More progress pics... So if i have a bell on my bike i almost always mount it on the seat tube, this bike is no exception but with the handlebars so far forward it's going to make reaching it difficult if not down right dangerous. I decided to solve this problem by attaching the bell to a brake cable and lever. It works great! Now a quick pull on the brake, or should i say "bell lever" should keep all those pedestrians in check. :lol:
one thing i noticed about these long bikes is that it's a real pain to pedal them up hills. maybe it's because of the position you ride them or possibly their gearing isn't ideal. i want to be able to ride it up hills without having to stand up to pedal so i finally made a decision and picked out this crank sprocket. it should DEFINITELY lower the gear ratio enough so that most any incline will not be problem.
yeah, i felt the same way about those springers but it's what i had laying around so i decided to use it. i'm glad i did otherwise i might have never even thought about the different ways they can be used. now i find i have a renewed interest in them as well.
there has been many times after just pedaling up to the top of a steep hill in the middle of summer that i wish i had something to drink. however, i've never been a big fan of water bottles, they're big, bulky and not very attractive in my opinion. i needed something better, something i wouldn't mind having on my bike so i went with a flask. i just re-bent a aluminum bottle holder i had to match the shape then mounted it in the most convenient place i could and there you have it, problem solved.
i'll be using this cool little 1950's(i think) flashlight to make my headlight and taillight. the base holds 4 D size batteries so it looks like i'll be using everything except the handle.
i think the ugliest part of any bike is the axle nuts so i wanted some hub caps to cover them up. but in an effort to do things as cheaply as possible i decided to make my own. i went to the hardware store and picked up the items shown below for about $8.00. i then used the quick set epoxy to secure the nut to the backside. after it dried it was just a matter of screwing them on. ugly axle nuts are now hidden!
hmmmm, maybe i've already revealed too much.........
fenders are done. diamond plate tank inserts are almost done as well. this will probably be one of the last updates i post until june or so. i still have a few more tricks up my sleeve and i don't want to tip my whole hand, but... anybody that followed my build build from last year might have a clue. :shock: