My rat fix!

[Terry66]

After spending the last couple of months building the Hot Rod Higgins in RRBBO7, I decided it was time to get a little dirty and build a new rat bike. I went over to visit Nate (npence) the other day and picked up a Huffy tank bike and found a few cool little odds and ends, like some crazy cool blueish Carlisle tires, a couple Lucky 7 seat posts, an old springer seat, some grips, etc...Anyway, I decided the tires would look cool on this Rugby frame I've had sitting in the garage....and yeah, I know there aren't any nuts on the rear wheel. I didn't have any extras that fit!

Here she is....The Hot Rod Higgins dirty little sister.

I think I am going to add a set of truss rods tomorrow. Something seems missing up front.

Check out that cool patina and the three piece crank!

I am totally loving the lugged frame and the top tube hump.

The decals still show through the patina.

Brooks seat

Totally cool Carlisle tires

 

[aka_locojoe]

Everything about that is just right. Very nice.

 

[npence]

It is cool to see those tires on a bike. I was never able to find a bike to put them on. Glad I sold them to you and you are welcome back anytime for more picking.

 

[yoothgeye]

That bike would look great beside my Higgins. Love the tires/grips.

Hey did you know there are no nuts on the rear axle? :wink:

 

[SCHWINNRAY69]

Another sweet rat Terry! 8)

 

[Terry66]

Hey did you know there are no nuts on the rear axle? :wink:

What? Dude, I am so glad you pointed that out! I totally missed it! :lol:

 

[kingfish254]

Those tires make the bike!!!

 

[marcus84]

very nice bike. looks perfect as it is, and those tires are awesome.

 

[Terry66]

Thanks and it "was" awesome until I tried to remove the stem to add some truss rods. the stem bolt snapped off while trying to loosen it. strange thing with this bike...many of the bolts are just breaking. The fender bolt, a bolt on the chain guard....they just snap right off with a little pressure.

Anyway, after the stem bolt broke, I flipped the bike upside down and drilled out the stem anchor figuring that would free it up. Talk about a pain in the butt....Finally got it drill out and then found that the stem is frozen tight in the fork tube. I've used a vice, hammer, etc. I've been soaking it in pb blaster and plan to try again tonight. If I can't get it tonight, the next step is to add a little heat. :roll:

Also, I cannot find rear axle nuts for this stupid wheel! I swear I have tried axle nuts from at least 6 different bikes plus a bunch that I had in a drawer! I think I'm gonna have to take the wheel with me to the hardware store. The rear hub is a New Departure. Very strange.

 

[Rat Rod]

Very cool build...loving the tires on this bike and the whole overall look. :wink:

 

[yoothgeye]

Keep twisting! What can it hurt?

 

[Terry66]

Lessons learned tonight.....

If you crank on a two piece stem long enough, the head will come off leaving you with a useless stub.

If you decide to heat up a stem after you just shot it full of PB blaster, fire will shoot out and burn off your arm hair. (Note that after a couple of beers, that will be a cool trick to show the in-laws at Thanksgiving :lol: :lol: :lol: )

If you drill a hole through the stubb, you can get a Craftsman screwdriver in there to continue cranking on the stupid thing.

If you continue to use PB blaster and persistence, you'll eventually win!

Terry = 1 Rugby stem = 0

Now I just need to find a stem that is cool/ratty enough to use on this bike!

Sold this one to Lewie today! He has some killer ideas for the frame. Can't wait to see what he does with it.

 

[yoothgeye]

You can have mine from above!

Seriously though, I haven't sent off your "prize" yet, I was in the shop tonight grabbing stuff and putting it in the box, what type of stem you have in mind, I might have one to throw in.

 

[chimichanga]

man that's such a sweet ride.

 

[Terry66]

You can have mine from above!

Seriously though, I haven't sent off your "prize" yet, I was in the shop tonight grabbing stuff and putting it in the box, what type of stem you have in mind, I might have one to throw in.

Actually I posted an ad in the wanted section before I saw this. I am looking for something with a low angle like what was on it. I think any higher and it won't work with the riser bars. I had a couple that aren't really low enough and look too pretty. I'd like to find something odd and ratty! :lol:

Seriously though, I totally appreciate the offer, but you were already way generous with your build off prize! If you find anything that might work, I'd be glad to pay you for it!

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

Very cool build...loving the tires on this bike and the whole overall look. :wink:

I agree totally, great look on this bike. The tires are SWEET!

Cheers,
Dr. T

 

[yoothgeye]

Seriously though, I totally appreciate the offer, but you were already way generous with your build off prize! If you find anything that might work, I'd be glad to pay you for it!

Pay, haha, that's not how I roll. If I find something you're getting it and that's final!

 

[DeuceWheeler]

Those tires are hot!

 

[Terry66]

Thanks for all the comments guys. It seems the tires are popular! What’s funny is that when Nate first showed me the tires, I wasn’t real sure I wanted them. I had kind of decided on cream tires…so we put them back on the shelf. Later when we were rummaging, we came across the sweet sparkle grips that somewhat matched the tires. I really like those contoured style grips and to find an odd color that matched the tires got the gears turning that the gumwall/blue tires might look really killer on the rugby frame. I thought the gumwalls might be too “orange” with the frame color at first but it ended up being a nice match. The frame was originally a darker rust color all over. I took a scratch pad and some WD40 to it and scraped the frame until the frame started to lighten up a little in places. On the chainguard you can see the lighter/darker areas. I thought it gave it a nice look. I really liked this old Rugby frame. I thought the lines of the frame with the curved top tube were killer and I love lugged frames.

Justin, you are the man! 8)

 

[Rockit!]

You know what, I didn't vote for your bike in the build-off. But I have to say, I would have come REAL close to voting for this one, maybe even would have. This bike is a knockout. In my opinion, it's much easier to pick a bunch of parts and paint or modify them so they look right together. It takes a real sensitivity to the needs of the finished bike to select parts with a natural patina but from different sources that work so well together. The tires are the perfect compliment to the color of the frame. That little pop of tasteful color turns a bland bike into a head-turner. After the last Build-Off, I found myself longing for the simplicity of a "plain-Jane" rat. And this one does it for me. I would ride the guts out of this bike.