STBO Good & Plenty

Well Ratters. I can state, with some confidence, that building with w deadline is a bit bike work so this may not be a thing for me. Still as I sort out pics and playing catch up, bear with me. From mid August, we went through another round of Covid in the house, two weeks, first my wife, then myself. No garage time then. Following Labor Day weekend I was in Toronto for work related stuff where I received a Distinguished Service award for the last 10 years of volunteering in one professional organization. Coming back home to a sever allergy season, my butte is draggin'!

However, I did get some time in this past week. Since I started this project long ago (spring 2024) and stopped it when I heard there would be a STBO, I am hoping for some flexibility in being able to post in the build off forum. Photo's to follow!

It was finding the men's version of Good & Plenty that started the redirection of interest in bicycles. It's been used for parts and actually needs a tear down and build. Here it is 90% complete, #22 dubbed "Tom Waits for No One". It's heavy and takes a while to stop so a front brake may be in order but it pays homage to my adoptive father, Brian Eriksen, a land speed record holder. https://www.facebook.com/groups/422304174509554/







Man, finding that bike took place at least 5 years ago, I then found the step thru version in Maine and had a trip planned to pick it up. Having friends and family there this kind of trip wasn't out of the question. Alas, the trip was cancelled and having paid for the bike already found a bike shop close enough to the sellers that boxed and shipped everything to me. I no longer have the ebay images nor are they available and I am hopeful the former digression proves entertainment enough to overlook that fact for the missing images.

The frame in this state, after a week or two of disassembly and polishing is when I found this group and purchased two of the coolest stickers ever purchased. Just shy on the coolness factor of those 1970's prismatic numbers in the backs of motocross magazines. Note the garage walls are under constant upgrade and improvement.



Many of the preliminary pics can be found here: https://ratrodbikes.com/threads/she-horse.119954/post-1285214


These are the best ones I have for the condition the bike was in.





Polishing old chrome is a very Zen experience, the repetition of the wax on wax off nature of the process is medicinal.





More shots as the bike arrived from Maine and sat boxed until this summer (2024)




Next up, we'll look at the fenders and wheels. Some of you may recall that after polishing the rims, the front hub was found to be cracked in the "Crack is Whack" Post. https://ratrodbikes.com/threads/crack-is-whack.119992/#post-1286977


Stay Tuned for more images and getting some 1980's Raleigh wheels sorted out and an ongoing work in progress.

While I continue to plug along, the fenders and finishes are still not decided. There is one version with Wheel Paint, a Grayish slightly textured paint, that call to me but so does the theatrical forced pink, rubbed with Steel Wool while wet. Of all the finishes I have tried, this one fills me with joy.


Interesting but not making the cut:



Plenty of rust and I felt these fenders needed to be refinished




I do like the 220 Random Orbit on the chrome handlebars, may or may not clearcoat these.




Oh, all the work on the rims to go in a totally differant direction!



Some additional support photos are attached.

A blue "Sears" bike was listed earlier this year for $100.00 two weeks ago it was down to $30.00 so I jumped on it. With small alterations, I can use the tank, which was something I was striving for. However, I had to try all the other components as well, just to see'. Since enjoying 'the process' is a key to happiness, I find each new part can change the trajectory of a project. My skills are not yet strong enough for the visions, but things seem to work out in the end.




With the Raleigh Rims, I was really hoping I could employ the fenders too. Alas, the learning curve of rim sizes continues on its tangent and there is little room for them, I may continue to experiment and in all instances of fenders, I will likely bob each one to shorten them up. I tried the front one forwards and backwards.




The tank from the Huffy Eldorado was too short. Alas, It will get used somewhere. To me the tank was worth the purchase of the bike.






Before tires last Sunday, this is where she sits. Waiting on parts for the shifter, cable and clamps and will make a pulley with washers.

QUESTION! There are no lock nuts for tension at the hubs. Are there supposed to be?

Cleaning, disassembly and assembly continues.

I'll miss the white walls but I am adjusting to the English 1 3/8 just fine. I'm hoping the brake issue is a matter of tension on the shifter cable but this has been a bunch of hours to sort out. I know my wife is a fan of the three speed so worth it just for that bit of sunshine.






I like this version of the finish for the fenders and chain guard, I might try it with the previous darker base coat so it is more Good & Plenty" flavored. It has some copper mixed in because she loves rose gold...

Chain guard and lighting accessories or otherwise incorporating these elements into the build.

KJV said:

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I do have the whistle as well! Minimal cost on Etsy.

Wildcat said:

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Thank You!

This gets my heart pumping...

Kudos on the report! I am a week into diagnosing having no brakes. Actually started with covid brain fog and still working through it. Adjusting the tension does get me brakes and I am hopeful replacement of the cable firms up my findings. I did take the advice of elders and simply refilled the hub (synthetic wet lube although i think ATF would work here if aged properly) while resisting disassembley. This group is so helpful for all the right reasons. Kudos Ratter's.

twojs.bike said:

What happens when you apply the brakes? It is also important to have the correct indicator chain. They come in different sizes and having the wrong size will cause it to never shift right. And possibly cause braking issues.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/indicators.html

Is the hub currently attached to a cable and shifter?

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I lost my reply, maybe the video from this week will help.