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"Caliper" brakes, not "caliber" brakes. Stupid auto-correct!

Fork, stem, and HB's are now red (Krylon Satin Pimento). I'm also thinking of converting coaster brake to freewheel and adding caliber brakes fore and aft. I found an article posted online from a 1980's BMX magazine explaining how to accomplish the conversion.

Brother Neil: I think that you're on the right track with the 24-incher. The Safety Committee approves of the gears and solid brakes. I have several of those in-between-size bikes and they are handy cruisers (see pics below). You'll find that your Quicksilver will roll quicker if you ditch the...

Tried a different stem/handlebar combination. Bars are higher. And I'm kinda feeling' the red on those bars. Now I'm leaning toward painting fork, stem, and and handlebars red. Also going to add a front caliper brake, for those times when stopping is not just a good idea, but necessary.

You're right. The purple handle bars got me thinking about all those cool, purple hot rods out there. I believe that I built an AMT 1949 Mercury plastic model kit and painted it purple over half a century ago. I'm going to see if Krylon makes a satin purple rattle can. I like the satin finish...

Update: Rummaging through the parts department turned out well. Found a 26" fork, front wheel, and tire. Just had to chop 5/8" off the steering tube. Also came up with stem and handlebars off a kiddie bike and a longer seat post. I kinda like the 26" wheel; makes the bike look a bit longer and...

How to proceed? Generally thinking of leaving it semi-crusty. Switch front wheel to 26-inch? Switch to BMX-style stem and handlebars? Need to get saddle higher -- maybe a layback seat post? Decisions, decisions...

El Diablo Guapo said it right. Only addition is that a hacksaw also works fine.

Dear Cousin Stik: Great looking bike! Love the 2-tone paint job. As far as the gear ratio being a bit high, look for more down grades to ride (why is it that any ride, even when you return to the same place, has more uphills than downhills?) I agree with your decision to leave off the fenders...

Here's a PSA on the topic that some civic-minded individual posted on Craigslist: https://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/bik/d/danbury-warning-dont-overpay-for-an-old/7172824708.html

Wheelbender: I'm having trouble following the story. Did you weld that kickstand onto the bike? If not, just buy a Wald kickstand that fits. That's the type of kickstand that the bike would have sported back in the day (see pic of 1960 Flightliner). If you want a different look to go with your...

I know that the bike market is hot, but this is nuts. Huffy Cranbrooks were available new at $100 to $150. But now they are all over Craigslist at $200 to $250. Lots of entrepreneurs out there. And suckers. On one hand, I'm glad that more people are riding bikes. On the other hand, this market...

Uncle Matti: I recommend trying out a set of "butterfly" or "trekking" bars. My road bike and my trainer bike each sport a set. I like them a lot. They give you multiple hand positions and a good feeling of control. Have fun!

Dear Uncle Seahunt: No bike project is ever done. You can always think of something else to add, switch out, or modify. Nice, eclectic style on that there bike. I would vote "yes" for wood simulations of a metal simulated tank like Professor Thunderrr's. Have fun! p.s. Did you grow up watching...

Sorry, but I'm feeling a bit cynical. The idea of jobs for Americans is nice, but since almost every bit of these bikes probably comes from somewhere else, how would one calculate what percentage of the bike is "made in the USA?" How many welders are working on these? It's like eating a meal of...

On my scratch scale those come nowhere near "nasty." It all depends on how much money and/or time you want to spend to make it closer to perfect. I'm pretty sure that Baron von Richthofen had worse scratches on his Fokker Dr. 1. We'd love to see pics of the whole bike.

Dear Uncle Karate: Awesome! When I was a tad, I used to drool over pictures of P-40's with Flying Tigers decoration. If I could only find room on the bike frame for that paint scheme...

Further inspired and encouraged by fellow ratters, I added some stenciling this morning.

Ron: Phil is right, disassembly is not worth the effort and might not work. If you want to spiff up those pedals a bit, hit them with a wire brush, wipe down with denatured alcohol (or some other solvent), and brush on some Testors Flat Steel #1180. In the examples below, I only touched up the...

If your daughter wants a thumb shifter in lieu of the stem shifter, just switch the shifters. No need to mess with the cogs or derailleur. A friction shifter for 6 cogs will work fine for 5 cogs. Friction shifters are readily available. If you have a 6-speed index shifter, it might or might not...