Creeping up on a big milestone I seeHappy Halloween from the BACK 40!
View attachment 215325
10k posts!!!!!!!!
Creeping up on a big milestone I seeHappy Halloween from the BACK 40!
View attachment 215325
HilariousWow! I had noticed that number this summer during the build off, but hadn't paid attention to it as of late.
Two conclusions I could draw from this; A: I need to get a life or B: Sleep later in the morning so I don't have 3 hrs to kill before anyone else in my world wakes up.
One more to go!!!! Where will the big 10k post land?Wow! I had noticed that number this summer during the build off, but hadn't paid attention to it as of late.
Two conclusions I could draw from this; A: I need to get a life or B: Sleep later in the morning so I don't have 3 hrs to kill before anyone else in my world wakes up.
We're all better off for just knowing you OJIt was brought to my attention by Capt this week that I was 'creeping up on a big milestone'; 10,000 Messages on RatRodBikes.com. I had noticed this summer that I was within a hundred or so of the mark, and this Triple Threat Winter Build Off has been really inspiring with all the variety of builds, new first time builders, builders returning after a hiatus; just so much COOL!
Let me reflect on a few things. I first joined this over 10 1/2 yrs ago when I built up a Surly Pugsley fat bike from a frame-up and something about the nature of the bike made me go 'ratty' with the style and paint. I made my first ever set of wooden fenders for that bike, used the same wood buck I used for 50 SS this time around, and I documented it on another really great site, Instructables.com. After I posted it on the internet, I started seeing 'rat rod bike builds' pop up when I searched my build. That drove me to this site, and the rest is history.
Thank you to all my friends here, whether just through our comments on builds, winners of the OJ's over the past 8 years, sending bicycle parts your way, providing some technical expertise learned in my 34 yrs in the bicycle business, and especially those of you with whom I've had phone or in-person interactions. All of you have made my time here memorable.
This is a very unique community, one that is rare to find in this day and age. Cherish it, and keep on keepin' on~!
A few of my 'favorite things' from the past 10 + years on RRB.....
My first rat-ina job ever...Fat Rat fat bike build:
View attachment 216541
View attachment 216542View attachment 216543
View attachment 216544
First 'remote' build, Mesa Buggie klunker in Mesa, AZ ... out of the
BACK .40 5 x 10 storage shed, and then it turned into Desert Sky (first photo) after I broke the rear triangle going off a sweet jump:
View attachment 216546View attachment 216545
My first build off bike, BO 10, Beer Boy Delivery:
View attachment 216547
View attachment 216548
A BACK40 visit from bicycle history royalty, Art Engstrom my neighbor, and co-founder of the one and only Park Tool (and his son):
View attachment 216549
Dawn breaks through the back window of the BACK40, " Goood morning Rat Rod Bikes..."
View attachment 216550
" Have a good one, and RaT oN~! "
View attachment 216552View attachment 216551
Gosh, thanks man! Let's keep it going.We're all better off for just knowing you OJ
Super cool dude! Great post of some great memories. Your posts and videos are definitely engaging, insightful and motivating for someone like me who just got serious about the bike building hobby in the last few years, though I've literally been doing it my whole life. I'm definitely going to be looking up your Fat Rat build thread. Congrats and thanks for all you do!It was brought to my attention by Capt this week that I was 'creeping up on a big milestone'; 10,000 Messages on RatRodBikes.com. I had noticed this summer that I was within a hundred or so of the mark, and this Triple Threat Winter Build Off has been really inspiring with all the variety of builds, new first time builders, builders returning after a hiatus; just so much COOL!
Let me reflect on a few things. I first joined this over 10 1/2 yrs ago when I built up a Surly Pugsley fat bike from a frame-up and something about the nature of the bike made me go 'ratty' with the style and paint. I made my first ever set of wooden fenders for that bike, used the same wood buck I used for 50 SS this time around, and I documented it on another really great site, Instructables.com. After I posted it on the internet, I started seeing 'rat rod bike builds' pop up when I searched my build. That drove me to this site, and the rest is history.
Thank you to all my friends here, whether just through our comments on builds, winners of the OJ's over the past 8 years, sending bicycle parts your way, providing some technical expertise learned in my 34 yrs in the bicycle business, and especially those of you with whom I've had phone or in-person interactions. All of you have made my time here memorable.
This is a very unique community, one that is rare to find in this day and age. Cherish it, and keep on keepin' on~!
A few of my 'favorite things' from the past 10 + years on RRB.....
My first rat-ina job ever...Fat Rat fat bike build:
View attachment 216541
View attachment 216542View attachment 216543
View attachment 216544
First 'remote' build, Mesa Buggie klunker in Mesa, AZ ... out of the
BACK .40 5 x 10 storage shed, and then it turned into Desert Sky (first photo) after I broke the rear triangle going off a sweet jump:
View attachment 216546View attachment 216545
My first build off bike, BO 10, Beer Boy Delivery:
View attachment 216547
View attachment 216548
A BACK40 visit from bicycle history royalty, Art Engstrom my neighbor, and co-founder of the one and only Park Tool (and his son):
View attachment 216549
Dawn breaks through the back window of the BACK40, " Goood morning Rat Rod Bikes..."
View attachment 216550
" Have a good one, and RaT oN~! "
View attachment 216552View attachment 216551
Hey, I resemble that remark!B: Sleep later in the morning so I don't have 3 hrs to kill before anyone else in my world wakes up.
Glad that you've joined the crew! Keep up the posts and comments and you'll be at 10K in no time!Super cool dude! Great post of some great memories. Your posts and videos are definitely engaging, insightful and motivating for someone like me who just got serious about the bike building hobby in the last few years, though I've literally been doing it my whole life. I'm definitely going to be looking up your Fat Rat build thread. Congrats and thanks for all you do!
Thanks Spike! Good to see you back on the forum. I'm very pleased with the 50, Skinny, Single build. Rides great and will be my go-to commuter from now on.@OddJob great bike. Nice & clean. I think you captured the essence of those old racing bicycles, and I love those wooden mudguards!
great post OJ: thanks!!!!! you’re a huge asset to our community!!!It was brought to my attention by Capt this week that I was 'creeping up on a big milestone'; 10,000 Messages on RatRodBikes.com. I had noticed this summer that I was within a hundred or so of the mark, and this Triple Threat Winter Build Off has been really inspiring with all the variety of builds, new first time builders, builders returning after a hiatus; just so much COOL!
Let me reflect on a few things. I first joined this over 10 1/2 yrs ago when I built up a Surly Pugsley fat bike from a frame-up and something about the nature of the bike made me go 'ratty' with the style and paint. I made my first ever set of wooden fenders for that bike, used the same wood buck I used for 50 SS this time around, and I documented it on another really great site, Instructables.com. After I posted it on the internet, I started seeing 'rat rod bike builds' pop up when I searched my build. That drove me to this site, and the rest is history.
Thank you to all my friends here, whether just through our comments on builds, winners of the OJ's over the past 8 years, sending bicycle parts your way, providing some technical expertise learned in my 34 yrs in the bicycle business, and especially those of you with whom I've had phone or in-person interactions. All of you have made my time here memorable.
This is a very unique community, one that is rare to find in this day and age. Cherish it, and keep on keepin' on~!
A few of my 'favorite things' from the past 10 + years on RRB.....
My first rat-ina job ever...Fat Rat fat bike build:
View attachment 216541
View attachment 216542View attachment 216543
View attachment 216544
First 'remote' build, Mesa Buggie klunker in Mesa, AZ ... out of the
BACK .40 5 x 10 storage shed, and then it turned into Desert Sky (first photo) after I broke the rear triangle going off a sweet jump:
View attachment 216546View attachment 216545
My first build off bike, BO 10, Beer Boy Delivery:
View attachment 216547
View attachment 216548
A BACK40 visit from bicycle history royalty, Art Engstrom my neighbor, and co-founder of the one and only Park Tool (and his son):
View attachment 216549
Dawn breaks through the back window of the BACK40, " Goood morning Rat Rod Bikes..."
View attachment 216550
" Have a good one, and RaT oN~! "
View attachment 216552View attachment 216551
Thanks Jude! That rack on Fat Rat is a Higgins cheese grater, vintage bike stuff on a first generation Surly fat bike!great post OJ: thanks!!!!! you’re a huge asset to our community!!!
thank you for being here!
….. and that rack on the back of that fat-tire bike in the snow….. AWESOME: the beer bike is definitely super cool too, but that fat tire bike looks pretty nasty…. and I’m not necessarily a fat tire fan!
Thanks Tallbikeman! I appreciate your insight and sharing of ideas.OddJob it is a pleasure to read your posts and enjoy your company, online of course. Keep up the positive and enlightening posts about your exploits and I'll keep reading them with a little comment here and there. I think you built a great bicycle with your Schwinn Racer build.
Beautiful pic’s OJ! We’ve had a stunning fall with sun and warmth; just cooled off a week or so ago. We don’t have much snow on the ground yet…. But about 2 hours west they got 5’ and counting! We’re not far behind you guys on the snow!Did somebody say, "Winter Build Off?"
View attachment 217222
View attachment 217223
View attachment 217224
I wondered how close you were to that 'lake effect' snow they are getting. We also had a very warm Oct and first week of November; and then the curtain fell. Wind chill today with a high temp of 17 degrees F. which is right now at 7:15 am, with a 'feels like' temp of 1.Beautiful pic’s OJ! We’ve had a stunning fall with sun and warmth; just cooled off a week or so ago. We don’t have much snow on the ground yet…. But about 2 hours west they got 5’ and counting! We’re not far behind you guys on the snow!
Enter your email address to join: