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Joined
Jul 12, 2008
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Location
Salt Lake City, UT
I picked up this single bar schwinn a couple years back and it’s been hanging in my garage since. I always thought these were cool and weird frames. I think they only made them for a few years, if I remember correctly this one is a 1957 flying star.
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Plans are for a pretty simple build. For starters I have an unused but slightly dirty pair of quick bricks. Also a Columbia springer that I plan to faux patina to match the frame.
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I don't think I have ever seen one of those before. Very cool, and even cooler plans with the creme bricks and springer.
 
Thanks guys, I’m pretty excited about this built. It seems like every year life gets in the way of the main build off. I think the only two build offs I finished a bike for were #4 and #8. Though I have done a few of the muscle bike build offs in recent years.

Got started on mocking it up today. I’m liking it so far. About three years ago I bought a pile of new felt tires from a collector. This is the last new pair I had, kind of sad they don’t make them anymore.
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I found a deluxe guard in my parts that was the same color, I had totally forgotten that I had it. I think I like it better, but a little sad to lose the flying star decal.
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Way back when I first joined this site there was an idea thread, it had an old bike on eBay that had a spoon for a coaster brake strap. For the last 14 years or so I have been doing the same thing. I’ve found that heating it up and bending it over a long smallish socket that’s clamped in a vice works really well.
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Next up I’m going to start design the finned aluminum tank!
 
I got the tank cut out and mounted. Still needs a fair amount of grinding to get it all working right, but I’m happy with it.it is double sided, I just didn’t take any pictures from the other side. Also realized that the fork is a little bent. I’ve been meaning to make a tool to straighten forks, so I guess that’s next.
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Very cool.
I don't really think it needs the tank plate.
The frame is cool enough.
I don’t disagree with this. Of course it doesn’t need the tank plate, it’s a beautiful frame on its own. None of these bikes need what we do to them. However, that’s the whole purpose of a custom bike, it’s an expression of creativity, taste, and design. This bike is loosely designed by a hot rod I’m building, and it’s taking some design ideas from it and that’s where the finned aluminum idea comes from.
 
@Couch tater that is what I was going for. I got that piece of cast finned aluminum for about $40 from speedway.
I’ve been working on a 1927 model T modified for almost ten years. I wanted a flathead, but at the time I couldn’t afford it. For now the small block ford with some finned parts will do. Just got it back from paint and hoping to have it driving this year.
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