(MBBO) That Blue Bike

[metalchewy]

One of my good friends gave me this old univega frame for christmas. He had started on it, put some paint on it and moved to another project.

My first thought was to make another Off road build. Then thought it would be better suited for the muscle bike build off.

Pulled some parts out of the shed and came up with this for a start. It could be a 7 speed. It will probably have a bigger front wheel, Will figure out more as I go.

 

[sdframe]

Nice start, nice color.

 

[wheelbender6]

Gonna be good, whether you go the street or off-road route.

 

[metalchewy]

Ok, got some inspiration to at least get try stuff together here. Been busy with work and the new year, and all that fun.

Pulled a couple of partially used paint cans and put some more blue and extra shine over the existing rattle can job.

Figure I had to start somewhere. Mockup was enough to put me in the right direction. Get the color on and start putting it together.

 

[metalchewy]

Rained a little today. Not much curing happening. Bike floating on the back porch.

Hopefully some sun tomorrow before I install bearing cups and stuff...

 

[metalchewy]

Been going thru the parts shed finding some things for the build.

Found some new headset cups, the bb cups that came off the frame, and a dept.store BMX neck from the late 80s.

Picked an All American banana. Will redo it in leather.

 

[metalchewy]

Funny how perspective in a picture makes the head tube look so non-square

 

[MattiThundrrr]

That has to be distorted because of the lens edge. Those cups look WAY off!

 

[metalchewy]

That has to be distorted because of the lens edge. Those cups look WAY off!

Definitely square. Modern digital processing.

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That seat is rusty inside.

Will treat and paint.

 

[metalchewy]

Tonight's mockups. Front wheel at a 16 seems small.

I do have some itty bitty cranks that would fit that...

20 seems tall. Might Have an 18 somewhere, I need to see

 

[metalchewy]

I didn't do a lot with the bike today. I did watch a couple videos about how to skive leather.

The Water Buffalo hide that I want to use,, when stretched is about 7oz thick on the spongy leather skirts and I need it to be 3-4oz, to fit the banana....

 

[metalchewy]

Scrubbed with a wire brush. Then filled a box with a trash bag with CLR and hot water to soak the rust off or convert it

 

[metalchewy]

Trying to flatten that old hard and brittle plastic Seat cover.

Found the 18" wheel. Flimsy spokes, needs a full makeover.

Went looking for what rubber I had around that may work on the build. Couldn't find one 18" tire. Did find old 20 and a 26 inch white walled brick treaded tires.

Will take some cleaning but they seem solid.

 

[metalchewy]

I always called that tool for beveling the edges of leather with an edger.

This French skive, was.all I had ever used. Narrow, used to thin down thick spots and edges.

The new tool I picked up is a Super Skive from Tandy Leather here in town. This tool uses the old style Schick blades and is a pull instead of a push.

Takes the same pressure, just takes a more material off and is sharper . It will make it easier to narrow down, a 3"wide perimeter around the seat.

If you have gone thru my thread in Class 2, my Off Roadster, you may have seen this huge half hide that I picked up in November on clearance. Around post #95

I sooo wanted to use the rump skirt on that seat. The part I am leaning to here, because of the Topology as @Captain Awesome pointed out. Its also the pick with the most work.

Upper rump is fine.grained

And neck is in the middle

The fine.grain is the.most firm the rump skirt is the softest and thickest ( padding plus). Neck is in between.

Thoughts??

 

[metalchewy]

Bouncing between work efforts and multi tasking. Fragmented minds come together over time...
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Scrubbed and resoaked the pans yesterday. This morning, they are looking ready to paint after a bit of scrubbing all of the paint except the sticker came off in the soak.

 

[metalchewy]

Flat black engine paint, plus matte cleat wheel paint after I unmasked the All American product label.

Found an old huffy by the junk pile. And grabbed the front wheel. Will see if it makes the cut...

 

[metalchewy]

Wasn't sure about the Grey mag until now.

 

[metalchewy]

Color matched to the frame.

Thinking it will help.flow from front to frame...

Have a few spots where the masking failed that I'll cleanup after it cures a day or two.

These multiple layers of color add depth that is hard to see on a digital camera.

 

[metalchewy]

Finished greasing up and putting it back together.

 

[OddJob]

You completely changed the vibe with that Lowrider tire and the blue Metalcast mag! Dig it!