SWB0 CobblestoneRat - Done, but still getting little upgrades... ;-)
- Thread starter SwissGuy
- Start date
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Checking for the right "paint" 
Another small but important update. Today I took care of brake, shifter and light cables. Like this the only thing that's left for tomorrow is lacing and trueing the wheels...
Brakes are operational, shifter should be when I'm done with the wheels tomorrow.
Lights don't work, I must have messed up something, but as I intend to use battery operated clip on lights most of the time, this has a very low priority and isn't needed for the final pics...
First I took care of the shifter cable. Had to tweak this part a bit, as it normally goes on either one of the main tubes, but I decide to have it on the chain stay. I kept the original size, just drilled an extra hole, you never know...
Ready to be hooked up
Cockpit looks nice and tidy
Rear brakes are all done
And front as well
Brakes are operational, shifter should be when I'm done with the wheels tomorrow.
Lights don't work, I must have messed up something, but as I intend to use battery operated clip on lights most of the time, this has a very low priority and isn't needed for the final pics...
First I took care of the shifter cable. Had to tweak this part a bit, as it normally goes on either one of the main tubes, but I decide to have it on the chain stay. I kept the original size, just drilled an extra hole, you never know...
Ready to be hooked up
Cockpit looks nice and tidy
Rear brakes are all done
And front as well
The tension is high. It's been loaded into the delivery truck
Finally!
Car is already loaded, heading to the campground now to finish this one...
Car is already loaded, heading to the campground now to finish this one...
By the way, this was the delivery "truck" the parcel came with...
That was a busy fast paced afternoon... 
After I finally got my spokes delivered I headed out to the campground to set up my workshop there.
First I went a lacing the spokes.
It took me about half an hour to get both wheels done (made one mistake that got me puzzled later when truing)
Another one and a half hour later both wheels were done. Not perfect, but good enough for me for now.
Front
And back
With the wheels done I could finally put all together and go for a quick ride.
Let's put it like this: It's a new experience of a ride for me and it will get time to get used to it but it rides fine. Shifting, saddle and handlebar needs some fine-tuning but so far so good.
Last item for today was the chainguard. This took some ratrodding but with the good old holy band I got it done.
Done
Then it was time to load the bike back on the car and meet up with rest of the family to enjoy a local Easter bonfire
Tomorrow I'll try to get some decent pictures to post up in the finished section...
After I finally got my spokes delivered I headed out to the campground to set up my workshop there.
First I went a lacing the spokes.
It took me about half an hour to get both wheels done (made one mistake that got me puzzled later when truing)
Another one and a half hour later both wheels were done. Not perfect, but good enough for me for now.
Front
And back
With the wheels done I could finally put all together and go for a quick ride.
Let's put it like this: It's a new experience of a ride for me and it will get time to get used to it but it rides fine. Shifting, saddle and handlebar needs some fine-tuning but so far so good.
Last item for today was the chainguard. This took some ratrodding but with the good old holy band I got it done.
Done
Then it was time to load the bike back on the car and meet up with rest of the family to enjoy a local Easter bonfire
Tomorrow I'll try to get some decent pictures to post up in the finished section...
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Ready to head out for some finished pictures...
So see you next in the finished section...
So see you next in the finished section...
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On my way back home I just had to stop here and take a picture. It was occupied on the way out, so I somehow missed this almost perfectly ratty spot for the CobblestoneRat...
After all the rush to get this one into the finished section, it's time now to do some refinements.
Today I upgraded the flagpole. The first one was just an extendable broomstick I got very cheap (less than 3.-€) it was good to proof the concept was doable, but when I tried to ride with the large swiss flag I realized that the turbulences behind my body didn't let it "fly". It just needed to get higher up.
So I hit my favorite outdoor store today and bought a slim and long extendable tarp (or tent) pole for around 25.- € and some more hardware that fitted the different smaller diameter.
Here's a short clip were I'm riding with the flag
Here's the new pole fully extended:
and the attachment points:
And here's the pole pushed back together and tilted forward to ride without flag.
This system could easily be adapted to other bikes (I'll maybe try it on my Wolverine in the future)
Today I upgraded the flagpole. The first one was just an extendable broomstick I got very cheap (less than 3.-€) it was good to proof the concept was doable, but when I tried to ride with the large swiss flag I realized that the turbulences behind my body didn't let it "fly". It just needed to get higher up.
So I hit my favorite outdoor store today and bought a slim and long extendable tarp (or tent) pole for around 25.- € and some more hardware that fitted the different smaller diameter.
Here's a short clip were I'm riding with the flag
Here's the new pole fully extended:
and the attachment points:
And here's the pole pushed back together and tilted forward to ride without flag.
This system could easily be adapted to other bikes (I'll maybe try it on my Wolverine in the future)
And I got a bit creative this evening.
First I made these:
And as the material was already out, I cut it up some more...
...and ended up with this:
It will all go on the bike tomorrow.
First I made these:
And as the material was already out, I cut it up some more...
...and ended up with this:
It will all go on the bike tomorrow.
What do you think? 
Too much or ok? My little one likes it...
Too much or ok? My little one likes it...
Heavy duty rubber guy tassels? Sure. Why not. I like 'em. Even the rubber
seat nads. Knockers? Bolos? The adjustable flag bracket is key too.
seat nads. Knockers? Bolos? The adjustable flag bracket is key too.
And as shown in another thread, the bike has some extra lights, powered by an USB powerbank.
That blank spot next to the participants sticker was filled today.
I think the rear fender locks good now
But this sticker I got today is just perfect!
I spent today at the yearly VELO bicycle fair at the Tempelhof airfield. That's were I got these stickers (and many more). I'll post a larger, picture heavy post about this weekend tomorrow after my second day on the fair in the "What have you been riding lately" thread.
Here some pictures I took on the airfield
And here's a new walk-around video
I think the rear fender locks good now
But this sticker I got today is just perfect!
I spent today at the yearly VELO bicycle fair at the Tempelhof airfield. That's were I got these stickers (and many more). I'll post a larger, picture heavy post about this weekend tomorrow after my second day on the fair in the "What have you been riding lately" thread.
Here some pictures I took on the airfield
And here's a new walk-around video
Hey Swissguy, sorry for hijacking your thread. You took your last pictures at a very special place and i want to show some photos to our friends: the Tempelhofer Feld, the large disused airport in the middle of Berlin, where the airplanes of the allies landed and took off during the Berlin Airlift. And also dropped chocolate on small parachutes for the Berlin children. This was the idea of US pilot Gail Halvorsen, who has made a place for himself in the hearts of all Berliners...
Today a huge open field for sports and culture and for coming together. I really adore this place. Anyone who ever visits Berlin has to see this field for themselves.
The "Candy Bombers":
RIP Gail Halvorsen 1920 - 2022
Today a huge open field for sports and culture and for coming together. I really adore this place. Anyone who ever visits Berlin has to see this field for themselves.
The "Candy Bombers":
RIP Gail Halvorsen 1920 - 2022
The last few weeks I used the CobblestoneRat quite a lot: Protest rides and my regular commute, but also for a few days of exraordinary commuting to the center of Berlin (15 km one way) for works council seminars. Today on the last 100 meters before reaching my home, there was all of a sudden a loud rattling noise....
The fender tab I had created to make the rear sweeper fender had snapped off...
The uneven (cobblestone) roads and bumpy bike paths of Berlin had taken their toll...
Thankfully a long weekend is ahead to take care of the necessary repair and as a member of the n+1 bicycle club I have a few spare bikes ready...
The fender tab I had created to make the rear sweeper fender had snapped off...
The uneven (cobblestone) roads and bumpy bike paths of Berlin had taken their toll...
Thankfully a long weekend is ahead to take care of the necessary repair and as a member of the n+1 bicycle club I have a few spare bikes ready...
Today I took my time to repair the fender.
First I searched through my IKEA leftovers and found this part and cut it apart.
A little bending
And some drilling and filing later, the fender joint was better than before...
First I searched through my IKEA leftovers and found this part and cut it apart.
A little bending
And some drilling and filing later, the fender joint was better than before...
