- Joined
- Mar 29, 2010
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- 262
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I'm not usually one for doing build threads to be honest. I usually set off on a project and rattle through it until the end then think 'I should've taken photos as I went along!' So this time I will!
I started with this rather generic and frankly dull Apollo Retro cruiser I got off my brother. I liked the cantilever frame but the rest was rather 'meh'!
So I decided to build it into a nice runaround with a bit of carrying capacity for trips to the shops / post office etc. I started by pulling it apart and grinding off the cable stays for the caliper brakes it had accross the top tube, filling and sanding and attempting to neaten up some of the 'struck by lightning' welds on the frame.
Originally I had hoped to fit something more interesting in the fork department such as a beehive but funding dried in the pre christmas period as it tends to so I turned to a 1960's raleigh that i had laying about and robbed it of its front chrome rack. The rack was for a 20 inch bike and as this is a 26inch and 26ich Fat Franks at that too it'd have to be elongated. The legs were cut and slotted into steel tube and re-welded at the right length.
The chainring got 'skipped' the raleigh also donated its rather funky chainguard which was modded slightly to fit and painted.
The whole frame was rattlecan painted in a Peugeot Car blue with Ivory white accents.
The forks were accented too and today I began reassembly of the bottom bracket and front end
The cargo box is an old American Orange crate (hence the name... no Schwinn musclebike connection here
) which I shortened to fit and mounted an old bottle opener on the front. The headlight is LED fitted and just sits under the box... (which I've yet to figure out how to attach).
And thats it as of tonight... still to sort the bars... attach my new number plate to the back
and await the arrival of a Bendix Redstripe from Ratfink1962 which will be laced into the back rim and fired on!
I'll stick more pics up as i do more if anyone is interested
I started with this rather generic and frankly dull Apollo Retro cruiser I got off my brother. I liked the cantilever frame but the rest was rather 'meh'!
So I decided to build it into a nice runaround with a bit of carrying capacity for trips to the shops / post office etc. I started by pulling it apart and grinding off the cable stays for the caliper brakes it had accross the top tube, filling and sanding and attempting to neaten up some of the 'struck by lightning' welds on the frame.
Originally I had hoped to fit something more interesting in the fork department such as a beehive but funding dried in the pre christmas period as it tends to so I turned to a 1960's raleigh that i had laying about and robbed it of its front chrome rack. The rack was for a 20 inch bike and as this is a 26inch and 26ich Fat Franks at that too it'd have to be elongated. The legs were cut and slotted into steel tube and re-welded at the right length.
The chainring got 'skipped' the raleigh also donated its rather funky chainguard which was modded slightly to fit and painted.
The whole frame was rattlecan painted in a Peugeot Car blue with Ivory white accents.
The forks were accented too and today I began reassembly of the bottom bracket and front end
The cargo box is an old American Orange crate (hence the name... no Schwinn musclebike connection here
) which I shortened to fit and mounted an old bottle opener on the front. The headlight is LED fitted and just sits under the box... (which I've yet to figure out how to attach).
And thats it as of tonight... still to sort the bars... attach my new number plate to the back
and await the arrival of a Bendix Redstripe from Ratfink1962 which will be laced into the back rim and fired on!
I'll stick more pics up as i do more if anyone is interested
