Too much divided attention to get the aesthetics of the rear fairing together this season, so I decided to go in stages to at least get this bike rolling (where it would be more likely for me to work on it further as unusable projects are easily forgotten with me). Besides that, I still have to do the acid-etched coaster brake arm and pedal cages (the latter also for Retro Rocket, which I'll do at the same time).
This baby only weighs around 38 pounds, which is about 10 pounds lighter than I anticipated (Retro Rocket is about the same and a fully loaded USAAF a few pounds less).
Frame is a 1964 26" Sears Spaceliner converted to 3-piece crank and 1 1/8" threadless fork with TRM tank, handlebars from Builtpoor!, and Thompson grips. I can highly recommend these three products from our very own members—they are all high quality parts made by high quality folks!
The 3-speed SA hub shifter is the knob in the tank and the cable travels down a brass tube that runs between the top tubes to flow out towards the shifter reaction arm (I still have to touch up paint some of the joints for the tube supports where I re-epoxied them after damaging them by being stupid). The shift knob is some radio knob I got off ebay and JB Welded onto the grip shifter. I have to say, I think I'm spoiled by West Systems building wood kayaks as I am not a big fan of JB Weld, but the cost difference is considerable, so I can't expect the same performance. Whatever, I eventually got it to work without having to resort to set screws (yet!). The light switch is in the center of the knob with the wires passing through the piece of handlebar that supports the shifter inside the tank. The 12V battery is in the nose of the tank, the headlights are the usual LEDs people are using covered by cab clearance lenses that have been ground down to match the tank. The tail light is an intact cab clearance light with a piece of drywall edging (the drilled aluminum) as a trim piece with a piece of plastic soda bottle covered by gray vinyl to match the the other light/dark gray trim on the inside mounted to a cheap reflector mount. The saddle is a Brooks aged B67 changed out to a B68 frame and leather painted (so far, this thing seems amazingly comfortable).
This baby only weighs around 38 pounds, which is about 10 pounds lighter than I anticipated (Retro Rocket is about the same and a fully loaded USAAF a few pounds less).
Frame is a 1964 26" Sears Spaceliner converted to 3-piece crank and 1 1/8" threadless fork with TRM tank, handlebars from Builtpoor!, and Thompson grips. I can highly recommend these three products from our very own members—they are all high quality parts made by high quality folks!
The 3-speed SA hub shifter is the knob in the tank and the cable travels down a brass tube that runs between the top tubes to flow out towards the shifter reaction arm (I still have to touch up paint some of the joints for the tube supports where I re-epoxied them after damaging them by being stupid). The shift knob is some radio knob I got off ebay and JB Welded onto the grip shifter. I have to say, I think I'm spoiled by West Systems building wood kayaks as I am not a big fan of JB Weld, but the cost difference is considerable, so I can't expect the same performance. Whatever, I eventually got it to work without having to resort to set screws (yet!). The light switch is in the center of the knob with the wires passing through the piece of handlebar that supports the shifter inside the tank. The 12V battery is in the nose of the tank, the headlights are the usual LEDs people are using covered by cab clearance lenses that have been ground down to match the tank. The tail light is an intact cab clearance light with a piece of drywall edging (the drilled aluminum) as a trim piece with a piece of plastic soda bottle covered by gray vinyl to match the the other light/dark gray trim on the inside mounted to a cheap reflector mount. The saddle is a Brooks aged B67 changed out to a B68 frame and leather painted (so far, this thing seems amazingly comfortable).
