The Last of the Gig Mata Felts

[gigmata]

Hello Everyone,

I am pretty much done with building. After three health scares, low profits, and wheels taking months to be built I don’t want to do it anymore. I humbly would like to thank you all that have been so supportive, helpful, and even have been customers.

A forum reader reached out to me to build him a few bike or at least advise him. I just happened to have some powder coated frames with Girvins ready to go. I am working with him on those now.

I also plan on selling my versions of a white Felt Shelby and a blue Shelby. Each of them will likely cost as much as the real thing and certain can’t be sold with the plaques. I have always had my own ideas about Felt aluminum cruisers since I first laid eyes on one.

For myself I plan making one for my fiancée. She likes those red Indian and told me she wanted one. Then I sent her a photo of the work in progress that I attached here. Now she wants a white one. I am waiting for her to choose an accent color and then I will get to work on it assuming I don’t need to leave town for work.

Some highlights of this bike, which won’t say
Indian, nor Felt, nor Brave, but will be branded with my logo. That is a first for me and perhaps long overdue. I can’t recall doing a white Felt before either.

Some of the high points are adjustable drop bars, dual Renthal chainrings, an air deflect (not period correct at all), Sturmey-Archer front hub, Profile Drive Bi rear hub, Haro stem, and a Ruff Cycles front fork. The price of doing this, which was meant to be a show bike from inception, is not for the faint of heart. In the future this thing’s front wheel and drop stand will be removed along with the front wheel and all of that carefully packed into a crate. It will be made to look like it is a NOS piece that wasn’t opened for over a century. I may need The Renaissance Man’s help with the crating as I want some things burned into the wood. Why now show it? Because the owner of Pacific Coast Powder Coating refused to fix it after they having done it twice due runny powder - which I didn’t even know was possible. I’m not winning shows with that and I was tired of spending money on it. Believe it or not, the only parts that weren’t setting around for more than 2.5 years are the Gyes grips and lightning brake cable. I have had those about 2 years.

I am including pics of my nearly complete Johnny True Torch JMC tribute frame that I built up - a feast for the eyes.

- Gig

 

[Endlesschain]

Sorry to hear this, its never a decision to be taken lightly even though it is a passion, an appreciation, a love for bikes it can take a toll on your mind and body and as we get older and life changes so too does the mind set, I've thought of just heaving it all away several times in my nearly 40 years of bike adventures, just giving it all away but we keep going, building may stop but I believe the love and appreciation stays for this two wheeled passion, respect to you Gigmata.... Respect

 

[gigmata]

Sorry to hear this, its never a decision to be taken lightly even though it is a passion, an appreciation, a love for bikes it can take a toll on your mind and body and as we get older and life changes so too does the mind set, I've thought of just heaving it all away several times in my nearly 40 years of bike adventures, just giving it all away but we keep going, building may stop but I believe the love and appreciation stays for this two wheeled passion, respect to you Gigmata.... Respect

Thank you endless chain. The fact that the hobby is so beloved and active makes it easier to leave it behind.

"May you ride eternal, shiny, and chrome.”

Gig

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

Always enjoyed checking out your builds ,nice work , love the "Mad Max" quote!
Take cake good luck to you!

Rafael ~

 

[RustyGold]

Love your builds, Gig... they'll be floating around on the interwebs for as long as there is an interwebs.

 

[ronark]

Gig.... because of your Felt Builds, thats why I got into the Felt Cruisers.....but never build them as nice as yours..... Enjoy life my friend....Ron in Virginia

 

[metalchewy]

Ive always loved tour builds and sometimes a bit envious you were able to make some profit or break even on them. I need that skill. Such works of art are a treasure for anyone who got one from you.

Good luck with the future endeavors. Suspect you might miss it and show up from time to time.

 

[JaxRhapsody]

Girvins are hard as shiznit to find- I found one on ebay for super chrap, about 4 days before the auxtion ended, made a bid and then everybody and they greasy grandmammie wanted in on it. I needed it for a build, and to reverse engineer for another project.

How's you do that doublr chain setup? I wanna do that for a build.

 

[gigmata]

Love your builds, Gig... they'll be floating around on the interwebs for as long as there is an interwebs.

Thank you, Rusty.

I’ll share some and maybe all of these last few. I am trying to finish 4 this month. I am waiting on final choices from a customer and I’ll be knocking out two more. I also plan on on wrapping up 2 Shelby-style builds.

 

[gigmata]

Girvins are hard as shiznit to find- I found one on ebay for super chrap, about 4 days before the auxtion ended, made a bid and then everybody and they greasy grandmammie wanted in on it. I needed it for a build, and to reverse engineer for another project.

How's you do that doublr chain setup? I wanna do that for a build.

Thank you, Rusty.

I’ll share some and maybe all of these last few. I am trying to finish 4 this month. I am waiting on final choices from a customer and I’ll be knocking out two more. I also plan on on wrapping up 2 Shelby-style builds.

Girvins are hard as shiznit to find- I found one on ebay for super chrap, about 4 days before the auxtion ended, made a bid and then everybody and they greasy grandmammie wanted in on it. I needed it for a build, and to reverse engineer for another project.

How's you do that doublr chain setup? I wanna do that for a build.

Jax,

I have a few extra Girvins including a carbon one that is up on eBay now. What is your price range? I am getting rid of everything left over after these last builds. I already have a buyer for most of it.

The dual chain set up is easy to replicate, but very expensive and unnecessary. I have done it twice. Please note: I don’t believe there is any benefit to it other than aesthetics. It looks trick to be sure. I have a 26” Hutch BMX bike that sports them as well as this bike.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED
1) LHD/RHD (left hand drive/right hand drive)crankset. These are very common now and can be found for under $100. I use Sunday Saker cranks a lot. They probably could say they are my official crank, but I want money for sponsorships and I’m quitting so that would be weird.
2) Chains of equal length. About $15 each.
2) Chainwheels with the same number of teeth. Price$ vary. Expect $30 on the low end. The Renthals on my white bike were $75 each.
2) Rear sprockets. 1) Left hand drive (I use ACS Southpaws). 1) Right hand drive ACS freewheel. About $20 each.
1) dual drive hub. One side is left handed and the other is right handed. The thread size is the same. I use a Profile Drive-Bi hub. Roughly $100.
2) Rims
Spokes as needed. If I can remember, I’ll post a video showing the two completed setups I have.

 

[gigmata]

Parts is parts. I suggest shopping around for parts. I do.

 

[JaxRhapsody]

I have a few extra Girvins including a carbon one that is up on eBay now. What is your price range? I am getting rid of everything left over after these last builds. I already have a buyer for most of it.

The dual chain set up is easy to replicate, but very expensive and unnecessary. I have done it twice. Please note: I don’t believe there is any benefit to it other than aesthetics. It looks trick to be sure. I have a 26” Hutch BMX bike that sports them as well as this bike.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED
1) LHD/RHD (left hand drive/right hand drive)crankset. These are very common now and can be found for under $100. I use Sunday Saker cranks a lot. They probably could say they are my official crank, but I want money for sponsorships and I’m quitting so that would be weird.
2) Chains of equal length. About $15 each.
2) Chainwheels with the same number of teeth. Price$ vary. Expect $30 on the low end. The Renthals on my white bike were $75 each.
2) Rear sprockets. 1) Left hand drive (I use ACS Southpaws). 1) Right hand drive ACS freewheel. About $20 each.
1) dual drive hub. One side is left handed and the other is right handed. The thread size is the same. I use a Profile Drive-Bi hub. Roughly $100.
2) Rims
Spokes as needed. If I can remember, I’ll post a video showing the two completed setups I have.

Thanks. At the moment, unless a job comes along, I'm sol. Yeah, I wanted the dual drive just for aesthetics.