i have about 5 bikes that i messed up in some way that range from "one or two more fixes and i could ride this" to pretty much fubar status. this is one i just "re-finished" and have about right this time.
i've shown a longer stretch bike i made for my tallest brother, but this is the first one i made him. he's 6'5" and didn't like sitting that low and felt it was kinda hard for him to ride (he's not normaly a bike rider anyway). plus being one of my first tries at this i messed up some things. so i've been playing with it off and on feel like i have done better this time.
i made some compromises, and compromises to the compromises. the front sprocket is a 36.
i had to go small because the chain was hitting the frame going back to the wheel. being so small i went with a multispeed to get that smallest sprocket. it's just enough to not feel like your spinning your feet and not going anywhere. had to go with an idler too to cut down the sagging.
gears mean brakes. being that i have a 20" front wheel on a 26" fork i added a cut off piece from another fork to put a caliper on and reach the rim.
the back brake needs tweaking still but it really stops good with just the front.
i started with a 24" frame in the back.
i think from now on i'll only work with a 26" it's hard to find 24" stuff. i had to trim the rear end some because all i could fit at first was a 24x1 3/8 rim/tire. that was my fault when i first welded it together. now it has a 24x1 3/4 and i think i can put a 2.125 on if i want.
i'm just 5'11", so i made another seat with back section that helps me ride it, plus it just works well with stretch bikes (if y'all make a bike like this, i'm tellin' ya, the seat is worth making).
went ahead and put this one in the gallery 'cause i just can't talk myself into grinding down welds and painting, so for now i'm calling it done.
it's kind of a bike in limbo now. besides maybe a nephew whos sprouting up pretty fast, no one is tall enough to ride it comfortably but my brother, who i've made another bike already. i may keep it as a limo for myself, if i can move the seat forward enough without it looking awkward. i'm thinking about making my first try at selling a bike if i do the finishing touches and actually paint it. for now i'll just pull it out and ride it sometimes, and maybe if someone sees it and wants to talk me out of it, i'll be willing to listen.
i've shown a longer stretch bike i made for my tallest brother, but this is the first one i made him. he's 6'5" and didn't like sitting that low and felt it was kinda hard for him to ride (he's not normaly a bike rider anyway). plus being one of my first tries at this i messed up some things. so i've been playing with it off and on feel like i have done better this time.
i made some compromises, and compromises to the compromises. the front sprocket is a 36.
i had to go small because the chain was hitting the frame going back to the wheel. being so small i went with a multispeed to get that smallest sprocket. it's just enough to not feel like your spinning your feet and not going anywhere. had to go with an idler too to cut down the sagging.
gears mean brakes. being that i have a 20" front wheel on a 26" fork i added a cut off piece from another fork to put a caliper on and reach the rim.
the back brake needs tweaking still but it really stops good with just the front.
i started with a 24" frame in the back.
i think from now on i'll only work with a 26" it's hard to find 24" stuff. i had to trim the rear end some because all i could fit at first was a 24x1 3/8 rim/tire. that was my fault when i first welded it together. now it has a 24x1 3/4 and i think i can put a 2.125 on if i want.
i'm just 5'11", so i made another seat with back section that helps me ride it, plus it just works well with stretch bikes (if y'all make a bike like this, i'm tellin' ya, the seat is worth making).
went ahead and put this one in the gallery 'cause i just can't talk myself into grinding down welds and painting, so for now i'm calling it done.
it's kind of a bike in limbo now. besides maybe a nephew whos sprouting up pretty fast, no one is tall enough to ride it comfortably but my brother, who i've made another bike already. i may keep it as a limo for myself, if i can move the seat forward enough without it looking awkward. i'm thinking about making my first try at selling a bike if i do the finishing touches and actually paint it. for now i'll just pull it out and ride it sometimes, and maybe if someone sees it and wants to talk me out of it, i'll be willing to listen.
