Loopy

[MattiThundrrr]

I like the winter bike idea. Off season is too freaking long without it. My wife keeps telling me I should build or buy one because I get grumpy about this time every year. I don't like the idea of fat bikes, too much heavy.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

your lucky, my wife says I’m grumpy all the time and unfortunately she’s right, not so much so when riding a lot though. I agree with fat bikes being slow, that’s why I’m gonna try riding my mtn bike with 27.5 x 2.8 this year in snow.saw someone use zip ties around tire and wheel as traction devices, thinking about trying it out.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

I got the Black Ops 1 pc to 3pc bottom bracket adapter installed today.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Installed the sealed bottom bracket and origin 8 crankset 170 mm arms and 34t chainring ( from previous build).

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Installed a pair of chrome and gold SE bear trap pedals. I later replaced with chrome and black bear traps. The gold looked ok in shop light, when I wheeled outside they looked way too bright and stood out like a sore thumb.while I was at it I picked up a BMX Shadow brand silver 1/2 link chain. The local LBS gave me some extra leftover chain since they knew I’d need it. I’ve been seeing others using 1/2 link lately , so thought I’d give it a go. I really like the look.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

This is Loopy as of today, I ordered a new Tange black headset. I had never been able to get cups out, my buddy Luke had a kool tool, he let me use, took one out measured diameter and ordered a new set. I have a laid back seat post on order. The seat on it isn’t staying, gonna go with Brooks flyer or B-62, I also want to get stem with no rise.I almost forgot to mention that I installed some camo colored handlebar grips.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Went for ride down street rides good, cockpit alittle cramped , need that laid back post. The new coaster brake works really good!

 

[OddJob]

This is really coming together! I like all the black components on the bare frame. A Brooks will be a nice addition too. That BB converter / crank combo fits the bill perfectly!

Some frames will fit 27.5 knobbies / wheel combo without adjustment. I did one on my '27.5 Klunker Kat' earlier this Fall. Not sure if you've seen it, ignore if I've already mentioned it.

https://ratrodbikes.com/forum/threads/27-5-klunker-kat-komplete.114469/

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Thanks, Nice picture OddJob. The straight bars look good on there. I like the look of Straight/ flat bars, but they just play havoc on my wrists when riding any distance, I also like to move my hands to different positions on the bars when cruising. I have another frame gonna see if 27.5 wheels will fit.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

I pulled the trigger and ordered a gnarlier and wider tire. I ordered a Schwalbe 2.6 Magic Mary . I think 2.6 is widest tire that will fit Loopy, and I this is only option I found and should work good. I only ordered one cuz it pretty expensive tire. I know it’ll fit inside front fork, not sure the rear stays. So when I get I’ll test fit rear, if it doesn’t fit I will order a Schwalbe Big Betty 2.4 for rear. They say this is good tire to run in rear with Magic Mary in front. But I want to try to run Mary’s front and back. Want as much tire as I can fit on bike. It’s getting muddy, sloppy, snowy where I ride and I want to start riding Loopy in what hopefully soon will be some deeper accumulations of snow.

I’ll save Holy Rollers for dry weather.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

I installed a different stem and the truss rods today on Loopy. I really like the patina on the brass acorn nuts on the end of truss rods.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Got a few more pieces of the puzzle installed, First I received a laid back seat post, it the frame only allows a seat post to slide down maybe 4 inches and I’m short so had to cut about 3” off.

Later in the day yesterday they delivered my black Brooks B-67 saddle. Contemplated getting an antique brown one to go with brown in camo grips, but ultimately decided to go with black.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Also had heavy duty quick release seat post clamp I put on awhile back ( forgot to mention) may what to be able to drop seat on this bike. I also dug through my stash and found a brake lever for the front drum brake, and got it installed

 

[horsefarmer]

Pretty cool seat post. Where do you find such an animal?

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Thanks, I just got it off Amazon

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Haven’t posted anything on this build in awhile but I have been thinking about and experimenting with some different looks Although I love this frame this build was way to visually boring for my taste. It needed color and some pizzaz. Although I’ve wanted a set of Velo Orange Klunker bars for awhile, once I got them and on this bike they just weren’t doing it for me and I just didn’t like the feel or the looks on this frame. To me this bike was looking way to boxy, I wanted to get a profile of a bike in motion standing still. To me that meant changing bars and seatpost. First up the bars, it was between 3 sets

of actual moto bars or Wald 898 cruiser bars,

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

The first set, the walds, were old and alittle crusty and thought matched patina. The moto bars are 22.2 dia and I could use a cool raw bmx stem which mstches raw frame. I even experimented making a copper cross bar I could use ( you’ll see why later). I looked through all my saved klunker pics and notice I gravitate towards original paint frames and cruiser bars. The Velo Orange bars were no longer an option, I’ve used them on a build I did In a few days after Christmas. I’ll share 1 pic of that one

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

My heart is set on cruiser bars after about week of deliberation, like the riding position and I have a Myriad of hand positions and being someone who in past has wanted drops on everything this is plus. In addition I just love the long sweep back look and I’ve always wanted to do something with a set of cruiser bars, but have yet to do and this may be bike.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

The sweep on the cruiser bars is long and I like to be a little more hunched over when riding, so I need a longer laid back seat post. I order a steel one off Amazon. Plus I think it will add to the aesthetic of the long cruiser bars. The one I had was nice looking but too straight with the seat tube.I want look of motion.And I like this look more

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

My bikes name Loopy means “crazy or silly” I still think bike is boring need to deviate from norm. I need to explore this idea with a look that follows my bikes name! Christmas Day after we had opened gifts I’m surfing the net for bike stuff. I remember seeing bar tape on this site that had tacos on it, I’ve always wanted to wrap a pair of cruiser bars with bar tape. I remember the tacos had brown that’d match brazing, red and green, that could be start of some color accents on this bike. While looking I stumble on this pizza frame bag. I never seen anything like it . It’s crazy and cool. It’s yellow another color I had envisioned I could use. I