The Bicycle Thread

Originally Posted by rokytnji Hmmmm. The more I read. I may have a idea of making some home made extended seat posts to raise my seats. Cut and extend the front pipe steering and raise it up. Install some longer handle bars. Replace with longer cables. Just like customising motorcycles. Just have to take my time.

Go for it!

Wife and I had cheap *mart bikes when we were first married and they were stolen from our shed. After we moved I bought a used one to ride to work (but the parking lot is too dangerous so I stopped riding)

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/n...h_IMG_8327.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/n..._IMG_12430.jpg

I have a 40 year old Schwinn that I adore. It weighs a ton, but the steel frame is such an easier ride on the bones and joints than a newer aluminum bike would be. (Before anyone says carbon, I am not made of money and have no need to go fast.) Plus it's acid green.

Originally Posted by rokytnji Biting the bullet. Just so I can have something to ride before I break out my welder and hacksaw and see what I can break.

Like you need an excuse to do that.

I bought a bicycle last year. It's a 2014 GT Aggressor 1.0. Only entry-level, but still good for some fun/exercise.

Change of plan. Decided to fix both 10 dollar bikes back to stock for the wife since they are girl bikes.

I made close to a 800 miles round trip session to Lubbock Texas and bought these 2 off craigslist
last night.

This one is a 2011 63CM Schwinn 564 Road Bike

http://i.imgur.com/9P7Xb77.jpg

The young dude I bought it from. We could look at each other eye to eye. So to me it is a big mans bike.

While I was up there and had traveled so far. I said what the hell and bought the below on a impulse type of buy since I burned up some gas money for the other bike.

http://i.imgur.com/9KpegLn.jpg

It is a true fixie with no single speed flip/flop type of rim where you can reverse the rim so it coasts. No brakes. I tried to ride it this morning. But I have a bit to learn on staying on a true fixie. The Schwinn is a easier fit for me right now. The fixie was custom all the way,
frame and wheels and pedals__so eye candy won over common sense.

I used to do that in titty bars also. When I was single.

Learning about presta valves for airing tires. I have already ordered some brass adapters for presta to schradar valve stem adapters so I can use my air compressor on these things.

They sure make road tires and tubes and rims real skinny now. Not like my brain remembers from
when I was a kid. All that is left is to re-cable the older cheap 10 dollar units so the wife can ride them (doubt it, but ya never know). Maybe a new coat of paint also.

Waiting now to see what the Walmart 700C Thruster Fixie will be like. It has a flip/flop hub
for fixie/single speed (and lever brakes).

Tire repair day today. Broken beer bottles played havoc on the Schwinn.

So to make it not hurt so much. Here is a video I find amusing and just helpful to a desert rat like me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4jE8EFrbZ8

I don't have a bicycle patch kit yet. Just motorcycle patch kits. But I have old inner tubes I can cut with scissors to make patches and use the glue from the motorcycle innertube patch kit to finish the seal.

My secret weapon on patch repair is one of these.

I clamp up the patch after it is applied to the inner tube and let it dry out in our hot sun for about a 30 minutes.

I have yet one to fail using this method on my motorcycle inner tubes. Should be OK on a Bicycle inner tube and tire.
My Harleys weigh a lot more and take more punishment at high speeds vs a bicycle.

Of course. All mating surfaces will be cleaned with 90% Rubbing Alchohol and buffed and ruffed with sandpaper before
mating home made rubber patches to inner tubes.

I've done that sort of thing on MTBs, (using old inner tubes is an old trick).
Also used a piece of old tyre (with the bead cut off), canvas or denim to stop the tube poking out of a gashed tyre.

Those 2 'new' bikes look nice, you've got some nice low gears on one, & you can swap the fixed cog for a freewheel if you can fit brakes to that track bike.

The 'trick' to puncture repairs is to allow the glue/solution to go almost dry before adding the patch.
(Using old tube as patch, apply solution/glue to both tyre & patch to soften the surfaces before sticking them together.)

Something stirred in my memory.

At Hackerpublicradio.org, John Kulp describes building a recumbent bicycle from donor bikes: http://hackerpublicradio.org/eps.php?id=1282

Yay. Picking up a trail bike. Paying a 100 bucks. Located in Austin Texas.

My wife is visiting and baby sitting the grandkid while my boy is vacationing with the wife.
My wife's car is a Chrysler Crossfire 2 seater. So the bike cannot make it to me yet till we
go there for the next visit when time and funds permit in my pickup truck.


My wife is the one that found this deal for me. So the plan is. To use my sons wife SUV to get the bike bought and
stored in my sons garage. Till we can pick it up at our own convenience.

Been riding regular like improving my wind/breathing and strengthening my bum knees and leg muscles every morning.
In my small town, traffic is not like in the big city. So morning runs are not so dicey.

Here is The Fuji Trail bike for 100 bucks that I will have to wait on for awhile. But is mine non the less.

http://i.imgur.com/dO2rxTn.jpg

Next is I am going to build a bike work stand out of my blown craftsman lawnmower base so I have a wheeled clampable
bike work stand. Cost will be zero dollars as I have lots of scrap medal in the shop. And a stick welder.

I posted about my lawnmower here

Edit: Here is a youtube video to give members a small idea of what I converting my blown lawn mower base to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rgVuzaeaE8

I already stripped 1/2 of that blown craftsman lawnmower to fix the weedeater lawnmower. So I might as well finish canibilizing the craftsman so it is put to good use. Pics of course will be shown of finished product after I
fabricate it. Probably outa paint it when done. But I probably won't. Not a lot of humidity out here for rusting.
100F today later on. 80F now. Laterz.

Like the look of your 'trail' bike, you should have some fun once you get it.

Forwarded email email from the bike shop that is setting this up for my wife to pick up.

Holly, Thank you for stopping by Crank House Cycles yesterday. I have brought the mountain bike that I was discussing with you, to the shop today and have given it a full tune up. It is ready to roll once a new middle chainring is installed on the front crankset. I have attached a photo for you in the below thread. I have also attached a link below to the Bicycle Blue Book showing its value. This bike is in excellent condition and has a few upgrades as far as added bar ends, upgraded pedals, gel saddle, and tires. My friend is asking $100. Please let me know if you would like to come by to see it.

She will be picking it up later on today in my daughter-in-laws SUV.

The pic he sent

Our Winters here are more like your fall or spring weather in England. I will be trying this thing out in Big Bend, Alpine, or Ft Davis McDonald's Observatory this winter. Lots of trails and scenery for bicycles out there.

Here it is just open Desert and Hot as Hell.

Edit: If I was in Austin right now the crossfire would be looking like this.

http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...2010/image.jpg

Slackware has run my computer need of my bicycle company for years. This is a wonderful thread.
no such thing as a good or bad bike. some just seem to do better.
Considering 1890's the average bicycle was over a hundred dollars.

And the lightest bikes made still are made from steel. Spec out a 13 pound one out just last year.
http://flatsfixedbicycles.com/

I gathered up some motorcycle parts funds and sprung for a walmart cookie cutter POS=(Piece of S_____T, Not Point of Sale) hoping my stab in the dark strikes paydirt. I did this all before reading the replies here.

Arrived Today. I will be assembling it instead of continuing with the bike stand. Here is hoping it fits me.

Edit:

And the lightest bikes made still are made from steel. Spec out a 13 pound one out just last year. http://flatsfixedbicycles.com/

Killer Link there. Thanks.

Originally Posted by rokytnji http://i774.photobucket.com/albums/y...2010/image.jpg

Fuji bikes are awesome.
I am 6'4" (ish) and 225 Lbs.
Long hair and few tats. People look at me funny too.

My last Fuji I called the "Urban Assault Vehicle".

What a great purchase for $100.oo. I'd buy two.