Personal VenVetta

[Gravelgrinder59]

There’s not much clearance at all between tires and fork blades and the wheel was slightly out of true ( rubbing once in a while) I’m not wheel guy so had buddy Luke fine tune front wheel. Taking care of these two issues seems to solved problem. I rode over big parking curb pretty hard several times. The tire never rubbed but did hit stops once. Rode up and down neighbors driveway seems good to go.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Next I installed a laid back seat post and a new Brooks B-67 black saddle with chrome springs.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

The last change I made , needs more attention, put on a new 36t stingray looking chainring on a nicer vintage one piece chrome crank I had. Wanted to keep Schwinn look going with chainring and everything else is steel so stuck with that theme with crank and chainring.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Not satisfied with smoothness of crank rotation when pedaling , so picked up a new sealed bottom bracket kit to replace old cleaned up bearings/cups I tried to use.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Have just some minor stuff left, get new bearings in bottom bracket, then I need to hit the trail!

 

[metalchewy]

Those are some sweet bearings. Well worth the replacement.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Yeah agree about clamp bolt, don’t know why I haven’t addressed that yet, I’ll get on it!

 

[OddJob]

Refinements look good, that seat post fits the vibe well!

Off RaT Build oN~!

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Yesterday I put new bottom bracket bearings in. Last time I had bottom bracket apart I cleaned the frame up with a brass brush and sprayed it with semi gloss black with primer since it was alittle rusty.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

I also took the bottom of truss rods and rockers apart and finished cleaning the original red paint off the ends of the fork blades, I also finished stripping the original white pat off truss rods.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

I was really getting exasperated with the rat trap front end yesterday, when I put it Back together was having problems getting wheel centered and tire not to rub. Then a few times standing it was rubbing on top of fork. I thought” what the heck, thought I resolved this issue when ground down the tab on inside of fork bridge. Went over to see my buddy Luke and have him look at springer while I was riding. He determined tire was hitting the bottom of the spring where it hangs down through its bracket on the bridge. It’s hard to see but it the rounded shape that’s protruding below the fork bridge.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

I was really ready to just give up on the rat trap idea, got up this morning and was looking around garage to find some rubber to make some bumpers for the rocker stops like Wildcat had suggested. Really want to ride it on trail today. I couldn’t find any rubber big enough to do what Wildcat suggested. What I did find was about 1/4 in wide round shim stamped 22.2 ( so it was I assume from handlebar accessory) it cut it in half, it’s really stiff so I couldn’t get it to lie flat so I could glue or use double sided adhesive. I also don’t want to wait for glue to dry. So I took a zip tie and zip tied it length wise around the lip of the bumper stops

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

I know using zip ties kinda cheesy in this build off environment, but I want to see if it’ll work and I want to ride it today. After a couple tries was able to get bumpers really snug to were I’m pretty confident they won’t come off. It’s also barely noticeable that it is actually a zip tie. It was still dark rode up and down street, no rubbing! Put a bag on bike, rounded up some tools , put a water bottle cage on , spare tube and headed to trail. My planned 6-10 mi shake down ride turned into a 26 mi ride! It rode better than expected. The cockpit is the most comfortable I’ve ever been with upright bars. Never had Brooks B-67 before ( use b-17 and Flyers usually) seat was really

comfy and no squeaking. I had a great time obviously riding it, it even started snowing. Rattrap never bottomed out on gravel, rode over a few small downed trees, fine . When I got to more of a cross country style trail the stops would hit sometimes but no problems.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Besides clear coating bare metal truss rods I think this build pretty much done.

 

[metalchewy]

I know using zip ties kinda cheesy in this build off environment, but I want to see if it’ll work and I want to ride it today. After a couple tries was able to get bumpers really snug to were I’m pretty confident they won’t come off. It’s also barely noticeable that it is actually a zip tie.

I've been known to use zip ties and binges on builds. A few years back on anBBO build i Had a rear fender that didn't even.come close to the mounting hole on the seat stays, lil bungee kept it in place.

Bike Looks good in the snow!

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Thanks Metalchewy, been enjoying watching your exquisite leather work on your build!

 

[OddJob]

That side shot on the bridge with the snow.....hang on to that for possible final photo! The epitome for a rat rod bike build is a solid and fun rider. You achieved that in spades. Congrats on a successful build!

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Thanks OddJob, I took a few extra pics that day for that very reason, was thinking that very same thing!

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Nothing new to report on build, but took VenVetta out for 22 mi ride yesterday. Was thinking about what I could add or change, but like bike just the way it is. The trail I ride on goes right through where the worst mudslide in US history occurred on March 22, 2014, the “ Oso mudslide” near Darrington wa. 40+ people lost their life’s , and area were VenVetta is pictured was buried. You can see where slide occurred in background.

 

[horsefarmer]

Really like the build. Where did you find the frame bag?