I'm in! This just what I was looking for to use my 26 x 3 inch tires. I laid some stuff out a week or two ago to see if it looked feasible. With big whitewalls and a bare metal patina frame (at least the front part) I think this will make a great stretch ratty fat bike.
Ratty Patty.
My pile of frames and tires:
Layed out on the floor is the plan. These two frames are old but have never been used. They are a couple from the dump where a shop threw out all the unsold frames when they folded. The main frame is an unpainted cantilever frame with lugs. It measures 20" at the seat tube, it's a good size. The red frame is a 24" cruiser frame from back in the 80's also. It will be cut up to provide the rear portion of the frame. As it is laid out, the rear tire will have clearance and I may be able to keep the cantilevers from the donor frame intact. Like a double cantilver frame.
I'll see when I lay out the parts if the 2 bars reach to the seat tube or maybe even the down tube of the main frame. The seat may wind up right on top of the rear wheel. I want the rear just low enough so the pedals don't scrape. I'll sand the red paint off and try to match the natural patina of the main frame.
With the whitewalls it'll have the rat look I'm after.
I need handlebars of some custom kind and wheels. I've got some stuff ordered through the local bike shop but they can't guarantee if anything will ever show up. But this build off is going until April, I'll just buy some old stuff as it comes along if I have to. There's a shop I've heard of that will custom make some bars.
The springer is all set to go. I made it wider and longer for the annual build off but parts never came to be, so it'll get used here. It's the common chinese springer with a couple plates added to make it longer and spacers added for more width. This is it on my other bike, Chrome Molly. That's also the seat I plan to use on this bike. The weight was too much for my daily rider so it's going on this big rat.
I've got an old cottered crankset to go on that looks just right for this build. Ratty.
My first step is cutting up the red frame. I'll use a hacksaw and see if I can separate the cantilevers without harming the tubing.
Ratty Patty.
My pile of frames and tires:
Layed out on the floor is the plan. These two frames are old but have never been used. They are a couple from the dump where a shop threw out all the unsold frames when they folded. The main frame is an unpainted cantilever frame with lugs. It measures 20" at the seat tube, it's a good size. The red frame is a 24" cruiser frame from back in the 80's also. It will be cut up to provide the rear portion of the frame. As it is laid out, the rear tire will have clearance and I may be able to keep the cantilevers from the donor frame intact. Like a double cantilver frame.
I'll see when I lay out the parts if the 2 bars reach to the seat tube or maybe even the down tube of the main frame. The seat may wind up right on top of the rear wheel. I want the rear just low enough so the pedals don't scrape. I'll sand the red paint off and try to match the natural patina of the main frame.
With the whitewalls it'll have the rat look I'm after.
I need handlebars of some custom kind and wheels. I've got some stuff ordered through the local bike shop but they can't guarantee if anything will ever show up. But this build off is going until April, I'll just buy some old stuff as it comes along if I have to. There's a shop I've heard of that will custom make some bars.
The springer is all set to go. I made it wider and longer for the annual build off but parts never came to be, so it'll get used here. It's the common chinese springer with a couple plates added to make it longer and spacers added for more width. This is it on my other bike, Chrome Molly. That's also the seat I plan to use on this bike. The weight was too much for my daily rider so it's going on this big rat.
I've got an old cottered crankset to go on that looks just right for this build. Ratty.
My first step is cutting up the red frame. I'll use a hacksaw and see if I can separate the cantilevers without harming the tubing.