I like the look of this, I’ve resisted so far because I don’t know enough about Norris’ frames. I know he was highly regarded as a frame builder. The 631 decal if correct dates it to1997 or later, I don’t know when he stopped building frames, if he ever used 631, if this is one of his designs, if he used aluminum forks? Was most or all of his work lugged? Is this a Bespoke?
Any info on the frame would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
I posted some info but my post says "This message is awaiting moderator approval, and is invisible to normal visitors."
I'm not trying to get around the mods, just wondering why, but my guess is I included a link. That probably triggers worries about spam, rightfully so, spam is a scourge.
My link was to Norris's account on a popular photo-sharing site. You can probably find it on your own; his username there is "cyclecrank".
My point was to show that of all the Bespoke frames there, none (that I saw) were TIG welded. The one you're looking at is TIGged, but that doesn't prove it's not Norris's — it could be that he learned to TIG himself, or he might have gotten someone else to do the welding. I think it does make your unusual though. Most of his were lugged, or lugless bronze-welded (fillet brazed)
Hey since your name is Rodriguez, maybe you should look for a Rodriguez frame. They're made in Seattle (USA) not Settle, but well made. I worked there from '79 to '84 (has it really been over 40 years?) Rodriguez made his own frames in the '70s, then turned the framebuilding over to employees such as myself. He's long retired but the shop still makes great frames. Mostly TIG these days but you can still get a lugged one if you ask.
Mr. Rodriguez also sold stock frames that were private-labeled as Rodriguez but made by Tonard in Croydon. We got them in bare steel, painted and decaled them in-house. That would be funny if one of those came back home to the UK. They're quite respectably made; I'd take one over say a Holdsworth or Bob Jackson of that era (mid- to late-'70s). I know, I know, who cares about such old obsolete stuff eh? Well I'm old and obsolete so I don't mind.
I just realized, the bike I'm on in my avatar pic is a '79 Rodriguez, one that I made not a Tonard.
