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This Schwinn Hornet was my first old bike. I grew up in the 80’s when these were already antiques, but I loved them. A old guy locally had a little bike shop and he had it out back I asked him if he’d sell it (I was a kid with no real money) and he told me if I promised to fix it up and ride it that he’d let me have it. He let me work on it at his place and have some parts out of junkyard to get it rideable. I was the only kid that I knew of riding anything like that. Over the years it became a hodgepodge of parts from various Schwinns. The front fender came off of a B-6 project, the rims and Lightning Dart tires off of a Girl’s Schwinn Panther (IIRC) and the tank, rack, and seat came off of other bikes as well. This bike sadly sat outside behind my Dad’s shop for over a decade until I got my own place and went and got it to my house.

I’d like to make this bike nice again (but not restored) because of the sentimental value to me. I’d like to add a Springer more correct seat and do some cleanup up on it.
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The “Rat Pilot” was my first rat bike, given to me by a friend who has passed away. He was into cars (and loved rat rods) and found it In the woods and knew I liked old bikes. He told me when he gave it to me “You should throw some red rims and whitewalls on it and hang it on the wall!” That’s pretty much what I did. It’s one of the few bikes I have that I’ve never ridden.
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I bought this Shelby Traveler around 15 years ago, after my oldest was born, named Shelby of course. I’ve always loved the way this one looks and I’ve ridden it the most of any of my old bikes over the years. It’s another one worthy of a full Resto, but I just like it how it is.

My son had pretty much claimed it until I built the Huffy Dragster XL. :)
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The Twin Columbia’s. I had the rustier one for years and only got the less rusty one recently. The newer one (to me) is a great rider. I’ve been riding it a lot lately.
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Elgin built Collegiate. I disassembled (like a dummy) This one to be restored and it sat a paint shop for waiting it’s turn by the a body guy until I went back and picked it up.
I REALLY wish I had just left it alone...
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My Huffy “Dragster XL” 26” muscle bike build. I got to ride it once before my son took it over. It was fun! :) :( ;)

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My son’s Schwinn Tornado we built together with the sweet Lester Magalloy wheels.

If I wasn’t old and fat I’d ride the wheels off this thang! :)
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This Rollfast is the latest apple of my eye, and honestly has quickly become of my favorite bikes, despite being one of the less desirable ones. I picked it up from an antique dealer on the cheap and built it like I wanted it having to have no regard for hurting its value (which is a struggle for me sometimes). This bike has given me a little more confidence in my painting and body work skills. I hope to tackle more projects like this.

it’s came a long way!
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Western Flyer Jet Mutt. This bike was cobbled to together from at least 8 different bikes. I pieced to together from a bunch of patina’d red bikes and parts and it just worked. This is the first rusty bike I’ve ever clear coated, and I like the result.

It’s a good rider, though those ancient Carlisles are going to have to be replaced to put some serious miles on it.
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My other CWC Pilot. I have “Rat Pilot“ and I plan to have “Rod Pilot”. My plan with this one is to build a 50’s style hot rod theme build. Basically 50’s era hot rod car styling on a bike - red rims, fat n skinny white walls, pin stripes, etc.

This is a mock up with the wheels off of my Dragster XL.
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Roadmaster “Dreamliner” build. My plan with this one is build my ultimate plush, fat, luxury bike using my favorite styling cues and parts from various brands of bikes. The CWC straight bar frame, Roadmaster finned tank, and peaked fenders with the curved braces are favorites of mine, but I doubt anything else will end up being Roadmaster parts.
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Ted Williams (Sears) 1976 Bicentennial muscle bike. Not really sure what direction I want to go here.

It is a good rider though!
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Murray Apple Cart convertible. When my daughter isn’t on the Higgins, she’s on this one. I’m going to try a red nanner seat on it to match the grips. I think it will look much more muscle bike-y that way.

Clean little bike, but a bit of an oddball to me. It looks much better with the bars in the top in boy’s bike style, but you can’t tell my daughter that! ;)
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Updated - red nanner and sex change!
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1995 100th Anniversary Schwinn. I was working on this to be my BMX Strandie build, but I’ve kinda stalled out on it. The Dragster XL turned out so good that the thought of building an adult sized Stingray out of it has crossed my mind.
We’ll see.
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Firestone Featherlite with balloon tires. Backburner project. I robbed the Evans fenders off of it for the Strato Flyer, but I hope to circle back to this someday. Something about fat tires on a lightweight diamond frame appeals to me.
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Did I mention I like balloon tires on lightweights? :)

Meredith mocked up with the wheelset off of my Jet Mutt and JC Higgins fenders.
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