41 Schwinn Excelsior Patina build with Union Drum hubs.

[carvingbike]

WOW! That looks awesome!

 

[pickle]

you're starting to look like a klunker king with those bad rides in your stable 8)

 

[sandmangts]

Well, so far the bike has held up to quite a bit of abuse. Overall I am very pleased, it climbs well and I can really rail the turns on it. Downhills are a bit scary but the braking is good. The fork has a springiness to it that makes hard braking on the front coming down hills a little interesting. Here is the finished product with a longer post, different saddle and the original stem. The best thing about it is the shifting. the 5 speed rear just works flawlessly and once you get used to the thumb shifters shifting is second nature.

 

[AKB]

I love how your drum hubs turned out I think I will have to steal your idea for the paint when I do my Sturmey Archer front hub.. I don't like how shiny they are when they're new

 

[SCHWINNRAY69]

Sweet bike :wink: That's cool that you have your little buddy helping you :wink:

 

[scott brownsey]

what size holes did u drill in the rims between the spokes very cool . bike looks awsum good job :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[Floyd]

You know, I'm not normally into klunkers, but that is sooooooo incredibly nice! I especially like how you went and got it all dirty when done!!

 

[Carbon]

Sweet Ride!! That down hill speed pic is priceless, that grin says it all !!!

 

[sandmangts]

The rims are old pro class rims off an early Mongoose ATB. They are basically drilled Araya 7x rims. I did not drill them they came that way but only on old Mongoose bikes. They are kinda hard to find.

 

[Petrohead]

sweet klunker!

 

[firestonepilot]

Great job on your bike. Hope you have many hours of fun.

 

[DesignIt]

Very cool build! I like the fact that you preserved the original paint.

 

[WEAKFISH]

AWESOME!!!!!!

 

[46powerwagon]

Excelent work-Very nice bike.

 

[klunkerbill]

Gary, Joe, Charlie, Alan, Otis, and the rest of the pioneers would be very impressed, I'm sure. What a score on the Unions! I looked forever, but never found anything approaching a reasonable price for a pair, so I went with the S/As. Keep a lock on that thing. Ride on!

 

[sandmangts]

Your bike is stunning. Is that a flying 8 I see on the seat tube? Did Mister bonds paint that one? It looks very similar to Billy Savages bike. I really want to find a straight downtube frame to build up from scratch to see how far I can take it. I hope to find one that needs to be painted. Although I like the current fork on mine I have found myself abusing the bike a little more than I thought I would. It is just too much fun and the bike feels so dialed in and solid. Thus far it has taken these beatings in stride but I have doubts about the fork. I will probably throw a Tange fork on it and just hang on to the original. Here is my 36 Mercury

 

[socal_jack]

Your bike is stunning. Is that a flying 8 I see on the seat tube? Did Mister bonds paint that one? It looks very similar to Billy Savages bike.

Klunkerbill is Bill Savage. Your klunker came out really nice.

 

[StraightbarJay]

Sweet man!!! That think looks the business!!! Cheers!!

 

[sandmangts]

I figured that had to be Billy's bike but it was a bit different. Awesome machine. I am very gratified and flattered by some of the compliments I have recieved. Truthfully this was one of the easier bikes I have built. The Mercury was a colossal pain in the butt but I ride it more than most of my other bikes. I have a new baby on the way so the bike building is on hold. I am focusing more on riding as much as I can because when the baby comes I doubt I will have the time or energy.

 

[Outlaw90]

Dude that thing is way clean...