Wow, you sure? Haha. Thank you!
I actually had to rework the brake arm recently, as I was messing around in the garage one day and accidentally broke it. Guess I forgot to add pics of the new setup (though it's not much different).
First build: "Church Rat"
- Thread starter kchurch86
- Start date
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I actually had to rework the brake arm recently, as I was messing around in the garage one day and accidentally broke it. Guess I forgot to add pics of the new setup (though it's not much different).
Here's the new brake arm. I had to re-bend the piece that screws into the hammer handle, and of course the new piece didn't bend as nicely as the first. 
The black piece is another piece of old fence gate hardware. It helps keep the main piece from bending when excessive force is applied.
The black piece is another piece of old fence gate hardware. It helps keep the main piece from bending when excessive force is applied.
Thank you!
Great build!! I enjoyed seeing it from start to finish
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thank you! I know I enjoyed building it, but riding it is even more fun
Great build...what a beautiful bike, I like all of your innovations
I'm really diggin the Church Rat.
franco
I'm really diggin the Church Rat.
franco
Thank you! I really appreciate the kind words.
Late last night I finally got around to trying a new rear tire on the bike. I stepped up from the skinny 26x1.75 to a chubbier 26x2.125 and I'm really digging the look. The added sidewall height makes the ride a bit cushier, too.
I also rotated the rear fender a bit more forwards so the tire fills it in better, and so it leaves less fender between the end of the seat and the top of the tire.
I also rotated the rear fender a bit more forwards so the tire fills it in better, and so it leaves less fender between the end of the seat and the top of the tire.
Another small update: Yesterday I modified what I think is a flashlight mount, I turned it into a bottle holder for that little glass bottle I found. I had a hard time deciding where to put it, but this is what I've come up with for the time being.
I bent and reshaped the tabs on the mount to be flat instead of round, then wrapped it in leather. I also added some leather to the clamp area to protect my wonderful 20 foot paint job, heh
It's big enough that if I remove the bottle, I can drop my phone and a couple of keys in there, which is nice since the handlebar bag doesn't have any storage space.
I'm considering adding a few small cutaways to the leather, then putting some clear yellow or amber liquid in the bottle...you know, "holy water". That of course depends on how clean I can get the inside of the bottle. I have no idea what was originally in it, or what may have been in it after the fact.
I bent and reshaped the tabs on the mount to be flat instead of round, then wrapped it in leather. I also added some leather to the clamp area to protect my wonderful 20 foot paint job, heh
It's big enough that if I remove the bottle, I can drop my phone and a couple of keys in there, which is nice since the handlebar bag doesn't have any storage space.
I'm considering adding a few small cutaways to the leather, then putting some clear yellow or amber liquid in the bottle...you know, "holy water". That of course depends on how clean I can get the inside of the bottle. I have no idea what was originally in it, or what may have been in it after the fact.
I just can't seem to leave it alone...
Nothing too special...made a paper template, transferred it to masonite, cut and sanded, drilled some holes, freehanded the lettering with a Sharpie (both sides) then rubbed with used motor oil.
Nothing too special...made a paper template, transferred it to masonite, cut and sanded, drilled some holes, freehanded the lettering with a Sharpie (both sides) then rubbed with used motor oil.
Updates!
The Church Rat has changed a little over the last few years, most notably the fork. I picked this up from Amazon and, after machining the dropouts to accommodate the hub, I started machining new front brake and headlight mount parts from brass.
Next I added a brass panel and number plate. If there was any significance to the number 25 I've since forgotten it
Storage hasn't been kind to my quick and dirty paint job, but I decided to embrace the chips and scuffs. I rather like how the fauxtina turned out...kinda looks like fresh scrapes on human skin, lol
The Church Rat has changed a little over the last few years, most notably the fork. I picked this up from Amazon and, after machining the dropouts to accommodate the hub, I started machining new front brake and headlight mount parts from brass.
Next I added a brass panel and number plate. If there was any significance to the number 25 I've since forgotten it
Storage hasn't been kind to my quick and dirty paint job, but I decided to embrace the chips and scuffs. I rather like how the fauxtina turned out...kinda looks like fresh scrapes on human skin, lol
