This is my first build and I am loving it. I am building two bikes - one for myself which my wife knows I'm building and one for her that she does not know I'm building. Hers will be a birthday present. Mine is an old Hawthorne, hers an old Columbia. I was told they are both from around 58-62ish. Let me know if you have a better idea as far as their age.
Here's her bike:
this is mine. It was a complete bike when I bought it, but I got so excited to begin working on it, I forgot to take before pictures! After taking a few things off, I realized I forgot to take some pics and so I took these. I've asked the guy I bought it from if he can send me the pics he posted on c list. If he does I'll post them here too.
I'm lucky enough to have a friend who has a bike stand he let me use. That thing is a life saver! Here's mine after it has been torn down.
The first thing I wanted to do was bend the forks to give a little rake and lower the front end on both bikes. Thanks to fellow member Kota's words of wisdom, I was able to get them bent the way I wanted on the first try. If you're looking for advice on how to bend forks, read this thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9254&hilit=bend+forks
Pictures of the forks:
Sorry these pictures are so bad. I had to do this outside so my wife wouldn't see me working on two bikes. By the time I got done it was dark out. I used a spotlight but the lighting is still really bad. My apologies.
I put the wheels and forks back on the bikes to see what bthey looked like after the bends. Here's a couple pics of a very preliminary mock up on both of them:
Both bikes are at my familes paint and hydrographics shop now for painting the frames and fenders. I'm going to be finishing the components in the meantime and when they get done with paint. I'll be reassembling them all in time for my wife's birthday at the end of April. God willing!!! I'm still a little torn on the color scheme at this point, but I know we'll be incorporating some sort of carbon fiber hydro film in it somewhere. If you've never seen hydrographics before you need to go see their website - http://www.ozarkshydrographics.com
I'll keep updating as it comes along. Wish me luck at getting it done in a month! I know it's a stretch!
Here's her bike:
this is mine. It was a complete bike when I bought it, but I got so excited to begin working on it, I forgot to take before pictures! After taking a few things off, I realized I forgot to take some pics and so I took these. I've asked the guy I bought it from if he can send me the pics he posted on c list. If he does I'll post them here too.
I'm lucky enough to have a friend who has a bike stand he let me use. That thing is a life saver! Here's mine after it has been torn down.
The first thing I wanted to do was bend the forks to give a little rake and lower the front end on both bikes. Thanks to fellow member Kota's words of wisdom, I was able to get them bent the way I wanted on the first try. If you're looking for advice on how to bend forks, read this thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9254&hilit=bend+forks
Pictures of the forks:
Sorry these pictures are so bad. I had to do this outside so my wife wouldn't see me working on two bikes. By the time I got done it was dark out. I used a spotlight but the lighting is still really bad. My apologies.
I put the wheels and forks back on the bikes to see what bthey looked like after the bends. Here's a couple pics of a very preliminary mock up on both of them:
Both bikes are at my familes paint and hydrographics shop now for painting the frames and fenders. I'm going to be finishing the components in the meantime and when they get done with paint. I'll be reassembling them all in time for my wife's birthday at the end of April. God willing!!! I'm still a little torn on the color scheme at this point, but I know we'll be incorporating some sort of carbon fiber hydro film in it somewhere. If you've never seen hydrographics before you need to go see their website - http://www.ozarkshydrographics.com
I'll keep updating as it comes along. Wish me luck at getting it done in a month! I know it's a stretch!