Classic & Vintage - Not Quite a Classic but my version of a Truss Bridge

So I've always wanted a old Truss Bridge Bike but originals are hard to find and ANT's version was too much money for me.

I decided to work with a welder friend and make one!

A few things. This bike started out as a Montgomery Ward Open Road. The Stem Broke off and it was an old 21.15 mm. I ended up having a 22.2 machined down. Wheels are 26 x 1 3/8. I went in and out about making 650B but front drops are for a 5/16 axle.

I don't think I'd do this again with this type of frame but it was a learning experience. Thank you Sheldon Brown RIP!

More Pics Here ONE (http://bicyclefriends.blogspot.com/2011/01/sht-bike-reborn-part-one.html), TWO (http://bicyclefriends.blogspot.com/2011/01/sht-bike-reborn-part-two.html), THREE (http://bicyclefriends.blogspot.com/2011/01/sht-bike-reborn-part-three.html)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b369/cjbjtc/2011-01-21BicycleFriendsTrussBridgeD.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b369/cjbjtc/2011-01-21BicycleFriendsTrussBridgeB.jpg

Very pretty. Nice work.

-Kurt

I have a soft spot for Iver Johnsons 'cause that was my very first bike, and your bike is sort of Iver-Johnson-esque !
Very very nice !

Nice, indeed. for a really cheap post-bike-boom frame, it has very slack geometry.
It aids the vintage look quite a bit. I bet it's comfortable. What sort of fork are you running?

Corey K

Impressive. It's a "smiley" bike.........makes you smile just seeing it. Well done.

Love the color.

J

Really nice. Simple and elegant. I have a thing for skinny tires and coaster brakes. I should think about that.

Pretty damn cool.

Has it affected the ride? I'm assuming it's a bit hard to say with all the new bits.

Great job and an excellent write up on your blog.

Neal

Very attractive bike - love the color! And the truss bridge adds a great stylistic touch, I think. How's the ride quality? And have you decided to rebadge it at all?

Way to think outside the box, That's brilliant!

The handling is very slack and cornering can be a bit slow. But, hey it is a smiley, feel good, I just love to bike, bike. This does make me smile and brings me back to why I ride. I ride because it calms my soul (We'll see how I feel about this statement today, in two hours when I am deep into my CX race!)

I would like to put a design on the Head and down tube but not sure.

I still want to go Fixed but not 100% yet. This was done on a budget.

Thanks, I'm also toying with the idea of a rack on it.

Sweet!

Excellent work.

Very nice.

When I saw your bike, I immediately thought of this bike. They guy took a vintage mountain bike frame and totally increased the cool-factor.

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg93/realestvin7/cool_cruiser_custom_mtb_frame.jpg

very cool, very much worth your efforts

that looks awesome, and doesn't need a thing else. if you want a rack put it on another project. the saddle is completely heinous, and fits somehow with the scope of things....

Great job! Love the frame mod and the bars. Even the powdercoat.

If there was a way to shift the saddle to mount it with the post at the extreme rear it would fit the look even better. Or even moreso with an early-looking springs 'n' hairpins kind of saddle.