Graylock's Flat Lander of Ayer finished

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It only took one year to the day to build. I mean I was still putting pinstripping on it while were waiting for Steve. This was one of a few Flat Landers of Ayer that was built for this years
4th Human Powered Vehicle Festival in Ayer MA. We used this type of bike for the rail trail in Ayer and had a great time on the ride and back at the festival. Not only did I finish the pinstripping there my wife bought me a new Schwinn seat for it that I put on it half way through the festival. I'll continue to add to it as I see fit, like a chain guard, pedals, and a rear rack. If you follow this link you can view the concept of what we were trying to achieve. Here is how I built mine.

I started with 1974 Schwinn road bike, I think it was a Continental. My Dad fished this out of the metal pile at the dump.



The frame was tall so I planned to cut it down to something like this.



With the help of my CAD program ( Cardboard Assisted Drawing )......



..... I came up with this ......



..... where I bent the backstays by hand without bending the chain stays. If I was to do this ever again I think it would be easier to match up the curves after you set the upper frame tubes. Just saying. I did a little bird mouth work here while it was close to where I welded it on with this welder. I cut myself doing this. Bummer!



This top tube was a prebent fail from another project bike but it seemed to fit here.



I took it out for a spin after I laced a Bendix Coaster Hub to a rim that my inch and a quarter by twenty seven inch tires went on.




My Bendix Coaster Brake.



So we were now into October and I worked out the fenders before I put the bike away for the winter.



By mid summer I got the itch to start the build again and I worked on the lower tubes and tank.





Mean while I put the white walls on the rims when I was inbetween painting the frame.



I have been back from the Ayer bike ride for a week now and today looked like a good day to take pictures. I have riden all weekend into Orleans and spun a few heads around. I guess I'll have to think about cleaning up my shop now!






I modified this picture to stir up a building frenzy for the others to finish their Flat Landers. I say it worked!

Mr_Natural_cool_kids-1.jpg


Graylock
 
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Thanks for the comments. I'm just working with what I have. If I didn't build this bike I would have scraped the bike for metal tubes and parts. It rides extremly well and keeps a decent speed on the bike trail. I put all the money in tires and rattle can paint as usual but splurged on the seat at Wally World.
 
That is a Awesome build!
I really like riding my continental. But that look would make it so much better. WOW!
 
Thanks for liking this bike . I have made a seatpost mod by making a longer 7 post to get my butt back further. The original frame was made for leaning over the bike and felt weird to ride in a cruiser position. Now it's much more comfortable to ride. Not a bad ride fo a forty year old bike hauled out of the trash.

GL
 
Wow Gray, that thing came out sweet! Has a certain 30's flair about it, kinda reminds me of something on the railways, very cool and original. 8)
 
We run in different rail trails here in Ct and Mass although we have been known to run RI.We're always ready for miles n beers:thumbsup:Hope to run a few miles and make your bar elbow sore soon:rolleyes:!!
018.JPG
 
GL you should be happier on Father's Day.cheer up.
Nice bike and if we don't ride earlier,see you in Ayers...Stevil
 

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