starting my MBB !!!

**gavtatu** · 12-05-10, 06:46 AM

its started ! my winter project, MBB FWD midracer, got my tubage, various other scrap bits together.
here is a finely balance pic, lol !

**Monster Pete** · 12-05-10, 01:06 PM

Looks great so far. What size wheels are you using? Might just be perspective but it appears to have a smaller front wheel than rear. I like the use of a front fork to mount the rear wheel- it's practical and makes the bike look more professional.

**gavtatu** · 12-06-10, 03:10 AM

Originally Posted by Monster Pete

Looks great so far. What size wheels are you using? Might just be perspective but it appears to have a smaller front wheel than rear. I like the use of a front fork to mount the rear wheel- it's practical and makes the bike look more professional.

yup, 700 rear, 26" front.
i've scoured the pages and pics, looking at all sorts of MBB bikes, and this is my final'ish design !

**Monster Pete** · 12-06-10, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by gavtatu

yup, 700 rear, 26" front.

I suppose it works on the same idea as a '69-er' mountain bike with a larger front wheel and smaller rear wheel, except reversed for the front-wheel-drive layout. How will you have the handlebars? From the looks of it it seems like under-seat steering would be possible, with something similar to 'north road' handlebars either bolted to the back of the fork crown or extending separately from each fork leg. Otherwise you'd probably need some pretty high over-seat bars to get enough knee clearance.

**gavtatu** · 12-06-10, 02:22 PM

cheers mate !
handle bars, gonna try some road bars first, in the fork tube as normal, then maybe try some tweener bars, on the BB tube.
kinda make it up as i go along ya know, lol !

**gavtatu** · 09-11-11, 03:32 AM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gavtatu...in/photostream

once again, starting on my MBB project !
had to grind out the steer tube and weld in a longer one, and yesterday, me and the boy bent the BB to fork tube, to shape !
going with a 700 x 700 now too !
some welding off my neighbour, and i should be several steps forward !!!

**gavtatu** · 09-16-11, 03:05 AM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gavtatu...in/photostream

am soooo FREAKIN' EXCITED !!!
did a 5 mile test ride on the MUP this afternoon, no probs at all !
did'nt feel like i was fighting the handlebars, even when pushing out some speed, low speed manouvering was ok, i still get the odd `twitch`, so would'nt feel safe on the road yet !
ebay has an adjustable extra long quill stem, which will be handy, and as soon as i sort the seat out, i can do some serious testing !!
happy happy gav !

**gavtatu** · 09-17-11, 08:32 AM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gavtatu...n/photostream/

soooo...my boy brought me a piece of scrap ali/alu plate, so bashed out my seat today, and with the supports in place, feels even better !

**gavtatu** · 09-24-11, 04:14 AM

http://www.recumbent.tv/home/viewvid...m-bracket.html

video up !!

**yakmurph** · 09-25-11, 10:24 AM

Lookin' good!
Remember to slow down on her long enough to apply some sort of paint, won't you?

**gavtatu** · 09-25-11, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by yakmurph

Lookin' good!
Remember to slow down on her long enough to apply some sort of paint, won't you?

lol, its a bit of a bugger this frame, rather more difficult to decorate !
gonna go with gloss black, with some white highlights, white cable sheaths, various black componants.
be a while yet, gotta braze on my cable stops when i decide just where i want them, and just test riding for a while !

**gavtatu** · 10-04-11, 09:10 AM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gavtatu...57626519343162

had an idea today for some barend shifters, and i had an old roadbike frame !
cut out the downtube shifters, and with a bit of jiggery-pokery, got them on my bars !
they will do for now, until i can afford some reasonably priced proper barend shifters !

**Monster Pete** · 10-04-11, 03:44 PM

Looks good. I did something similar on my drop-bar conversion, where I used the original old-style thumb shifters. They fit quite nicely on the end of the bars. Not inline with the bar end as 'real' bar-end shifters would be, but they work great. You're limited to 7-speed or friction with this though. I've seen a recumbent trike before with dual stem shifters mounted on one end of the handlebar next to the rear brake.

**gavtatu** · 10-05-11, 03:45 AM

Originally Posted by Monster Pete

Looks good. I did something similar on my drop-bar conversion, where I used the original old-style thumb shifters. They fit quite nicely on the end of the bars. Not inline with the bar end as 'real' bar-end shifters would be, but they work great. You're limited to 7-speed or friction with this though. I've seen a recumbent trike before with dual stem shifters mounted on one end of the handlebar next to the rear brake.

these are off an old frame, but i still get the full range of my 9 speed cassette !

**gavtatu** · 10-20-11, 07:26 AM

so...updates !
ummm....fitted a speedo today, hit a steady 25mph before spinning out (with the current gearing), maintained for a while, with no lack of `steadiness`.
low speed handling is good.
hill work is good, hill starts are good, i am quicker on the hills, mainly by virtue of the fact that i have to peddle quicker to keep a straight line, lol !
still have to concentrate a fair bit, did a 16 mile circuit, with two hills, which was a lil more hard work than usual.
but all in all, good fun, and a keeper !

**gavtatu** · 11-15-11, 03:15 AM

just a bit of tootling about !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-Obzu38J94

**gavtatu** · 11-17-11, 03:44 AM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gavtatu...in/photostream

and my rear view mirror !

**gavtatu** · 01-18-12, 11:52 AM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gavtatu...in/photostream

got myself some new bars , and bar end shifters, its a nice set up !
further testing continues !

**gavtatu** · 01-25-12, 02:22 PM

yup....these new bars are `the one` !
very comfortable, def.gonna stick with these, got black bar tape, and new black levers all ready to rock 'n roll as soon as its painted !

**gavtatu** · 03-10-12, 04:11 AM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gavtatu...57626519343162

ok, my boy came down and brazed my cable stops on for me !
the top tube is clear, and i have a full range of gears !!
some clipless single sided pedals, and i'm ready to rock 'n roll !!

**gavtatu** · 03-15-12, 05:38 AM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gavtatu...7626519343162/

a swift 15 miler today, clipped in too !!!
i can feel the power, average speed was a bit higher, range of gears is good...i feel like its a flyer !!

**gavtatu** · 03-25-12, 06:36 AM

thats it...last long ride today, gonw gonna strip, clean up and get ready for paint !
see y'all on the flip side !

**gavtatu** · 04-23-12, 10:51 AM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gavtatu...57626519343162

finally, painted today, let this cure, then decals and gloss top coat !!

**cplager** · 04-25-12, 05:26 PM

That looks really nice. I can't wait to see it put all back together!

Cheers,
Charles

**gavtatu** · 05-04-12, 03:59 PM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gavtatu...7626519343162/

Thread: starting my MBB !!!

Thread Tools

Search Thread

starting my MBB !!!

Posting Permissions