I haven't built a bike in a long time. Two reasons, I'm getting "older", and time. I seem to have less time, since I retired. That's probably because I'm going slower now. I got rid of about 99% of my bicycle parts stash.... I RIDE more than ever (Electra Townie 21D), and because I HATE walking, I ride scooters also. You'd be surprised how much distance you can do with one of these. They're great in a city or a crowded bike path, where you have to go slow or stop quickly. You can also get a great workout. They're perfect for someone that likes to run, but the joint impact is to painful. In Europe they are very popular and they have sanctioned races with hundreds of participants.
Anyways, time for some fun!...I bought a Footbike (brand) Express about 5 years ago. It's an entry level scoot, and I kept changing things around on it. Two years ago I decided to really change it, but things didn't work out the way I wanted them to, so off to the cellar, and in the corner it went. Last week when I was cleaning out everything, I came across all the pieces, and a leftover bent fork. Soooo, I decided to change things up and finish this. My object is to make a "mean looking" scooter (if that's even possible).
I'm a month behind. But I don't have to deal with chains, chain guard, or chain ring, seat or seat post, pedals, cranks or any of that other "stuff" between the wheels.
For a scooter that's going to be used for miles at a time, the optimum height for the footboard is around 2.5"-3.0". The lower the footboard the less you have to bend your standing leg while propelling yourself with the kicking leg. The Footbike Express was about 4.5". Lowering it by 2" doesn't sound like much, but it makes a huge difference in comfort and stamina.
The stock Footbike came with a 28" front wheel and an 18" rear wheel. I wanted to put a 26" wheel in the front, and a 20" in the back. So I fabricated dropouts, tacked them in place, but never got them to work the way I wanted (lost interest). They were pulled off, I'll try them again and if they work I'll use them. The name, well any day now my grandkids will start referring to me as "the old coot"..they could be already.....So, after two years in the planning..
A few of years ago, I did this mock up with a MTB fork and cardboard dropouts...Foot board was still going to be at 4". Dropouts were made, but I could not get the wheel (hub was to wide) to sit the way I wanted. Besides a suspension fork would take away to much energy when you started kicking. And with the frame being 2" diameter, getting the footboard down to 2.5" just wasn't going to happen.
These are the dropouts I made., but never got them to work right.
This is what it looked like stock.
This is how I want it to sit in the end. In this pic the frame is sitting right on the ground. The dropouts are attached to the rear axle and not the scooter.
Anyways, time for some fun!...I bought a Footbike (brand) Express about 5 years ago. It's an entry level scoot, and I kept changing things around on it. Two years ago I decided to really change it, but things didn't work out the way I wanted them to, so off to the cellar, and in the corner it went. Last week when I was cleaning out everything, I came across all the pieces, and a leftover bent fork. Soooo, I decided to change things up and finish this. My object is to make a "mean looking" scooter (if that's even possible).
I'm a month behind. But I don't have to deal with chains, chain guard, or chain ring, seat or seat post, pedals, cranks or any of that other "stuff" between the wheels.
For a scooter that's going to be used for miles at a time, the optimum height for the footboard is around 2.5"-3.0". The lower the footboard the less you have to bend your standing leg while propelling yourself with the kicking leg. The Footbike Express was about 4.5". Lowering it by 2" doesn't sound like much, but it makes a huge difference in comfort and stamina.
The stock Footbike came with a 28" front wheel and an 18" rear wheel. I wanted to put a 26" wheel in the front, and a 20" in the back. So I fabricated dropouts, tacked them in place, but never got them to work the way I wanted (lost interest). They were pulled off, I'll try them again and if they work I'll use them. The name, well any day now my grandkids will start referring to me as "the old coot"..they could be already.....So, after two years in the planning..
A few of years ago, I did this mock up with a MTB fork and cardboard dropouts...Foot board was still going to be at 4". Dropouts were made, but I could not get the wheel (hub was to wide) to sit the way I wanted. Besides a suspension fork would take away to much energy when you started kicking. And with the frame being 2" diameter, getting the footboard down to 2.5" just wasn't going to happen.
These are the dropouts I made., but never got them to work right.
This is what it looked like stock.
This is how I want it to sit in the end. In this pic the frame is sitting right on the ground. The dropouts are attached to the rear axle and not the scooter.
