So here it is.. After seeing how much fun people here have attacking old bikes with hacksaws, I decided to have a go myself. This creation is made up of at least 5 other bikes, one of which was found in a river.. Has taken me a week to do so far, and cost £4.50
The frame is made up of a cut and shut between two frames.. The bending was done with a 3lb sledge hammer (it shows doesn't it?) The tubes were sleeved with other bits of bike frame, and the whole lot arc welded together. It is solid though!
The headstock angle is standard, and the stem has been lengthened with a bit of handlebar. It takes a bit of practice to ride.. You steer left by moving your arms to the right, so you have to lean into the turn much more deliberately than normal. It is a bit wobbly at low speed, but it is great when you get up to a steady 10mph on the flat. Gets a lot of attention on the road too. You can't stand up on the pedals at all, because that means pressing down on the bars.. which steer you into a hedge. The seatpost is jammed solid too, so its bloody useless going up hills.
The chain guard I made from a bit of 3mm stainless steel plate, and it only has a working rear brake at the moment, but it stops fairly well on just that. The extra length must reduce the amount of weight transfer under braking I think.
Future plans? Well, I'm still grinding unnecessary bits off the frame, and it wants some more paint. I think I should stick a bit of filler into the bends, to make them look a bit more like they weren't done with a hammer. I also want to have a crack at making the tyres into whitewalls, probably with some white enamel paint I have kicking around. I'm thinking a bit of gold lining here and there too..
The frame is made up of a cut and shut between two frames.. The bending was done with a 3lb sledge hammer (it shows doesn't it?) The tubes were sleeved with other bits of bike frame, and the whole lot arc welded together. It is solid though!
The headstock angle is standard, and the stem has been lengthened with a bit of handlebar. It takes a bit of practice to ride.. You steer left by moving your arms to the right, so you have to lean into the turn much more deliberately than normal. It is a bit wobbly at low speed, but it is great when you get up to a steady 10mph on the flat. Gets a lot of attention on the road too. You can't stand up on the pedals at all, because that means pressing down on the bars.. which steer you into a hedge. The seatpost is jammed solid too, so its bloody useless going up hills.
The chain guard I made from a bit of 3mm stainless steel plate, and it only has a working rear brake at the moment, but it stops fairly well on just that. The extra length must reduce the amount of weight transfer under braking I think.
Future plans? Well, I'm still grinding unnecessary bits off the frame, and it wants some more paint. I think I should stick a bit of filler into the bends, to make them look a bit more like they weren't done with a hammer. I also want to have a crack at making the tyres into whitewalls, probably with some white enamel paint I have kicking around. I'm thinking a bit of gold lining here and there too..
