Functional-rbbo17

[Wildcat]

Rollfasts are ok. Ride pretty good. Not incredible. I think they just look cool.

I built a 24” Rollfast for my daughter in last year’s BO, flipped a black one a few summers ago.

the black one was super cool And sold it to a college kid who was going to use it as a commuter.

the bikes were never high volume bikes and were made in NY, mostly Little Falls, which is an hour or two from Central New York, so they’re pretty common around here.

I think they were sold through hardware and farm stores.

if you find one for $100 or so, and it’s pretty complete, nab it!

Hawthornes (sold by Montgomery Wards) were made by CWC and Snyder at first, then were mostly made by Snyder, who made Rollfast. When CWC moved to Arkansas with the forward facing dropouts, then all Hawthornes were Snyder I think.

I rode a 57 Rollfast way back in the 70's to my job at Denny's and back everyday. There are tons of them out there. None around where I live though.
I would have liked to keep my 42 Hawthorne, same as a Rollfast, but it would have been a small fortune to ship it here. Maybe I should have cut up the frame to fit in a small box, then have it welded back together here.

 

[Jude Ephesus]

Hawthornes (sold by Montgomery Wards) were made by CWC and Snyder at first, then were mostly made by Snyder, who made Rollfast. When CWC moved to Arkansas with the forward facing dropouts, then all Hawthornes were Snyder I think.

I rode a 57 Rollfast way back in the 70's to my job at Denny's and back everyday. There are tons of them out there. None around where I live though.
I would have liked to keep my 42 Hawthorne, same as a Rollfast, but it would have been a small fortune to ship it here. Maybe I should have cut up the frame to fit in a small box, then have it welded back together here.

View attachment 195750

I do think that the Snyder facility was in little falls and the Rollfast HQ was in NYC somewhere?

Rollfast started as/was made by DP Harris which I think was like farm stores then morphed or partnered with Snyder Manufacturing.

 

[dropstep]

Whatever it is it doesn’t ride horrible but it still needs some sorting. Gearing change at a minimum

 

[Wildcat]

Little over 5 mile test ride this afternoon. Mostly using this for my memory but the brakes need adjusted, and maybe newer pads but it does work. The gearing needs changed. Going to try a 36 or 39 on front. With the banana seat positioning it’s just a bit more gear then I want. View attachment 195689
post ride photo because photos make things better

If you want to use that chain wheel, just change the cog out to couple more teeth. You'd have to add a link or two to the chain.

 

[dropstep]

So many choices

But most of them are 44t or larger.

this one’s a 44t but somehow smaller in diameter though

then tested some chain guards. The top one came on it, the bottom is a lady’s spaceliner guard but I like it

 

[kingfish254]

Spaceliner guards are always fun and cool. Go for it!

 

[dropstep]

My original plans included the 3 piece crank I’m not using with the direction this build went. So Amazon to the rescue

nothing fancy but should be fine for some commuting work.

I think this guard is the winner. Came off a ladies bike named warrior. Needs painted because in the light you would see how much crustier it is then the rest of the bike.

 

[dropstep]

After a sandpaper scuff to knock the flakes off and spraying it down with the hose the original blue is really close to a blue from a former build off bike

ohh and I won the prior mentioned burnout contest in car and overall. Now back to riding the bike to work to cover that premium fuel!

 

[dropstep]

My bike time was interrupted tonight. I love that my kid rides the build off bikes we built for him but he breaks stuff.

having it on the bike stand did bring to my attention I seem to have developed a “type” for my build off bikes. His was last years.

This was built 2 years ago.

And of course this years. Aside from the 700c wheels and a handbrake it’s pretty much the same bike. It will likely replace the blue one, although I’m really fond of it.

 

[Captain Awesome]

I seem to have developed a “type” for my build off bikes

Find what you're good at and stick with it

 

[MattiThundrrr]

I seem to have developed a “type” for my build off bikes

You are discovering your style.

it’s pretty much the same bike... I’m really fond of it.

And if it ain't broke, no need to fix anything. Carry on!

 

[dropstep]

not sure a photo shows it but in person you can tell I grabbed the wrong can of paint. Dark walnut looks a lot like black until sun hits it!

 

[kingfish254]

Your brain knows what it wants.
Looks good

 

[dropstep]

Mounted the chain guard now that it’s black and not dark walnut. Decided to try out a rack, if this things going to be ridden to work on nice days it needs some way to haul stuff.

need to get it out in the daylight and see what I think. I’m past due for a ride so maybe Wednesday

 

[Wildcat]

Maybe you know already, but that's a Snyder chain guard. The Warrior was a Firestone branded Snyder I think.

 

[dropstep]

Maybe you know already, but that's a Snyder chain guard. The Warrior was a Firestone branded Snyder I think.

Didn’t have a clue, was just a very rough woman’s bike a friend gave me so I took the few parts I may use and sent it onto the scrapper. I really like how it looks and it bolted on like it was made for it

 

[Wildcat]

Didn’t have a clue, was just a very rough woman’s bike a friend gave me so I took the few parts I may use and sent it onto the scrapper. I really like how it looks and it bolted on like it was made for it

On a lot of bikes, the dropouts and chain guard have their a distinctive style. Chain wheels also. That's how I ID a lot of the 50's and 60's bikes.

 

[dropstep]

Nice morning so I decided to ride it to work. Rides well but feels slow!

 

[kingfish254]

View attachment 198751Nice morning so I decided to ride it to work. Rides well but feels slow!

Congrats on having a rider now. Love to see build off bikes out in the wild!

 

[dropstep]

Took the time for some small stuff. Painted a hose clamp black. The silver was bothering me.

It’s a bit crowded but it works. It needed a kickstand for those rides to work. Still not 100% happy with how it rides but I’m not sure why yet. Playing with tire pressures