Jack Kane Custom Racing Bicycles

How to take Proper Carbon Repair Photos

Zane — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:53:04 +0000

In the carbon repair side of our business, we see a lot of photos. Unfortunately, despite the advances in camera technology even smartphone technology, we still receive fuzzy and out of focus photos. If you’re not able to snap additional photos, it starts to add extra days to your repair time. The following photos should provide examples of what are perfect photos to send our way:

This is a great photo — clear shot of the damage with sizing

Up close and personal with a seat post. While there is flash glare, it’s not in the damaged area.

In focus and shows both damaged areas so we can see the overview of the work

The next three photos I took when I customer brought me his bike at a trade show. Notice how I have different perspectives and distance.
Up close and in focus

Up close and a different angle.

A little further away so we can see the damage area and the paint work involved.

If you’re photos look like this, please re-shoot

Example of Little Details in a Restoration: Merckx Team SC

Zane — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:27:45 +0000

Restoration — what does it mean to you? For some, just bringing it back to where it was is fine. For us, we bring it back and improve it.

Little details matter in a restoration. Yes, the first thing about a restoration is reviving the bike, but sometimes it needs to go a step further. We recently had a bike come into our shop which provides a great example of what little improvements we can make for you.

Initially, we were under the impression the frame had a carbon fiber weave taped on the chain stays solely for aesthetic purposes. Once we received the frame, we learned it had carbon fiber tubing on the chain stays with cheap “carbon” tape. The tape was covering the seam and edge between the carbon and scandium. It wasn’t too appealing. So, we set out to make it look clean, smooth, and like actual thought was put into the transition. Once the frame was bare, we worked our magic.

Instead of cheap tape, we made it look clean and that thought was put into it.

Better than the factory.

Nice and smooth!

Project: Eddy Merckx Scandium Team SC
Work by: Jack Kane, Zane Schweer

Race Report: Marine Corp Trials by M. Politowicz

Zane — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:42:50 +0000

Camp Pendleton, California – On a beautiful Sunday morning I woke to head out for my first real cycling event. I was competing against foreign nationals and my Brothers in Arms. The race started at 0900 and the starting temperature was 45 degrees with a head wind to start. Within the first 1500 meters a Colombian with a single leg amputation crashed due to his prosthetic come out of the pedal. After the group settled, I surged to the head of the pack, drafting off the french team in front. Our team plan was to have our fastest rider draft in the middle while I pushed as hard as I could down the descent hoping egos would over take common sense — and they did. I began hitting 30+ mph with the French hot on my tail. Every time I pulled, they would pull around me. I’d rest for a few strokes and then push past them again. Then in the mist of rolling through the group, a marine in front of me began to wobble on his bike and passed out. I immediately stopped and aided him by covering him with my shadow and stopping his body from rolling around. Then a Dutchman stopped to assist along with a good friend of mine who I instructed to head to the last check point to get help. Thirty minutes later, the peloton went by the final time and the ambulance finally arrived. My friend and I asked the race officials if we could continue on and they allowed us to. While it would have been great to finish the race with the pack and further help my team, there’s something more to say coming in dead last together with our hand’s raised. We finished holding true to the Marine Corps tradition of “NO MAN LEFT BEHIND”

Mike went on to compete in shot put, discus, 100m, and 200m Dash. He came in 4th in both the shot put and discuss. He missed 3rd in the shot put by centimeters. In the Dash, he pulled his hamstring.

My $.02 cents: If you have met Mike or have the opportunity to, it’s hard to envision a more fierce competitor. He doesn’t give up and if you say he can’t, he will. However, he doesn’t let his competitive spirit mask what really matters, which are relationships and caring for other people. I know Mike was more than likely frustrated by not being able to fully compete, but actions like stopping to help other athletes in a time of need regardless of the situation, shows the type of man he is. That’s why he’s a Jack Kane athlete. — Zane

Marin Corp Trials 2013 Event Montage — You can even hear Mike’s singing skills at the end.

When he arrived home, he presented us with this photo and certificate:

A group photo of all the soldiers and staff.

Certificate of Appreciation

“Blue Streak” as Mike calls his Kane, racked and ready.

Photo credit: Wounded Warrior Facebook Page

Matte Finish vs. Glossy Finish Paint

Zane — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 19:44:10 +0000

Matte is in. “Blacked out” or the “Murdered” look are drooled over. Put them together and you’ve struck bike lust gold. Matte finishes are being marketed by a few brands and are certainly sought-after by riders. So much so, most of the inquiries we’ve received lately have been for matte finishes. Riders are gung-ho for matte, especially matte black as I noted above. Below is a quick post not about matte vs glossy, but about the basic differences between glossy and matte finishes.

Glossy finishes or glossy clear coats are what they sound like. Your bike is going to be shiny, have more depth, and provide a “clear” barrier between the environment and your frame. On the opposite end of the spectrum are matte finishes or flat coats that have minimal shine, lack depth, and hopefully a “matte” barrier between the environment and your frame.

Things you should avoid with a glossy finish

-Cleaning your dirty frame with a rag with out rinsing it first — This causes tiny scratches in the clear as dirt and debris are dragged across the frame. While not always noticeable, over time it may change the quality of the clear coat. You may notice “swirl” marks.

Things you should avoid with a matte finish

-Polish or buff — This may cause the area to become shinier. If you like polishing and waxing your frame, you’re better off with a glossy finish.
-Wax based polishes — It can leave a white residue or potentially bring a glossier shine to your frame.

Jump past the photos for more

How does this make you feel? Matte frame with matte wheels.

Give me some shine. As one customer put it, a “glass like finish”

Glossy Finish

Why better than matte

Scratches can be buffed out
Colors have more depth
Easier to clean

Cons

Dirt can be more apparent
Scratches can be more visible
Little scratch swirls may be seen in the finish over time

Matte Finish

Why better than gloss

Surface scratches may be harder to see (if not down to the sealer/primer)
Broad range of finishes — stove top – egg shell – satin

Cons

Cannot buff out scratches. If you try, the finish will begin to change
Oils, sweat, and smudges may show more easily
Colors lack depth

But Zane, what about those bikes that have a matte finish and glossy decals? Lest I forget! It’s an alluring look for sure. Here’s what they do: A company sprays the matte and then applies a glossy (hopefully all weather) decal on top of the finish. It’s yet to be known how well the decals hold up over time. When customers ask us for this look, we can do it this way or we offer a more resilient solution — matte and glossy finish — together. The potential downside for this is that there may be a slightly raised edge between the two finishes, but how often are you stroking your frame? Wait, don’t answer that.

The Jack Kane matte finish difference. The internet is rife with armchair “experts” with conflicting information. There are statements that matte finishes chip more easily. That can be true, but only if extra steps are ignored. If it’s really cheap price, that may be why. Our finishing process when we paint a matte or flat bike takes a couple steps. We do not paint the bike with flat paints and leave it to battle the elements. After your bike is painted, we spray our matte finish coat to protect your frame from the environment.

What’s special about our matte finish? Like our Jack Kane bikes, nothing comes stock. We do not use pre-mixed finishes — meaning we find the right finish specifically for you at no added cost. Regardless of the finish you choose with us, both provide UV protection and an additional barrier between your frame/paint and your outside stomping grounds.

Now that you’re armed with more knowledge you can make an informed decision about your next bike purchase or custom paint job. If you still have questions, give me a call, email me, or click the chat box on the lower right hand corner to talk with me instantly… unless I’m out riding.

We look forward to painting your bike.

Zane

P.S. If you have a glossy bike and are interested in making it matte, we can do that for you and vice-versa!

At Jack Kane Bikes we do it right the first time.

TeamCBC Swap Meet for MS 2013

Zane — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:21:40 +0000

I had the privilege to travel to Holly Springs, North Carolina for the first annual TeamCBC (Carolina Brewing Company) Swap Meet on March 10. The swap meet was to bring riders together for some great rides, find some sweet deals on bike stuff, and most importantly, raise awareness & money for MS. Before the event, I didn’t realize how familiar I was with TeamCBC.

For the past two years, I have gone up to New Bern (NC) for the MS150 event where over 2,000 riders congregate for a superb cause. I’m up there to provide some mechanical support and to display Kane bikes. During this event my days are 5am to 11pm and they are jam packed, so I don’t have time to meander around. I did have one moment during the dinner hour to grab some grub and savor a much earned beer the second night last year. It was a tasty brew and I learned it was from a Carolina-based brewery, but my thoughts were quickly diverted to the task of loading up the van. That moment had slipped my mind until early this year.

When I learned about the swap meet, I pretty much said this is a no-brainer. I mean, bikes, beer, and a good cause? Absolutely. It was also exciting because I was bringing a few demo bikes. Finally, our sponsored athlete Corporal Michael Politowicz was able to accompany me on this trip. He had recently returned from Camp Pendleton where he competed in the Wounded Warrior Regiment in the Marine Corp. Trials. Despite fighting jet lag, he soldiered on.

Calling the day gorgeous would be an understatement. Mid to upper 60s and loads of sunshine. The day started with quite a few group rides for all skill levels that started leaving at 9am. That gave me plenty of time to get set up. I found some time to shoot a few photos with the bikes in the brewery too. Once riders started coming back, we were swamped. I had a few riders take out Nighthawk and Battle Axe SLs to test ride. It never gets old seeing the smiles and hearing the great reception of our bikes.

As the day went on, it was relaxing talking to riders about bikes, hearing music carrying itself in the air, people finding wicked deals on gear, and being outside.

Favorite part of the trip — A couple of the guys were telling me that when they heard “Kane Bikes” was coming, they were like, “cool, another vendor”. They hadn’t really heard of us or knew what we did. Once I started unloading our van full of bikes, they were like extremely pleased . You bet’cha they know who we are now!

I came prepared. Just some of the bikes.

In closing, I’m pretty stoked for the 2013 edition of the New Bern MS 150 ride. While it will still be chaos and long hours, at least I’m going to see familiar faces and have a great time. The 2014 TeamCBC Swap Meet will be even bigger than this year.

The TeamCBC website

How to Pack your Bicycle

Zane — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 21:53:19 +0000

It seems like every day we are receiving and shipping bikes in and out of our facility, so when we see well done, unique, or eye catching packaging jobs, we like showing them. Hopefully it will give you ideas on how to SAFELY package your bike when you are shipping to us or anywhere across the United States. Always remember to insure your bike.

Wrapped in bubble wrap while the cardboard acts as a cushion and barrier from side impacts. Very secure!

Red bubble wrap!

Wrapped in bubble wrap, zip tied to the box, and a few pieces of cardboard. It’s sandwiched between two layers.

No, the bike was not murdered!

Home made bike box

Packaged nicely with a detailed note of information.

The frame has no wiggle room

Home made wooden rear drop spacers

Other Tips for Packing

Do not use peanuts. They are messy and don’t work.
Bubble wrap and secure with tape.
Put spacers between the fork blades and rear drop outs.
Insure your bike for the replacement value.
Measure your bike box and then measure again. The carrier may try to over charge you if they think it’s bigger.
Take photos of your packing job to prove you packaged it well.
Find a UPS/FedEx approved box from a local bike shop.

Specialized S-Works Carbon Repair and Fork Paint

Zane — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:37:22 +0000

The rider suffered from a crash and broke his seat stay and ruined his fork. We repaired his seat stays and painted a new fork to match his bike. This is just one of the reasons riders across the country come to Jack Kane Bikes. The best repairs, the best paint, and the best care.

My “Last” Bike & Setting a Record

Zane — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 19:50:17 +0000

Can you blame him?

You know those moments when you see something and instantaneously say “I’ve got to have one!”? That happened to John when he came into our shop a few years ago. His attention was captivated by a specific Jack Kane triathlon bike displayed on the wall. It was at that moment, John would later tell Jack and me, a Kane was going to be his “last” bike when he turned sixty…. but who wants to wait for a new bike?!! He knocked three years off. My phone rang in November and John said he was ready to go.

John and I got down to business. Every rider we work with receives an initial email with basic fit and size questions. From there, fit questions evolve from the feedback we received. John had been riding a Cervelo P2SL and was comfortable with how it rode. So our goal, naturally, was to improve upon that. We talked about the types of races he’d be doing and how he trained. We took into account that as we get older, our bodies are more susceptible to fatigue from road vibration and bumps in the road. So with the budget John provided us, we maximized where we used carbon for comfort. Comfort, which he told us, was one of his main objectives with this bike.

The sought after Jack Kane signature

When we first started talking designs, John wasn’t quite sure what he wanted. That’s always totally okay. My first step is to recommend checking out our numerous galleries and guiding me on designs and colors he preferred and ones he wanted to avoid. Once we understand a rider’s preferences, we can help guide them along. It’s about collaboration. We started spit balling designs. There were two “must-haves” — he wanted the Jack Kane signature on the top tube and exposed 3k carbon. We went back and forth with mock ups and different color patterns. We discussed color placements, how colors worked with each other, and what would look good years from now. Ultimately, it came down to keeping it simple, sleek, and something that would be timeless.

John with his lighter and faster steed.

The weekend finally came when John picked up his bike. He set our new record for distance driven to pick up a Jack Kane. It was in excess of 800 miles. AWESOME!! We can’t fully take credit for solely the bike because he has a son in the Marines stationed at the New River Air Station. It worked out flawlessly. Jack fit him and then John went off for a thirty mile ride along Emerald Isle & Atlantic beach. Talk about the perfect plan. His complete bike with SRAM Rival and pedals weighed only 18lbs 09oz.

Jack and I work with riders across the country so it’s always great when there is an opportunity to meet them face to face when possible. Thank you, John.

See John’s custom Kane here

Jack Kane Jersey and Bib Shorts

Zane — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:03:31 +0000

Official Jack Kane Jerseys & Bib Shorts / Shorts

We’re taking orders NOW!

Pre-order a team kit & your name is put on the jersey.

See the yellow circled section. Limited space available.

Pre-Order
Pearl Izumi Elite LTD Jersey (racer cut): $99
Pearl Izumi Select Jersey (club cut): $95
Pearl Izumi Elite LTD Men’s Bib Short: $139
Pearl Izumi Elite LTD Women’s Shorts: $99

Post Pre-Order
Pearl Izumi Elite LTD Jersey: $110
Pearl Izumi Select Jersey (club cut): $105
Pearl Izumi Elite LTD Men’s Bib Short: $150
Pearl Izumi Elite LTD Women’s Shorts: $110

Questions, Interest/Orders, etc should be emailed to Zane at or call us at 910.455.1011

It’s time to look gooooood

Galleries of Custom Painted Cannondale Bikes

Zane — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 19:58:47 +0000

Enjoy!

Cannondale Carbon 6 – Florida Gator themed

Cannondale CAAD10 – Matte Black with red lettering