I think I got me a rat!

[ParkRNDL]

I posted this not long ago on what I thought was the only Web forum where I could find musclebike stuff, and DumpsterDiver was kind enough to shout out some props... and I found this place in his sig. Well, I think this belongs here a lot more than it does there...

Long story short... I found a department-store Ross girls' Polo Bike in a thrift store last fall, and the musclebike bug bit me bad. Problem was, I discovered that at this point in my life, there ain't no way I can afford a cherry Stingray. So around Christmas, I found this for cheap on Fleabay and stashed it in the basement...

It's a Sears Spyder, and from comparing chainring and guard styles and frame design to pics of other bikes, I'm pretty sure it's made by Huffy.

Fast forward to last weekend... I discovered this poor little Columbia in a thrift store for 5 bucks.

So last night after the kids are in bed, I get in touch with my inner Viktor Frankenstein and go down to the dungeon--er, basement. At around 3 AM, this was the result:

It's not quite roadworthy yet... needs a seat post (this one is too small in diameter), a couple tubes and tires, and the headset cups aren't quite seated in the head tube. But you get the idea. Hopefully I'll find a Shimano 3-speed rear hub to hook that cool grip shift to. The rear fender needs a spacer or something to line up right.

So is this a rat rod bike? In case you can't tell from the pix, the previous owner hit it with a spray bomb of what appears to be black krinkle finish... I figure that adds to the rattiness...

--rick

 

[Rat Rod]

Hey Rick,

Throw some white walls on that puppy and you'll fit right in 8)

Great find and a great story to go with it.

Thanks!

 

[ParkRNDL]

Hey Rick,

Throw some white walls on that puppy and you'll fit right in 8)

Great find and a great story to go with it.

Thanks!

Heh heh heh... not only am I with you on that, I'm half a step ahead of you. I got 'em already:

just gotta stop and pick up a couple of tubes on the way home one day... 8)

--rick

 

[Kustomkarma]

Kool bike. That's the way it should be done. Work with what you find and or make. You could spend a lot of money on a super nice bike, but you'll probably have more fun on this one.

 

[ParkRNDL]

and she's SEAWORTHY!

or roadworthy, or something...

point is, I didn't get to stop for tubes on the way home, and i got annoyed looking at it with the whitewalls next to it, so I ripped off a tube from a parts bike and slapped them on. I also used a bracket from some old drapes or blinds or something as a spacer to move the rear fender... put a couple extra washers between the rear hub and the frame so the coaster brake arm doesn't interfere with the sissy brackets... shimmed the seat post with a soda can... and beat on the headset cups with hammers and 2X4s to get them "seated". The top one never got tight, I'm a little worried about it. But anyway, here it is, in all its resplendent glory...

I took it out for a ride up and down the block. Jeez these things FLEX more than I remember. Other stuff I observed:

The gearing is WAAAAAAY high. It's got a BIIIIG front chainring, a small rear sprocket, and short little cranks. The Columbia that I stripped for parts still has a 6" crank on it, while this only has a 5" crank. Think I see that swap in my future... and I REALLY have an incentive now to find a 3-speed hub.

Man, I'm having fun with bikes... :lol:

--rick

 

[dumpster_diver]

LOOKS AWESOME!!!!!

I got a 3 speed hub --shimano I believe but you might need to regrease and rebuilt it. Let me know at [email protected]
It is a bit rusty but complete.
Thanks

 

[ParkRNDL]

LOOKS AWESOME!!!!!

I got a 3 speed hub --shimano I believe but you might need to regrease and rebuilt it. Let me know at [email protected]
It is a bit rusty but complete.
Thanks

tanx! check your email!

--rick