My new trailer for cruising, adding audio system next!
#1
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My new trailer for cruising, adding audio system next!
In addition to both mountain and road biking, I am an enthusiastic cruiser-bike cyclist.
I am a member of 5 different cruiser clubs and usually spend 1-2 nights a week cruising with one of these groups. Usually we meet at a pub and then ride to other pubs, but on nice summer evenings it's always fun to go to a local park and sip frosty beverages outside. Since no one in my groups had a decent cooler for hauling beer, I decided to take the project on.
Step 1: Buy a used Burley on Craig's List for $50
Step 2: Strip all of the child-friendly bits
HINT: Always be certain to include a small dog in the photo for proper scale. ;-)
Step 3: Clean the beejesus out of it. I used a Scotch-Brite pad and lots of soap
Step 4: Lay on lots of gloss black enamel to match my bike
Step 5: Thoroughly clean and paint an old cooler black also
Step 6: Make a new cargo bed out of red oak and paint it to match.
Step 7: Painstakingly mask and paint the trailer wheels to match the wheels on your cruiser.
HINT: Drinking beer while masking each individual spoke and spoke nipple makes the process far less painful.
Step 8: Paint and mount the oak rack to the trailer frame and install the finished wheels
Step 9: Have some decals made to match the logo on your cruiser bike and stick them to the sides of the cooler
Step 10: Fill cooler with beer & ice, add dogs to cruiser basket and go cruising with many friends
I am a member of 5 different cruiser clubs and usually spend 1-2 nights a week cruising with one of these groups. Usually we meet at a pub and then ride to other pubs, but on nice summer evenings it's always fun to go to a local park and sip frosty beverages outside. Since no one in my groups had a decent cooler for hauling beer, I decided to take the project on.
Step 1: Buy a used Burley on Craig's List for $50
Step 2: Strip all of the child-friendly bits
HINT: Always be certain to include a small dog in the photo for proper scale. ;-)
Step 3: Clean the beejesus out of it. I used a Scotch-Brite pad and lots of soap
Step 4: Lay on lots of gloss black enamel to match my bike
Step 5: Thoroughly clean and paint an old cooler black also
Step 6: Make a new cargo bed out of red oak and paint it to match.
Step 7: Painstakingly mask and paint the trailer wheels to match the wheels on your cruiser.
HINT: Drinking beer while masking each individual spoke and spoke nipple makes the process far less painful.
Step 8: Paint and mount the oak rack to the trailer frame and install the finished wheels
Step 9: Have some decals made to match the logo on your cruiser bike and stick them to the sides of the cooler
Step 10: Fill cooler with beer & ice, add dogs to cruiser basket and go cruising with many friends
#4
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A fine effort well done!
__________________
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
#5
Full Member
Thread Starter
Custom cruiser bike basket
If you liked my trailer, I thought you might also like this.
I couldn't find a cool looking basket for my dogs to ride in.
Most baskets are either very effeminate or ugly as sin.
So I bought some template cardboard and got to work.
Step 1: Make groovy new basket by VERY carefully cutting and designing templates (the first canvas and steel frame basket I made is to the right in this photo, but it looked pretty 'boxy' on my cool bike so it had to be replaced).
Step 2: find some awesome steel mesh to make the basket out of
Step 3: disassemble cardboard basket and get materials and templates to the TIG welder
[IMG]TOP SECRET photo of basket plans which will not be revealed to keep it one-of-a-kind[/IMG]
Step 4: Welding followed by beating with big hammers to smooth it out and then powder coating
Step 5: Make a custom LED headlight out PVC and polycarbonate for the basket
Step 6: Enjoy the awesomeness of a custom, one-off dog basket
I couldn't find a cool looking basket for my dogs to ride in.
Most baskets are either very effeminate or ugly as sin.
So I bought some template cardboard and got to work.
Step 1: Make groovy new basket by VERY carefully cutting and designing templates (the first canvas and steel frame basket I made is to the right in this photo, but it looked pretty 'boxy' on my cool bike so it had to be replaced).
Step 2: find some awesome steel mesh to make the basket out of
Step 3: disassemble cardboard basket and get materials and templates to the TIG welder
[IMG]TOP SECRET photo of basket plans which will not be revealed to keep it one-of-a-kind[/IMG]
Step 4: Welding followed by beating with big hammers to smooth it out and then powder coating
Step 5: Make a custom LED headlight out PVC and polycarbonate for the basket
Step 6: Enjoy the awesomeness of a custom, one-off dog basket
#6
Geck, wo ist mein Fahrrad
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vice nice. just curious are your dogs named 'bitey' and 'nipper' by chance? great guard dogs for the bike.
#7
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Nice basket, nice trailer.I like the red spokes. One thing every self sufficient party trailer should have is a bottle opener.
#8
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Cans only allowed in the parks around here, but nice touch.
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You should send these pics and all over to the guy at bike hacks, he'd really enjoy it. https://www.bikehacks.com/bikehacks/
I think you have mad skillz!
I think you have mad skillz!
#10
Full Member
Thread Starter
The trailer is starting to get a bit beat-up from all of the cruising.
Rode it in the New Belgium Brewery, "Tour De Fat" in Denver yesterday along with about 10-12K of my closest cruiser friends.
Rode it in the New Belgium Brewery, "Tour De Fat" in Denver yesterday along with about 10-12K of my closest cruiser friends.
#11
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That is some very cool and creative stuff!
A red version of your headlight would be a cool trailer taillight! (But I'm sure you already thought of that!)
Let us know what you do for the sound system.
A red version of your headlight would be a cool trailer taillight! (But I'm sure you already thought of that!)
Let us know what you do for the sound system.
#12
Banned
Guess My Idea of a sound system would be towing, like A Carvin Battery powered PA, 2 cabs
battery sub mixer for more channels, and speaker stands to run an outdoor gig , setting it up,
playing some live Bands thru it , then packing it all up, towing it home.
battery sub mixer for more channels, and speaker stands to run an outdoor gig , setting it up,
playing some live Bands thru it , then packing it all up, towing it home.
#13
Full Member
Thread Starter
Nope, the idea is being able to listen to it WHILE cruising.
Will leave the DJ-ing up to a song list on my MP3 player.
Probably going with a 10"-12" downward firing SW, 2 6"x9" speakers out the back, and 2 5"-6" speakers out the front.
600W x 5 channel amp and a deep-cycle 12V battery with high enough Ah rating to play for 5-6 hours.
Speakers will be marine grade in case I get rained on while riding (again).
All in a self contained box that is reasonably compact and hopefully not extremely heavy.
I know a few folks who use PA style speakers and the sound is quite harsh.
Will leave the DJ-ing up to a song list on my MP3 player.
Probably going with a 10"-12" downward firing SW, 2 6"x9" speakers out the back, and 2 5"-6" speakers out the front.
600W x 5 channel amp and a deep-cycle 12V battery with high enough Ah rating to play for 5-6 hours.
Speakers will be marine grade in case I get rained on while riding (again).
All in a self contained box that is reasonably compact and hopefully not extremely heavy.
I know a few folks who use PA style speakers and the sound is quite harsh.
#14
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I'm gonna be a bit of a wet blanket here 'cause I just gotta know.
How much does the whole bike/trailer with you and dog weigh?
Can you still pedal it when you add more weight?
Nice set up anyway.
How much does the whole bike/trailer with you and dog weigh?
Can you still pedal it when you add more weight?
Nice set up anyway.
__________________
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
#15
Full Member
Thread Starter
It's actually not that heavy until the cooler gets completely filled with ice and beverages, then it's a bit of work on the uphills. With the cooler empty I can barely tell it's hooked up, the trailer itself is quite light. The basket weighs about ~6 pounds because I used perforated steel and lighter gauge steel for it's construction. The combined weight of my dogs is 14.4 pounds. I plan to convert my rear wheel from a Nexus 3-speed hub to a Nexus 8 this winter, then trailer weight will no longer be an issue. I road and mountain bike a lot and spin in the winter months, so my fitness is generally quite good. Not certain how much weight the sound system will add just yet. Also contemplating adding a front wheel drum brake hub.
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It's actually not that heavy until the cooler gets completely filled with ice and beverages, then it's a bit of work on the uphills. With the cooler empty I can barely tell it's hooked up, the trailer itself is quite light. The basket weighs about ~6 pounds because I used perforated steel and lighter gauge steel for it's construction. The combined weight of my dogs is 14.4 pounds. I plan to convert my rear wheel from a Nexus 3-speed hub to a Nexus 8 this winter, then trailer weight will no longer be an issue. I road and mountain bike a lot and spin in the winter months, so my fitness is generally quite good. Not certain how much weight the sound system will add just yet. Also contemplating adding a front wheel drum brake hub.
__________________
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
#18
Full Member
Thread Starter
To take the guesswork out of it I just weighed everything and checked my cog and chainring.
I'm currently running a 44t with a 20t cog with the nexus 3-Speed.
I'm guessing the cranks are 172.5-175mm.
My bike weighs 55 pounds as pictured (no dogs) and has 20" wheels.
The diameter of the fat tires is nearly 26" (25 3/4").
The trailer + empty cooler weight is 33 1/2 pounds.
One big problem is I just measured the rear dropouts, they are only 120mm. I thought they were 135mm with spacers but they are not. So I am limited to the 3-speed hub AFAIK. So now the only option is to change the front ring or the rear cog. I can only gain up to a 23t in the back, so swapping out the front ring is probably the best choice. Probably don't need to drop down to a 32t though, maybe more like a 36t.
I'm currently running a 44t with a 20t cog with the nexus 3-Speed.
I'm guessing the cranks are 172.5-175mm.
My bike weighs 55 pounds as pictured (no dogs) and has 20" wheels.
The diameter of the fat tires is nearly 26" (25 3/4").
The trailer + empty cooler weight is 33 1/2 pounds.
One big problem is I just measured the rear dropouts, they are only 120mm. I thought they were 135mm with spacers but they are not. So I am limited to the 3-speed hub AFAIK. So now the only option is to change the front ring or the rear cog. I can only gain up to a 23t in the back, so swapping out the front ring is probably the best choice. Probably don't need to drop down to a 32t though, maybe more like a 36t.
#19
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To take the guesswork out of it I just weighed everything and checked my cog and chainring.
I'm currently running a 44t with a 20t cog with the nexus 3-Speed.
I'm guessing the cranks are 172.5-175mm.
My bike weighs 55 pounds as pictured (no dogs) and has 20" wheels.
The diameter of the fat tires is nearly 26" (25 3/4").
The trailer + empty cooler weight is 33 1/2 pounds.
One big problem is I just measured the rear dropouts, they are only 120mm. I thought they were 135mm with spacers but they are not. So I am limited to the 3-speed hub AFAIK. So now the only option is to change the front ring or the rear cog. I can only gain up to a 23t in the back, so swapping out the front ring is probably the best choice. Probably don't need to drop down to a 32t though, maybe more like a 36t.
I'm currently running a 44t with a 20t cog with the nexus 3-Speed.
I'm guessing the cranks are 172.5-175mm.
My bike weighs 55 pounds as pictured (no dogs) and has 20" wheels.
The diameter of the fat tires is nearly 26" (25 3/4").
The trailer + empty cooler weight is 33 1/2 pounds.
One big problem is I just measured the rear dropouts, they are only 120mm. I thought they were 135mm with spacers but they are not. So I am limited to the 3-speed hub AFAIK. So now the only option is to change the front ring or the rear cog. I can only gain up to a 23t in the back, so swapping out the front ring is probably the best choice. Probably don't need to drop down to a 32t though, maybe more like a 36t.
#21
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One big problem is I just measured the rear dropouts, they are only 120mm. I thought they were 135mm with spacers but they are not. So I am limited to the 3-speed hub AFAIK. So now the only option is to change the front ring or the rear cog. I can only gain up to a 23t in the back, so swapping out the front ring is probably the best choice. Probably don't need to drop down to a 32t though, maybe more like a 36t.
__________________
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
#22
Full Member
Thread Starter
Thanks. I live in Denver, plenty of hills here.
I can keep up with most people with dogs + a full cooler on the trailer, but it requires a standing climb.
Maybe I'll post a video clip from the TDF ride.
I'm going to try to find a cool looking 36t for now and see how that does.
Maybe get a 23t cog also just in case.
I can keep up with most people with dogs + a full cooler on the trailer, but it requires a standing climb.
Maybe I'll post a video clip from the TDF ride.
I'm going to try to find a cool looking 36t for now and see how that does.
Maybe get a 23t cog also just in case.
#23
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Good luck!
__________________
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
#24
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LuMax wrote:
Next you should consider inventing/building a conveyor system that will deliver the ice cold beers from your cooler to you,
then return empties and dump them in a recycle bin...?
Just an idea.
Step 10: Fill cooler with beer & ice, add dogs to cruiser basket and go cruising with many friends
then return empties and dump them in a recycle bin...?
Just an idea.
#25
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