Skinny'matic

[SwissGuy]

Guten Morgen, fellow builders.
This winter I'll try my luck on this frame:

It was a donor and I got it for free.

It will get the duomatic rear hub from this wheel set.

And I'll most probably add a homemade disk to the rear.

I will also add a few non bike parts to theme the bike

 

[OddJob]

Guten Morgen, SG! Will your 'matic come with a blender, too? Dig your ideas!

Go Skinny!

 

[SwissGuy]

Guten Morgen, SG! Will your 'matic come with a blender, too? Dig your ideas!

Go Skinny!

No blender and I'll try to keep the "special parts" and "paint job" a secret as long as possible...

 

[Ulu]

I can’t do that. As soon as I do something, I have to take a photograph and post it.

Anyhow, looks like maybe old film cans and a movie reel….

 

[kingfish254]

Any build that includes old "film" tins has to be cool!

 

[sdframe]

Very intriguing. I'll be watching this.

 

[SwissGuy]

I took the opportunity of the long weekend and spent a night on the campground to collect some parts for my build.

This is my stash on the campground (see the grey boxes @GeePig?):

That's what I picked as my PoP:

Some light and reflector options plus breaks, levers and cranks:

Saddle, seatposts and spokes as I need to lace that duomatic into a 622 rim (I hope that at least one set of spokes will have the right length...)

Bars and stems

rim and tire choices

kickstands (I prefer the left one, but it needs some work, as it's axle bolt is loose)

even did a little mockup:

All boxed up and loaded in (even rediscovered some cans with primer and flat white that will come in handy)

Next challenge will be to make some room in our basement storage compartment that's already filled to the brim with stuff and bikes...

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Cool! Bring it Swiss style!

 

[SwissGuy]

Cool! Bring it Swiss style!

I'll try to, but without  cheese speed holes!

 

[MattiThundrrr]

I'll try to, but without  cheese speed holes!

But that guard has so much cheese!

 

[GeePig]

Ah... decisions, decisions....!

Compared to what I have, that is a whole treasure trove of items to choose from - except side stands. Why do I have so many side stands?

 

[SwissGuy]

But that guard has so much cheese!

I'll probably save the cheese for another loaf of bread, as I have something theme related in mind as a chainguard...

 

[SwissGuy]

Ah... decisions, decisions....!

Compared to what I have, that is a whole treasure trove of items to choose from - except side stands. Why do I have so many side stands?

And still it's little compared to what some of our fellow builders have to choose from...
But no jealousy here, we all have to deal/build with what we got and sometimes less is more!
I like the challenge to create something unique out of (almost) nothing!

 

[ingola]

Love that chaingauard

 

[GeePig]

And still it's little compared to what some of our fellow builders have to choose from...
But no jealousy here, we all have to deal/build with what we got and sometimes less is more!
I like the challenge to create something unique out of (almost) nothing!

Yes, I have always thought that it would be hard to be original if one were jealous of what other people were doing. I have only a small collection of stuff, and I do not even have the space or the willingness to keep most of the bikes that I build - they either get stripped down, or partly stripped down if I can actually use it. Bicycle parts have become more like Lego to me.

A serious question though - when you group together all the parts, do you know which parts you will be selecting, or do you actually make the selection as you go? I am really interested to know, because I make all my parts choices kind of instantly, often even before I build the bike. I just grab the box of brakes, for example, and make the choice then and there. I honestly do not know how other people make their choices, but I would kinda like to find out.

Many years ago, when I built motorbikes, I used to go down the breakers yard and say "I want a tank, about this big" (holding my hands about 40cm apart), and they would get me one 'about that big' and I would buy it. All I did was to explain sufficiently, and they would make the choice. And I would make it fit well. I really do not know how other people make their choices.

 

[SwissGuy]

Yes, I have always thought that it would be hard to be original if one were jealous of what other people were doing. I have only a small collection of stuff, and I do not even have the space or the willingness to keep most of the bikes that I build - they either get stripped down, or partly stripped down if I can actually use it. Bicycle parts have become more like Lego to me.

A serious question though - when you group together all the parts, do you know which parts you will be selecting, or do you actually make the selection as you go? I am really interested to know, because I make all my parts choices kind of instantly, often even before I build the bike. I just grab the box of brakes, for example, and make the choice then and there. I honestly do not know how other people make their choices, but I would kinda like to find out.

Many years ago, when I built motorbikes, I used to go down the breakers yard and say "I want a tank, about this big" (holding my hands about 40cm apart), and they would get me one 'about that big' and I would buy it. All I did was to explain sufficiently, and they would make the choice. And I would make it fit well. I really do not know how other people make their choices.

To be honest, it depends of the supply. Most of the times I halfway remember what parts I have in my boxes and search for that special part I want/need to use. Sometimes I have no idea and keep skimming through the parts until I find something that "sticks". Often I find something or sometimes even a several parts that feel promising. But more than often the decision is simple done by the limitation of choices...
This time it's a combination: I have a certain picture in mind that I want to achieve, based on the main parts I knew I had on stock.
Parts like stand, breaks or pedals are not finally decided.
Lights and reflectors I collected, are raw material for custom parts I intend to build.

 

[GeePig]

Yes, I get that, and I would love to be able not to decide everything up front. I am deliberately not thinking about my next bike build just so that the decisions can be made once we are past the start time. I have a vague, general idea, but I refuse to define it, but I kind of still do it - it is a right pain in the butt, as I want to do the thinking in November

 

[OddJob]

I like this discussion our two European friends are having. I think of them fondly as "Sausage" (GeePig) and "Cheese" (SwissGuy) , two of my very favorite foods! You guys think not only inside the box ( of parts) but you contemplate the 'why' of the use of various techniques and parts, and how they might work together. Not always does form follow function, but sometimes form comes first, then we figure out how to make it work!

Now I've got to go get something to eat!

 

[100 mile howie]

Yes, I have always thought that it would be hard to be original if one were jealous of what other people were doing. I have only a small collection of stuff, and I do not even have the space or the willingness to keep most of the bikes that I build - they either get stripped down, or partly stripped down if I can actually use it. Bicycle parts have become more like Lego to me.

A serious question though - when you group together all the parts, do you know which parts you will be selecting, or do you actually make the selection as you go? I am really interested to know, because I make all my parts choices kind of instantly, often even before I build the bike. I just grab the box of brakes, for example, and make the choice then and there. I honestly do not know how other people make their choices, but I would kinda like to find out.

Many years ago, when I built motorbikes, I used to go down the breakers yard and say "I want a tank, about this big" (holding my hands about 40cm apart), and they would get me one 'about that big' and I would buy it. All I did was to explain sufficiently, and they would make the choice. And I would make it fit well. I really do not know how other people make their choices.

I find that the build can take on a life of its own if I let it. I may start with a preconceived concept but I try to stay open to diverging ideas about theme and component choice. I had no clear direction in mind when I started the Mixed up Mixte build and I hoped that inspiration would come. It has evolved relatively quickly although I have had a few days and nights of uncertainty and sketching ideas and making lists. Now it is mostly a matter of slicing, dicing and selecting the most appropriate parts from my bins as I go and considering a paint scheme. I am going to try to build from what I have on hand only.

 

[SwissGuy]

Just ordered a bunch of prewired LEDs and some battery holders.
Autumn break starts in one week, then it's time to start/get back to building on three projects at once (shed, Skinny'matic and Hope4muscle)