nbflag.jpg

Welcome

My customers deserve a complete bicycle buying experience. I love to teach and my intent here is to explain the elements of bicycle design and fabrication.


The blog will update customers on what's happening in the shop and offer a general resource for bicycle frame building and design. The old blog still lives here, so please feel free to check out the archives for paint ideas.

Twitter
15
I've gone back to the old blog. It's much easier to upload photos to, and easier means I'll actually do it. Thank you for the visit here. Please proceed to http://bikesbyzank.blogspot.com.

Thanks!
Mike
(2) Comments Leave comment Send to a friend
ronnie:

luv your blog and all yo stuff --- so very neat...
my best to yo lady,
ronnie

(05.31.10)
GrayJanell:

I had a desire to make my own commerce, nevertheless I did not earn enough of money to do it. Thank God my friend told to use the loan. So I took the small business loan and realized my dream.

(07.19.10)
digg del.icio.us technorati
14
I had an absolute ball meeting so many of you in Richmond. I got to meet lots of my customers, whom I've only known over the phone and emails in the past, and happily put a face to a voice. What a thrill! I am so blessed with such a wonderful group of customers. Thank you!

It was also a joy to meet so many folks from the various forums on the web. No more hiding behind those screen names now! Ha! Talking with people face to face is still my favorite form of communication, but again, putting faces with names will make online discussions even more fun.

And, of course, seeing old friends in the industry and meeting lots of new ones was worth the trip alone. What a great community we have. It's so wonderful to see it thriving.

Thank you to everyone for all of the support. The booth felt full the entire weekend. And everyone just wanted to talk about riding their bikes, which for me is the whole point of all of this. I'm already looking forward to Austin!

I was fortunate enough to be able to spend some time with Bill Schieken from CX Magazine and In The Crosshairs. The video is here.

Now it's back to work. I brought home all of my incredible Anvil jigs and tooling and I am so psyched to start building bikes.

I'll close with the same thing I said above. Thank you so very much to all of my incredible customers. Without you, of course, none of this would be possible.  


(3) Comments Leave comment Send to a friend
DavidS:

I'm so pleased to be able to call you a friend. Good luck with everything. Now get to work!

(03.04.10)
EddieB:

Don't forget my BBQ competition analogy. I think it applies.

Great meeting you man. See you soon.

Get more caps made!

(03.04.10)
ronnie:

great in person - wanta order some hats/bottles & -----
let me know how to...

ronnie

(03.04.10)
digg del.icio.us technorati
13
02.21.10
100_4720.jpg

(1) Comments Leave comment Send to a friend
megA:

sexxxy!

(02.21.10)
digg del.icio.us technorati
12
02.17.10
With NAHBS looming in just over a week, I have completed the first frameset in my new shop. From here, things will be full bore. The blog updates will be coming a few times a week from now on, and I am so excited to restart the framebuilding gig in my own space in Sutton, MA. It's a fantastic town and a cool old mill that received a major face lift after almost being left for dead back in the 60s. This is my room as I found it...

before1.jpg
before2.jpg
before3.jpgIt was a great blank canvas and has taken shape since then. I've brought in two Bridgeports, a LeBlond lathe, and all of my other tools. I will be taking delivery of my new Anvil Super Journeyman frame jig and Anvil mitering fixtures at the show. But this will give you a little taste of the progress so far.

after1.jpg
after2.jpg
after3.jpg
after4.jpg
So things are coming along. And here are some photos of the first frame. Here are the joints post-brazing. You can see the flux, which is an acid that gobbles up oxides and other nasties during brazing and promotes the flow of the silver into the joint, on the surface with little to no burning. Heat control is everything in preventing charring of the flux.

first1.jpgfirst2.jpg
first3.jpg
Here is the result after soaking off the flux.

first4.jpgfirst5.jpg
first6.jpg
This bike will be on display at NAHBS, along with two others that should be back from the painter on Friday. I'll be posting up pictures when I get them.

If you are going to Richmond, please stop by and say hi. I will be in booth 529/531 (across from Chris King's 20' x 20' I believe).

Happy cycling!
(8) Comments Leave comment Send to a friend
Justin:

very nice! congrats mikey! glad you got such a great place. good things to come.

(02.17.10)
megA:

Wow! I've never seen a frame in that state before. I hope Richmond is good to you! Missing you!! xoxox
m

(02.17.10)
Mom & Dad:

The shop looks great! We are so proud of you. Love ya

(02.17.10)
Gabriella:

Zank the website looks great, love seeing your new space coming along. Congratulations!!!

(02.17.10)
James E Montgomery:

That is beautiful work. Best of luck to you. Those are gems.

(02.17.10)
erik:

shop's lookin really good! but, uh, where do the seatstays go???

(02.17.10)
ronnie:

whata bike....
whata man...
whata artist...

most of all: whata friend with yo best friend at yo side...

ronnie

(02.28.10)
Jeff:

Welcome to Sutton! I live in town and I'm pumped that your new shop is here. Hope to get a chance to visit someday!
Jeff

(03.03.10)
digg del.icio.us technorati
10

I am ready to kick off another Zanconato clothing order. I'm very excited to be partnering up with Vermarc out of Belgium for this year's kit. I have been wearing Vermarc for a few seasons now through the club I belong to, and it's the most comfortable and longest lasting clothing I have ever used. Of particular note are the bibs, which make the long days in the saddle a dream. You've no doubt seen Vermarc kit in use by pro teams Quick-Step, Silence-Lotto, Milram, Landbouwkrediet, BKCP, Topsport and many others. We're talking pro-level stuff here.


Please drop me an email at mikez@zanconato.com or through the contact page of the website. I can forward all of the information and the order form to you. Deadline is 10/16. Delivery will be around the first of the year. I look forward to hearing from you!


Zanconato SS Tops.gif


Zanconato NS and LS Tops.gif
Zanconato Hats.gifZanconato Bottoms.gif


(3) Comments Leave comment Send to a friend
EyeBob:

Zanc,

What color are your cycling caps going to be?

(09.30.09)
zank1:

white, just as they are pictured.

(09.30.09)
Stefan:

looks great! do you have real pictures?

(12.13.09)
digg del.icio.us technorati