Comment

Comment by Lee Diamond on January 9, 2010 at 6:35pm

What is the strangest way you have gotten something to fit?

I have done more thank I should have certainly, but the stangest one recently was I was able to bend fenders from a trashed 3-speed to fit a single speed with different size wheels and brakes through the use of two clamps. One was used to crush the area where the brakes were. The original bike had gigrodous John Buck brakes which fit comfortably over it. A simple screw clamp from my wood shop fitted with wood bumpers smooshed the area nicely and looked clean and fairly straight.

The next problem was the way the fenders would fit on the wider wheels. The short answer is, not at all. A wide mouth pipe clamp helped me widen the angle. I put the fenders on my work table so they were like a downward "C" with the edges touching at the tips. By putting the clamp on top of the curve of the very sturdy and heavy chromed steel fenders with rolled up towels in between the clamp and the fenders, I was able to gently pull the center down and it widened the mouth from what was some type of 26" tire to 700c wheels quite nicely.

What's some of yours?

Comment by Doug Haynes on December 10, 2009 at 5:43am

Todd,

Try the hand built bicycles group for frame jig info.

Comment by Todd Allen on December 9, 2009 at 8:37pm

Anybody here have any experience building jigs? I'd love to set up a very flexible jig for doing a wide variety of one off projects such as trailers, cargo bikes, recumbents, etc.

This wouldn't be for production work so it wouldn't even be necessary to jig up a complete frame in one go.

Suggestions for a back plane and fixtures would be much appreciated.

Comment by E A on December 2, 2009 at 9:50am

Anyone read this article from the Trib?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/chi-rides-steel...

Comment by Lee Diamond on December 2, 2009 at 5:34am

OK y'all. I made a huge mistake by saying Tuesdays and I can NOT do Tuesdays for bike builds. I can do Mondays. I hope this is an inconvenience to none or few and apologize for this. Here is the schedule I propose for those that are interested in joining this social build night.

December 7 – bike builds – 9:00 to midnight
December 21 – bike builds – 9:00 to midnight

January 4 – bike builds – 9:00 to midnight
January 18 – bike builds – 9:00 to midnight

February 1 – bike builds – 9:00 to midnight
February 15 – bike builds – 9:00 to midnight

Cool? Sorry for the bonehead moment.

Now for those that want to come, I need to get you the SECRET ADDRESS! bwa ha ha ha.

Talk to you all soon - Lee

Comment by Chris on December 1, 2009 at 4:40pm

anyone know a place selling alloy tubing?

Comment by Doug Haynes on November 30, 2009 at 6:31am

I am doing a group strip deal that may be of interest to those of you who like to build up the bikes...

Bike dip

Comment by Moc Artsy on November 28, 2009 at 5:13am

Hi Lee,
I am definitely interested in doing the builds with you. I sent a friend request so I can message you.

Comment by Lee Diamond on November 27, 2009 at 12:22pm

I am in the process of getting ready to build up the next dozen bikes for our library of loaner cycles. We give these out to people who have no bikes but want to look for places on bikes, or come to our tours. There are also some bikes built for curators. Curators are people who have done things beyond the call of duty and beyond that even and we are doing our pitiful best to pay them back by building them a bike

The idea is to have a sufficient number in a range of sizes so we can accomodate all kiinds of riders.

The project is called the Big Shoulders Recyclery. After the build ups, last season's builds and the new builds will all be subjects of a massive photo-shoots for all of the bikes, done in a pin-up style with the typical beach ball and such nonsense props and a new section on our site with all of the builds.

Each one is a recycled bike needing a new life. Most are old steel frames except for the cyclocross frames which are all aluminum. Each bike is then named for an important individual in Chicago's past. The person can not be living.

An example of this is here.

I supply:

an amateur knowledge of bike building.
a dozen bikes to work on
an amateur shop
space in an unheated old theater
social and forgiving atomosphere

i am still learning and have exactly 14 builds of experience. I am not doing any wheel building as part of this project. I know a couple of folks that wanted to learn a bit about bike building expressed interest in doing this, so I figured I would post this here and see if any others are interested.

I am planning on doing this in the evenings, basically because that is the only time I can do it. It will be the second and forth Tuesdays of the month from 9:00 to midnight. Beers may be drunk. Pizza or similar wares may be eaten. Strictly social. No putting down my lack of skills, but on the other hand, if you are a capable and fine bike builder, this is probably not the deal for you, unless you still, really love doing it, in which case your knowledge and presence are very welcome.

If you are interested, rsvp to me so I know you are coming. You can shoot me a message on the chainlink. Cheers and take care Bike Builders!

Comment by mike w. on September 17, 2009 at 12:05pm

Circa 1973 Peugeot PX-10, only original part is the main frame. Replaced the fork with an '82 Tange cro-mo fork a couple of years ago and the handling improved vastly. Currently set up for randonneur/touring/commuting:
Reynolds 531 DB
Nervex lugs
Simplex droputs, derailleur hanger re-engineered to take campy/suntour changers
Braze-ons for cable guides, bottles & pump
80's Shimano 600 crankset 48-36-26, 180mm
Deore derailleurs -soon to be replaced by Suntour Cyclones
Suntour Superbe brakes, non-aero levers (work a lot better than aero)
Specialized headset
Cinelli 66 undimpled bar & 1-A stem.
Sram dynamo hub w/ Mavic T-138 36* X3
Campag/ Mavic e-3 36* X4
6 speed Pro-compe 14-28 freewheel
Pasella TG 700X28 tyres (damn near bombproof!)
Planet Bike mudguards

One fun ride, very Freddly.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page