gotdurt

13 minutes ago, throet said:

Why not just step on a scale with it, and then subtract your own weight? That's how I've always weighed my bikes at home. Of course not everybody even keeps a human weight scale these days. 

Recent divorce; ex got the bath scale 😆 (Along with everything else in the house). It only rounds to the nearest pound though.

1 minute ago, mack_turtle said:

Use the scale in the produce section at HEB. 

JK

Ask around to borrow a kitchen scale or luggage scale.

I live in a rural area near Burnet now; don't really know many people, especially anyone that would have those. I'm near the lake though, so might be able to find a fishing scale 🤔

5 minutes ago, mack_turtle said:

I got ta ask: weight?

Not sure yet, have to find a way to weigh it.

Well, after nearly 5 years of pulling hair from my now bald head, it's here.

Once again, the "paint" is crap... it appears that they didn't do a repaint after all (see previous post Aug 10, regarding the email that they sent). The substituted paint color is actually pretty cool, kind of a subtle pearl metallic, but it's covered in what appear to be goosebumps, lol. There is also still some cracking in the finish, similar to the previous frame (one of the reasons for the warranty frame), just in one area and not as bad.

As mentioned before, it was also supposed to have modular dropouts so that I could convert between geared and single speed, but I don't really care anymore.

I'm done here. I'll probably just strip both frames and do my own finishes.

 

7 minutes ago, mack_turtle said:

Please weigh the bare frame you you get it. I want to know if mine was a fluke, as it was well over seven pounds for a medium made with Reynolds 725.

I'm curious too, I'll see if I can find someone around here with a fish scale or something.

Doesn't look like I posted the final photos, but the blue is wrong and so are the rear dropouts... but at this point, IDGAF.

22 hours ago, ATXZJ said:

Has it really been a 4 year project for a hardtail frame?

Yep. Well, I've been riding the original frame the whole time, so it didn't take that long to build the intended bike... in fact, this will likely become a different build altogether, due to he time.

On 1/5/2024 at 10:52 AM, mack_turtle said:

Four years later.

We'll see... I sent them $145 for shipping on the 16th, haven't received a shipping notification or tracking number yet, no response 🙄

Finally... I'll hold off on the happy dance until it actually arrives though 🙄

It sounds to me like he's blaming the color for something that happened, but I don't understand what he means by "points". I later noticed that he sent some photos, looks like maybe there's some "fisheyes" or specks of some sort. The blue is wrong though 🤦‍♂️

Sent Marino an email following up on our previous exchange; not sure what to make of this... 🤔

 

Quote

Hola

Frame was ready some weeks ago 

But surface now perfect some point 

Decide remove paint to paint again 

 

But one of my welders broken his foot

And busy days here . 

 

Possible change color ? 

No sure why those frame points minimal in paint surface 😞

Not sure why he'd want to change the color, but it would be nice to get the frame that I originally ordered... color and everything.

Looking at the pictures more closely, I don't think those are the same frames; if he cut off the modular drop outs, it looks like he would have had to extend the stays for the UDH drop outs... I wonder if he sold the other frame or something and started over 🤔

2 minutes ago, mack_turtle said:

Weird!

The numbers are referring to their color pallette. You pick a # for the main color, and a secondary # for the logo colors.

 

Yeah he responded and clarified. He must've switched to the number method later, because we used color codes (Main paint color: D7C8A9 (tan)
letter color: 01009A (blue) ).
He ignored my question about the dropouts though, don't know if I should push it or let it go... not sure how well UDH will work with a SS chain tensioner, since it is designed to slip. If he already cut-off and replaced the dropouts, I don't want to have them do it again, that's just asking for flaws.

Okay, back on topic... here's something I was not expecting; I thought I had lost communication with Marino for good, then this appeared in my inbox this morning:
 

Quote

Hola

In stock #29 no problem ? 

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqSBFWbuh4K/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

 

Frame ready to paint job 

Include Sram UDH dropouts

 

Please confirm logos and possible 29 

Because #5 soldout 

Not sure what he's asking regarding logos, "#29" and "#5", but I'm inclined to just answer, "YES"

With that said, he sent me pictures, but they are of 2 different frames, or at least different dropouts... the first one is correct; it was supposed to have modular dropouts so that I could switch to single speed without needing a tensioner, but it looks like maybe they cut them off and welded in the UDH instead, because otherwise the rest of the frame appears the same:

This is exactly why I stopped weighing my stuff, it gets in your head. Put away the scale and be free...
It's also why I stopped using a computer (in the old days) and don't use Strava; riding is so much more enjoyable when your head isn't cluttered and stressed with numbers.

51 minutes ago, mack_turtle said:

@gotdurt, do you have anything to share about the "ride feel" of your original Marino? I'm I full of shit? (Don't answer that! No, really, am I?)

The first thing I noticed switching straight from my aluminum Nukeproof Scout was that while overall it definitely felt more alive, the rear end felt really harsh, much like the scout. It still feels better than my On-One 456 did though, which had that over-built BMX feel. It definitely doesn't have the compliance or forgiveness that my old 90's frames have/had. I did notice that the stays are really beefy; when I went through the warranty process I did ask Marino if he had a lighter option for the stays, and his answer was basically "no"... although I don't recall what the specific reason was.

 

1 hour ago, mack_turtle said:

In the box were this shirt with reflective print and an extra axle and sliders.

Damn, I didn't get any extras. I did get a shirt though, but it's a medium so I just wear it to the gym 😆

In other news, I got a response on IG from Marino himself:
"Hola Elias ask about cable guides
Now complete that"
Not sure how to interpret that... either he got the photos they asked for and he's completing it, or he's telling me that I still need to do answer his questions about the cable guides 🤔

1 hour ago, mack_turtle said:

I asked a question a few days ago but have not gotten a response either. The Marino FB group reports similar experiences this week as well.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/220557769424981/permalink/717087856438634/?mibextid=Nif5oz

 

Fortunately for me, my frame arrived in Florida yesterday, so the delivery date is coming!

 

I posted in the fb group, maybe he'll see it or someone mid-build might mention it like you did...

On 12/30/2022 at 12:54 PM, gotdurt said:

So it looks like @mack_turtle might have rattled their cage some... got an email from Elijah yesterday, he said that Marino was waiting to hear how I wanted the cable routing; I forwarded the original response that I had sent with photos, etc on 9/13/21, lol. I don't know if they actually missed it, or if he is just using it as an excuse. Either way, I hope the ball starts rolling again now that they see that I'm not an "island"...

I've been sending follow-up emails every few days with no responses. Sent one yesterday, too. Guess now that they have @mack_turtle's money, they can ignore me again. Thinking I might need to get on their FB and IG pages and start stirring things up some.

So it looks like @mack_turtle might have rattled their cage some... got an email from Elijah yesterday, he said that Marino was waiting to hear how I wanted the cable routing; I forwarded the original response that I had sent with photos, etc on 9/13/21, lol. I don't know if they actually missed it, or if he is just using it as an excuse. Either way, I hope the ball starts rolling again now that they see that I'm not an "island"...

So, thanks to @mack_turtle inserting my my circumstance into his conversation with Elijah, I finally got a response to my last email:
 

Quote

Hi Casey,

 

Sorry for the wait, I've forwarded  your emails to Marino so he can get back with an update, please wait for it.

 

Best regards,

Elijah

Guess we'll see the the ball gets rolling again...

37 minutes ago, mack_turtle said:

Marino sent me the BikeCAD file they were working on. I think it's perfect. I even have a name for it, which shall be revealed at a later date. I haven't put any money down yet, but it seems like it's happening. 

https://www.bikecad.ca/1669304824234

(disregard the brown box, I can't make that go away.)

Cool, since he's talking to you, tell him to respond to my emails from 10/28 and 11/21...

Sorry, I don't recall seeing the notifications from these last posts...

On 10/29/2022 at 12:56 PM, mack_turtle said:

Marino has tons and tons of bikes in the wild, and while communication is not perfect, it sounds like everyone gets their bike eventually. I'll wait to hear if they ever get back to @gotdurt before i put any money down, but I'm designing something in the meanwhile. It's that or just keep riding the old bike until I break it, which is unlikely.

Is it possible that they've just had the frame all this time and were waiting for you? It sounds like they build a ton of custom bikes all the time. Bad customer service for sure, but everyone makes mistakes. Like I said, I'm waiting to hear what you find out before I proceed.

 

Yep, they even sent me photos of it... then COVID hit and excuses flew, although they did send another photo or 2 a few months later, then Elijah responded to a few of my emails saying that it was almost ready and they they were waiting on input from me (none asked, it was a stall tactic). Then, ghost. He may have just "reset" after COVID and didn't want to spend the money on shipping the replacement frame... I mean, it's been 3 years now. The last time I emailed them I even gave them the option of not painting it, just send it as-is.
Edit: I sent another email today with a link to this thread to see if I get a response. Maybe I'll just email them daily until they respond.

I sent another email, this time telling him that I would even be satisfied with getting it without paint, if that's what it takes to get it out. I think that was all that it was waiting on.

16 minutes ago, mack_turtle said:

bringing this thread back from the dead because Marino is back on my radar. after nearly a year of searching for jobs, I FINALLY got something to stick. I'm starting a technical writing role that will pay a bit more and involves less traveling. woot! new job, new bike.

I want something that's a little longer and more "modern" than my Karate Monkey to handle a 120mm 29er fork (~495mm a-c) with short chainstays, a not-so-low bottom bracket, longer reach for a shorter stem, and a slightly longer front-center/ head tube angle. it has to have some sort of singlespeed capabilities and preferably steel. I have a long list of options and all of them have sub-optimal geometry for my desires or they cost a lot more than I can shell out. Chumba Sendero or Neuhaus Hummingbird, but I'm not making that much more money. Esker Japhy is to long-and low and the Santa Cruz Chameleon and Spec. Fuse are aluminum. nope, custom it is!

The pricing on these bikes is a no-brainer. custom geo, Reynolds 725, sliding dropouts, custom add-ons, and I get to pick the color for less than the cost of a Surly frame? I just have to wait? that's fine. The hardest part will be nailing down the geo to exactly what I can confidently say will work for me. when I'm honest with myself, the only thing I don't like about the KM is that it's so compact that I need to use a "long" stem for it to fit me at all, and even then, it's compact. if I finally do this, I'll document it for you all.

Good luck, I finally gave up on the replacement frame. The few times that someone responded to my emails, I never seemed to get anywhere. Is there a dusty frame sitting in their shop with my name on it? Who knows.

Honestly, I can't say that I recommend Marino. I wanted to, but can't. Designing my own bike was fun, but the result... some have had better luck, some worse. The question is, is it worth the gamble?