the fork blades.
I can appreciate the nervousness, but — good choice.
Wow. I had given some comments on your earlier mockups, but this… can’t get much closer to purpose-driven perfection. From the welds to the lines, to the base color, to the orange accents, to the matching stem, and accented fork interior….
Time to wipe the drool off my keyboard.
I admit I didn’t read much of the post. I went right to the photos. Holy Shiet that is a Bel Mezzo!
Fantastic.
Fuck! Someone pass me the tissues…
@Brett are you sold on the bottle cages or might you try orange, black or a combination/mix?
@Gianni
There’s an article?
A real thing of beauty. Ironic, since the envy it inspires in me, is such an ugly emotion.
Frame-boner!!!
@Chris
Oh really? Damn, I’ll have to set out the night before…
@frank
As I was writing I’m thinking “no-one’s gonna read this… just post the photos.”
Congratulations on turning your dreams into a reality, Brett!
Damn, not sure if I could handle getting a custom bike built and deciding on the color, so many options. Currently having trouble just deciding on nipple color for a new wheelset. (I’m sure I’m opening myself to a hammering by putting those two words together, ah well).
@Deakus
I like them, they are King Cages so I think the raw beauty of titanium needs to be on display…
I can think of one way to celebrate…
@brett
I love the Ti King Cages… They work perfectly on metal frames. They’ll hold a bottle well. And when ya let go of them they’ll float away. What a stunning bike you’ll have. Cheers!
@wilburrox
Yes, +10 on King ti. Have them on my ti Hampsten and they look as good on your frame as on mine.
Rad. I assume you’ll be christening it with some Molteni.
@Ron
There’s two there that work brilliantly in conjunction and I can’t come up with anything! Something about sharing a commute with Frank on which he fucks himself…my brain is spinning a compact today that’s stuck on the 34T. Someone do better.
Sweet. Love the understated look – less is more for sure. Can’t wait to see her built up.
I think I need to buy an extra lottery ticket this week.
I’d have the same cages but bead blasted to the same finish as the frame. Other than that its stunning!
@Brett
I am digging the new number 1. You made a wise choice on both the bike and color scheme. It has the look of glass bead blasted Ti. I don’t know how you can focus on anything else until that steed is in your barn. Ride it well and then hang it on your den wall because it is a stunning piece of art.
– Sparty
This is bike porn, pure and simple. Thankfully the parental filters on my computers are oblivious to this and have allowed some salivating. Keep the photo’s coming.
Perfect.
Fuck me that’s beautiful. Enjoy.
Great to see a frame made with fire and steel ,such a refreshing change from carbon. 1 1/8 headtube ,external cables , simple perfection . Colors are drool worthy . Can,t imagine it being any better aside from ripping it down the road ….
But how will it fare in the V-bike head to head?
@frank
What article, ohhh, at the top. Gotcha. Far Canal, thats amazing. ENVEous.
@the Engine
and the gauntlet has been thrown on the table.
Breathtakingly beautiful bike Brett! Congratulations.
+1 for the King Cages too – i have them and they are very functional and look fantastic on a grey bike.
Looks great, internal cabling not an option? Not a criticism just interested.
I especially like the orange accents. They look stunning against the matte black finish. The Lion of Flanders with the “V” is too cool for words.
Perhaps it will spawn a new Velominati sticker.
@Analog
King cages rock. I have the stainless steel version on my MTB
@brett
King headset too. No reason to use anything else.
@Jay
It sure will, If you go to a keepers tour.
@RedRanger
I believe you mean “decal”
@Jay
And King ceramic BB
build the fucker up and beat the fuckin shit out of it like a good flandrian would ….
Yea Yea Its a frame ,build the fucker up ,ride the fuck out of it like a good Flandrian would .
@RedRanger
Yes, the only way to get a V-Lion decal or tee shirt is to be on a KT Cobbled Classics tour. Of which this is possibly the last.
@The Pressure
Super Record cranks and ceramic BB for this build.
@brett
Nice!
How-a-bouts a “VSP” for weight when finished? Win just bragging rights.
OK Brett, So you’re not Dutch, but at least you are choosing orange. Yellow would be Belgian.
@brett
Whoa! More on that bombshell please!
@piwakawaka
We have build 1000’s of frames with internal cabeling in the past. Today we stand we performance and durability. Any type of internal cabeling will cause problems in the future That’s why we don’t offer this.
How they build strength with welds so delicate is a mystery. Gritty grey – nice. Beautiful bike!
Totally relate to paint being the most intense part of the decision making process.
Chapeau – it’s gorgeous!
GOR-GEE-US!
That frameset looks pretty damn excellent. Rule 12 notwithstanding, I’d be pretty content to grow old with a bike like that.
Brett, you must be thrilled that your frameset has caused so much cursing amongst the Followers. Good cursing, but still salty commentary all the same.
What a beauty !!! I love it and it is not one of those carbon bikes people use so often these days.
only steel is real