El Chango Laton (That Funky Monkey)

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Joined
Nov 24, 2009
Messages
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Location
Ventura, CA

Build Thread: http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/el-chango-laton-es-finito-7-19.91895/
El Chango Laton (Because there are far too many "Brass Monkey" builds out there already) started out as an old Flying Pigeon frame and a couple of vintage Schwinn Forks.

With some welding, a few trips to the LBS, and a little elbow grease, I give you EL CHANGO LATON:

Headlight is a '70s CEV unit, the gears are shifted via an old bronze boat throttle, and the hand-hammered Honjo fender is squeezed in between the 700-32C tire and the crown of that '61 Schwinn 26" middleweight fork.

The original, bolt-in seatstays have been replaced by a wishbone unit made from a cut-down 27" Schwinn fork.The rear bub is a Shimano Nexus Inter-3 with a roller brake.

Pedals have been augmented with Velo-Orange mini toe clips and wooden pedal blocks cut from purple heart.

I really fell in love with this Izumi chain. I think that the black with gold pins is subtle, with just that little bit of flash. Cotton twine half-hitch wraps on the bike have been coated in amber shellac.



Seat is an old Gyes copper-railed saddle with many miles already on it, supported by a DK micro-adjust BMX seatpost.

 
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That is a cool bike , vintage classic racing look but yet so updated & custom. Great detail & that rear front fork is trick !


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Really like your personal touches with the wraps, combination of modern and mid-century modern....looks like a bike ready to hit the pave for a trip through time! Congrats on a great build!
 
So many cool details on this build.
That is one sexy piece of bike .... you created!
 
I want to thank you all for all of your fine compliments. I wasn't really sure if I'd have a chance to finish this build in time - work has been keeping me in the office until the wee hours - but I was really happy to find a couple of Saturdays in which to finish everything up.
I also could not have done this without Joey at Cycle Dynamics. Without his help, and having just the esoteric part I needed (or knowing where to find one), I would have been stalled several times. Online parts gathering is great, but nothing beats a good LBS.
 
I am in love with this bike.
 
Very nice! One of a kind, and made from a Flying Pigeon frame. :13: The details on it are amazing. How did you make the fenders gold toned? The copper seat post is a nice touch. Did you make the tailight?
 
Very nice! One of a kind, and made from a Flying Pigeon frame. :13: The details on it are amazing. How did you make the fenders gold toned? The copper seat post is a nice touch. Did you make the tailight?
The fenders are brass - the older they get, the better they'll look. Right now, I just have a reflector in back, made by Velo-Orange.
 
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