Day before leaving - why not modify my frame?

Clever Cycles helped me out with a very sexy Tubus Fly rear rack. The lightest pannier-carrier on the market. So...if you must put a rack on a track bike, this is the one. Shown is my Surly Steamroller having reinforced rack bosses installed on the lower chainstays in order to properly receive said rack (P clamps are not sexy). My pal, Tony Tapay, is doing the work. I'm the TIG-welder, he's the brazer (look for frames coming out of our shared shop soon!).

Step one - remove a little paint, drill, smear with flux paste, install boss, smear with flux paste


Mr. Dura Ace, himself.

Step two - heat up the boss and frame immediately near the boss to bright-ish red. Flux turns to glass. Touch silver brazing rod to hot metal. Watch the magic of capillary action!

The ugly phase. Requires step three - scrubbing with warm soapy water. Scotchbrite pad and stainless brush used.

Ready for lots of load-bearing. Notice how little of the paint got destroyed? That's a good brazer for you - only enough heat for full silver penetration, no more. I clear-coated this. Maybe I'll paint it proper some day, but I kinda like being able to see the history of modifications and I like to look at nice brazing.

I do believe my bike is ready for TOKYO! See future blog posts for full body shots of this bike. My new best friend.