SWB0 CobblestoneRat - Done, but still getting little upgrades... ;-)

[SwissGuy]

As some might remember I last year acquired a cruiser frame and with a donor frame came a suspension fork. I intended to build up a muscle trike with the frame and sell the fork.
Just recently I changed my mind as I came along a set of cheap aluminum fenders to wich I had a matching rear stashed away. My mind immediately jumped to "sweeper fenders" and got my bike builder gears spinning. I remembered those Sachs Orbit hubs (3 speed and drumbrake) and in my head a bike took form....
Today I finally had time to head to the campground and dig through my parts and this is what I collected:

I have some saddle and handlebar options and I need to think about the bottom bracket, as I would prefer a 3-piece to have more options...
Here it is all loaded up in the car.

I'll build at home, as it's still too cold on to build on the campground and the wife is gone for four days so I can use the living room as workshop to get this build started... Let's hope I don't hit any major obstacles and can get this done before she's back...

 

[SwissGuy]

As usual I hit a set of problems already:
The hubs are missing the nuts and also the bits for the brake cables to actually pull the the brakes (and nothing that fits in the stash).
The donor rear wheel (I need the rim and spokes) resists tho get rid of the freewheel and sprockets....
So it looks like a trip to the local bike shop will be necessary first thing tomorrow and wheel building has to wait until then and TV and couch it is for this evening...

 

[SwissGuy]

This is how far I got today...

Not much, but it's a start.
Tomorrow morning I need to go shopping for a lot of missing small parts...

 

[BartRidesEternal]

Love the progress already and that 'mr Horsepower' sticker

 

[SwissGuy]

Spent the whole morning hunting for small parts. Man those nuts have been a tough nut to crack, but I finally made it. I also found the kits for the brakes. I just needed to visit 4 bike shops (plus three that were closed) to find all I need...

In one of the shops this bike was hanging on the wall. Looks weird and is probably not easy to ride at first...

 

[ingola]

As some might remember I last year acquired a cruiser frame and with a donor frame came a suspension fork. I intended to build up a muscle trike with the frame and sell the fork.
Just recently I changed my mind as I came along a set of cheap aluminum fenders to wich I had a matching rear stashed away. My mind immediately jumped to "sweeper fenders" and got my bike builder gears spinning. I remembered those Sachs Orbit hubs (3 speed and drumbrake) and in my head a bike took form....
Today I finally had time to head to the campground and dig through my parts and this is what I collected:
View attachment 261017
I have some saddle and handlebar options and I need to think about the bottom bracket, as I would prefer a 3-piece to have more options...
Here it is all loaded up in the car.
View attachment 261016
I'll build at home, as it's still too cold on to build on the campground and the wife is gone for four days so I can use the living room as workshop to get this build started... Let's hope I don't hit any major obstacles and can get this done before she's back...

Like she comes home early

 

[SwissGuy]

Like she comes home early

I'll have to pick her up at the airport, so probably no early surprise...

But she knows that I turned the living room in a workshop (again) and is fine with it, as long as I clean up before she gets home...

 

[SwissGuy]

Rear wheel is spoked in. I used the ones that came with the donor wheel for the rim...

Getting ready for the front wheel. These spikes I had on stash. It's the right length, but they are a bit in the crusty side... But hey, I build a rat...

 

[SwissGuy]

Front is spoked in as well. Truing up next...

 

[SwissGuy]

Just realized that I messed up the measuring. Spokes are too long, need to order shorter ones... or head to the campground again...2 hour ride vs. 2 days waiting time...

I think I'll order then...

 

[ingola]

Rear wheel is spoked in. I used the ones that came with the donor wheel for the rim...
View attachment 261053
Getting ready for the front wheel. These spikes I had on stash. It's the right length, but they are a bit in the crusty side... But hey, I build a rat...
View attachment 261052

Your getting uncomfortablely close to that rug I've been foiled many time when I've gotten everything cleaned stood there with a proud crap eating grin only to realize I had oil on my toe and walked across to great her

 

[SwissGuy]

Your getting uncomfortablely close to that rug I've been foiled many time when I've gotten everything cleaned stood there with a proud crap eating grin only to realize I had oil on my toe and walked across to great her

No oil and grease involved so far.
And we have cats that love to throw up their hairballs on said carpet, so it has seen worse...

 

[SwissGuy]

Addressed another issue. The head tube was a bit to long (or the fork tube to short)

So I cut of a bit.

A perfect fit

Then I went at the rear fender. Sits good so far, but I have to reassess when the rear wheel is built up with the new shorter spokes.

For the front I have no clue for now. Need to sleep over it and look at it again tomorrow...

But the overall vibe of the bike is to my liking ...

 

[ingola]

No oil and grease involved so far.
And we have cats that love to throw up their hairballs on said carpet, so it has seen worse...

We have cats to trust me they think grease and oil is way worse.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

I had oil on my toe

Shoes, man. Shoes

 

[SwissGuy]

Another two trips to the hardware store today and it seems like the most tricky problems are solved.
My favorite areas in the shop during a bike build:
Plumbing

Garden fencing

Those large clamps have the perfect diameter to fit my fork.

Here's what I came back with after the first round

The fence clamp gives me the attachment point for the right fender stay. As I needed to shorten the stays to make my setup work I first tried to hammer the ends flat and drill them. This worked, but I didn't like the look...

So after a quick trip to the bike shop (and another visit at the hardware store), I came up with this:

The clamp for the front drum brake was a bit more challenging, but it looks like I managed. Need to street test it though...

 

[SwissGuy]

I also decided on the cockpit today.
Thompson grips (the price for the first finished bike in last year's BO) and Altenburger brake levers.

Torpedo shifter is also mounted

I like the "face"of my bike

And that's how she looks now:

Now I'll have to wait until the ordered spokes and the new bottom bracket and US to BSA adapter show up in the mail. Then I can finish this one up...

 

[SwissGuy]

Little progress today as I'm still waiting for my ordered goods. I planned to have this bike rideable by Friday for CriticalMass but I might need to take another ride then.
Bottom bracket should arrive tomorrow, spokes hopefully on Saturday (I had to reorder as the payment on the first order didn't go through somehow).

So I decided to take another roundtrip to the campground to bring back what was sorted out and maybe find some more usable parts.
I was lucky to find a rear rack that fits and some other useful stuff.
Back home I mounted the rack

Then I attached the lights with the hardware retrieved in the campground.

I might need to rethink the front light, as it covers too much of the head tube...

As my wife comes back tonight I needed to clean up and move all the bike stuff outside onto the balcony...

Then it was time to clean up (no oil or grease stains on the carpet ) and make some food...

 

[SwissGuy]

Got mail!

Now I can take care of the drivetrain later today!
Spokes are due on Saturday. If german post services don't mess up, I might get this one done in time to get some final pics on Saturday or Sunday, if not I have another DNF on my list...
So: Go, DHL, Go!!!!

Edit:
It looks like I need to get to the campground anyway on Saturday so my older kid can meet up with a friend and to enjoy some Easter festivities nearby (huge bonfire) with the family in the evening.
So now only the spokes need to get here in time to take them and the rest of the bike with me and then I'll be done by Saturday evening an can take pictures on Sunday...

 

[SwissGuy]

Bottom bracket is in and after buying another chain to get to the right length it looks like we have a decent chain line and a perfect position for the rear wheel within the fender.
But with that crank I might need a chain guard at some point (I had a different setup in mind that's why I stashed away the chain guard on the campground already...)
My trustworthy DIY pressing tool in action

Ready to crank it