Hello all, I've been a lurker here for a while. Nice rides.
I started building Rat BMX bikes in the 70's as a kid. A double clamp neck and crossbar handelbars were the first necessities. Then an apple seat, ashtabula cranks, knobby tires, better wheels, removal of fenders, chain guard and kickstand on non Schwinn bikes. Vinyl covered snap on pads were also added and I once had yellow plastic lightweight fenders. Later bikes had ACS mag wheels and then a Tange BMX fork.
My first build was my 1960's 20" Sears cruiser. Then I did a Ross Polo bike I found in the trash. Jumped fourteen 55 gallon drums at a sewer construction site with that heavy beast. :shock: I then built a 1967 Schwinn Fastback and cracked the top tube while jumping ramps.
I had a Schwinn Stingray that I delivered the NY Daily News with 365 days a year for several years. I used front forks from a ten speed to give me a chopper effect which gave clearance for the bag to hang off the front of the BMX handelbars. It had no fenders and I rode it all year around like that in all weather.
I custom built a 1983 Redline 102b BMX. Ordered the frame and all parts from the bike shop. ACS white Mike Buff Z rims, SR Turbox tubular one piece crank, Pro Neck, GT bars, Hutch laid back seat post. Tires - 2.125 front / 1.75 rear. Raced it at Braddock and Raceway Park in NJ. Still have this one.
Had other bikes that are long gone during that period. Ross Apollo Racer, Schwinn Thrasher, St Tropez Four Eighty 10 speed. Also a 1980's Mongoose mountain bike.
Current Bikes:
196? Sears Spaceliner - no tank / rack
1990 Trek 930 Mountain with Rock Shox Mag21 fork
1997 Trek 820 Mountain (wife's/men's frame)
2010 Schwinn Windwood cruiser - used $42 with a lock
196? Rapido 3 speed womans - European - trash find
1980 ? Ross Eurotour 3 speed - never ridden, neighbors trash
198? Schwinn World Sport - barely ridden, neighbors trash
197? Schwinn World sport - neighbors trash
197? Schwinn World Sport - neighbors trash
20" bikes (my kids use some of these)
1970 Ross Apollo
1975 Ross Apollo 5 Speed
197? Ross Apollo 3 Speed
197? Ross Apollo 3 Speed
1968 Fleetwing Tigercat 3 Speed
196? Ross Tank Light girls - trash find
197? Murray Bobbi 1 - neighbors trash
200? Huffy Compressor 20"/16" - suspension, adj ride height
2004? Trek 220 - 21 speed 24" - trash find
2005 Trek Mystic 16"
2009 Huffy Green Machine
1983 Redline 102b BMX my original custom build
1983 Redline 102b bought in 2009 no wheels rough shape
1967 Schwinn Fastback frame - cracked top tube
Thanks for a fun and informative forum and allowing me to reminisce at the same time.
John
I started building Rat BMX bikes in the 70's as a kid. A double clamp neck and crossbar handelbars were the first necessities. Then an apple seat, ashtabula cranks, knobby tires, better wheels, removal of fenders, chain guard and kickstand on non Schwinn bikes. Vinyl covered snap on pads were also added and I once had yellow plastic lightweight fenders. Later bikes had ACS mag wheels and then a Tange BMX fork.
My first build was my 1960's 20" Sears cruiser. Then I did a Ross Polo bike I found in the trash. Jumped fourteen 55 gallon drums at a sewer construction site with that heavy beast. :shock: I then built a 1967 Schwinn Fastback and cracked the top tube while jumping ramps.
I had a Schwinn Stingray that I delivered the NY Daily News with 365 days a year for several years. I used front forks from a ten speed to give me a chopper effect which gave clearance for the bag to hang off the front of the BMX handelbars. It had no fenders and I rode it all year around like that in all weather.
I custom built a 1983 Redline 102b BMX. Ordered the frame and all parts from the bike shop. ACS white Mike Buff Z rims, SR Turbox tubular one piece crank, Pro Neck, GT bars, Hutch laid back seat post. Tires - 2.125 front / 1.75 rear. Raced it at Braddock and Raceway Park in NJ. Still have this one.
Had other bikes that are long gone during that period. Ross Apollo Racer, Schwinn Thrasher, St Tropez Four Eighty 10 speed. Also a 1980's Mongoose mountain bike.
Current Bikes:
196? Sears Spaceliner - no tank / rack
1990 Trek 930 Mountain with Rock Shox Mag21 fork
1997 Trek 820 Mountain (wife's/men's frame)
2010 Schwinn Windwood cruiser - used $42 with a lock
196? Rapido 3 speed womans - European - trash find
1980 ? Ross Eurotour 3 speed - never ridden, neighbors trash
198? Schwinn World Sport - barely ridden, neighbors trash
197? Schwinn World sport - neighbors trash
197? Schwinn World Sport - neighbors trash
20" bikes (my kids use some of these)
1970 Ross Apollo
1975 Ross Apollo 5 Speed
197? Ross Apollo 3 Speed
197? Ross Apollo 3 Speed
1968 Fleetwing Tigercat 3 Speed
196? Ross Tank Light girls - trash find
197? Murray Bobbi 1 - neighbors trash
200? Huffy Compressor 20"/16" - suspension, adj ride height
2004? Trek 220 - 21 speed 24" - trash find
2005 Trek Mystic 16"
2009 Huffy Green Machine
1983 Redline 102b BMX my original custom build
1983 Redline 102b bought in 2009 no wheels rough shape
1967 Schwinn Fastback frame - cracked top tube
Thanks for a fun and informative forum and allowing me to reminisce at the same time.
John
