Rafal Made It Seem Easy

Congrats, the spoils are in the mail.

New Product Monday: Win A Free Coozie

War Axe now has coozies available for $3.00, so let's have some fun with it. Guess the beverage the orange on camo double-headed eagle is holding below and win a coozie for free. Keeping your beverage cold is key during the holidays.

Leave your guess in the comments, including where we should send your victory present. If that info in the comments stresses you out, no worries, just send an email to info@waraxebicycles.com. First correct answer wins.

Two more styles (and contests) to come.

Fit Check

With an eye on frames to come, Sam and I went up to visit MOD to see how my previous fit is standing up and find any improvements going forward.

Thinking of a master plan

In the end, you notice that, aside from the slight scribble next to saddle height, the 'recommended' side remained blank. Confirmation that I was already in a good place and music to my ears that I could go with even more saddle to bar drop if I liked.

MOD also compared my toe-down pedal stroke to Coppi and Anquetil, and who wouldn't smile at that?

"I See You Too Are Facebooking."

As 116 people already know, War Axe Bicycles is now sneaking around the dark corridors of Facebook. (Check the badge on the bottom right of this page.)

Momentum? A little.

In addition to the current array of goods found in the War Axe Online, we'll be adding coozies to the list soon, so finish that one in your hand and we'll help you keep the next one cold.

Staged? Obviously.

An Introduction...

Introducing our answer to the Rapha Silk Scarf and Winter Collar, War Axe Wool Socks. As you can see below, Chad Carpenter models the 7" Brown with Light Blue offering. He's selected the 'bow-tie untied' method of accessorizing and, let's face it, wears it so well.

Quite Dapper

A few other chilled souls buffered themselves against the elements during the race and, to you, we say, "Well Done!" (With the exception of Troy who already owns enough War Axe socks to start an outlet store.)

In related and intentionally unphotographed news, James Blake grabbed a pair of socks only to swiftly stuff them down the back of his bibs. We hope the socks served his needs, but are quite happy... in fact we insist that those needs remain a well-kept secret.

Nebraska Cyclocross Day 2

What a great weekend of racing.




























more photos here.

Nebraska Cyclocross Day 1

...and a few more.

"Welded, Painted, On the Bike"

That's all the email said, because that's all it needed to say...

The first 29er fork and the first in silver

Project(s)

Here is a picture of three different projects I had going at once. At the top is/will be the first War Axe fork to get a disc brake mount. At the left is the fixture I just finished to install said brake mount. The fork is for myself, and is a 29" MTB fork. So far I've made two other forks with enough room for the big wheels, but this will be the first unicrown of that type, and the second unicrown overall. I'll be making a second fork, just like this one, for Skip next.

At the bottom right of the picture are two boards. For what, you might ask? I've been meaning to make a front rack since the beginning of War Axe. It's not quite done, but it was time to get some urethane on the wood before they got dirty. Keep an eye out for Jeffrey B. carrying two six packs of bottles, a twelver of bottles or three 40 oz's (with bungees) around town with the finished product.

Like the rack, this tool has been in the works for a while. I had the moon-shaped piece cut out at work, and over a few lunch breaks and afterhours I was able to sneak in the necessary lathe work to finish it up. I am really pleased with the finished product and cant wait to try it out in the next few days.


Cyclocross season is here, or has been here for a month and a half. Unfortunately, I won't be participating this year, but I do plan on being out at the Lincoln Cross Weekend coming up in a few weeks. Word on the street is that Hooligan Hill will be the loudest it's been in 3 years, and you might even make a few bucks in singles at the top of the hill. While we're on the topic of cross, I'd like to remind everyone that War Axe has no less than four ways to keep your feet happy while you're suffering. Order online or stop by Monkey Wrench to pick yourself up some quality, made in the USA, wool socks!


Thanks for reading,

Fork #9

There was nothing too serious with this fork except for the fact that it's all business. No eyelets, no rack mounts to get in the way of mediocre cyclocrossin'. Go alterNate go.

Paid In Full

Scott Showen models the new 8" Currency Of War Socks. If you listen closely, you can hear him rapping Eric B and Rakim as he climbs.

The New War Axe Store

It was much longer in the making than I thought it would be, but here it is:

The War Axe Bicycles Online Store

Eight Inch Billboard

New Socks. New Design. New Length. New Price. $15 American Dollars.

Peek through the rear wheel. Representing on both sides of the leg.

Email us at info@waraxebicycles.com if you'd like a pair.

Use Your Inside Voice

Why is this picture of Jamie so small? I don't know, but he looks damn good.

The Kids Love War Axe

The latest War Axe kit order has arrived. We'll pull orders and contact you over the weekend if you have kit coming your way. Perhaps delivery by psuedo-messenger for a lucky few as well.

Bozo Bunny says, "These guys are fierce."

Number 8

Here it comes, Johnny.

A Look Back at Number Six

Fork number six went to Alaska with my good friend Dave, and will eventually be touring back to Nebraska in the summer of 2010. He was pleased report that his fork is working great and has added fun to some sketchy road descents.





















Photo by mombok

Order Confirmation

For those of you who ordered new War Axe kit, the order is at Champion Systems and in production.  We'll give you a shout when they get in.

Sam and Skip

Christened

As Sam said, now Sir Wilhelm and I have something in common

Blunt Instrument

Sam:  "Well, enjoy your new fork."

Skip:  "I am sure I will."

Sam:  "You sort of have to."

Sam's shop is a horrible place for photos

War Axe Kits 2009

Feel like flying the double-headed eagle at rides, family events or in the privacy of your own home?  Now is the time to make it a reality.  

We will be ordering War Axe Kits on June 1st. 

Short Sleeve Jersey:  $70.00

Bibs:  $85.00

Needs something else to complete your already stunning WARdrobe?  Send us a note and the particulars and we'll see what we might be able to make happen.

Send an email to info@waraxebicycles.com stating your garment of choice and the appropriate size of said garment. 

As usual, all we've got is clothes.  Carry on then...

Sam and Skip

Six is in the Mix

Fork number six was made to replace a stock fork on a Trek 520. For the 520 fans out there who probably aren't following this blog, it is one of the elusive non-green 520's that this fork was made for. There was barely enough room to run a 32mm tire and fender on the existing unicrown. (Unicrown construction really limits tire clearance in this application.) By switching to a lugged crown and adding 5mm of axle-to-crown distance, there is now room for a 52mm tire and fender. The only other detail changed was adding fender mounts to the inside of the fork legs so the rack and fender wouldn't have to share an eyelet anymore.






























Number six will soon be able to "see Russia" from it's temporary home in Alaska with this guy.

I Told You Not to Look

NAHBS: the War Axe Perspective

While War Axe didn't set a booth up at NAHBS, we were certainly in attendance for more reasons than to simply look at well-made bikes.

Sam attended a wide variety of seminars, some helpful, some not.  We also introduced ourselves to vendors whose services might come in handy from time to time.

One of the more interesting seminars we attended was the "Business of Frame Building" presentation put on by Carl Strong.  While I won't bore you with the particulars, it was informative and affirming for Sam and I.  With little exception, we found that we'd essentially followed along the path that Carl recommended.  Smart or lucky, it's hard to say, but either way, it was nice to hear.

Our expectations remain reasonable but our excitement remains.  Expect a UFO sighting in the no-so-distant future.

Sam and Skip

Number Five

Number five will go down as the first fork with bent fork blades. This really opens up the possibilities with crown selection, and as his style might dictate, Johnny picked out this Pacenti crown to boot. Paragon bosses, Nova dropouts, True Temper blades, steerer and low rider mounts. RAL 7016 gray powdercoat @ TMCO. Perhaps by the tenth or eleventh fork I'll be able to take a decent picture... Enjoy.

Fork #4

...and Rick can ride his Eisentraut once again!

Back to What We Know

Who are we kidding.  It's all about clothing.  Bikes are what you ride when you're looking good in gear.  We're such pretty boys.

Sam and Skip

$19.00.  New webstore up soon (along with an actual site).

Can't wait?  Email endurosnob@hotmail.com.

An End to Clothing Company Jokes

Thanks to Sir Tony Wilhelm for the photos.