My wife had been pleased with how I'd stopped dragging "scrap iron" (known to me as "classic & vintage bikes")home from the Salvation Army and other thrift stores. And she'd noticed that I'd cut up some of my junky old frames into small pieces (brazing practice) and made room in the shed.

She'd also paid me a few compliments for following her advice that there were "other ways to excersize" after I took to taking an hour walk each day along the roads into town.

And she seemed thrilled that I'd found a new hobby in picking up cans that both cleaned the ditches and earned me money on the deposit returns.

I just didn't know how to tell her that it was just too cold and wet to ride lately and that I had found a way to turn this:



Into a new "classic" road bike to ride in Ragbrai this July.





I like this cable routing:



I suppose I'll just have to remind her that once an addict always an addict...

No, just tell her that you thought she was thrilled that you were in agreement with her. Did she not agree that you could get a 'new' bike for your effort?

East Hill

That BB is hot

so is that fork crown. I saw in your profile that you are in Clinton, IA; I grew up there. Good place to bike, I always thought.

jim

i'm not sure i understand... you turned the money you got from the cans into a new bike? or you took the cans, melted down the aluminum and turned that into a bike??? if it's the latter then... OMG!!! THAT'S FREAKING AMAZING!!! Talk about recycling!!!

Good advice!


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Bankman,

I was giddy when I opened the package and pulled that BB out. It's catalog picture didn't do it justice.


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jgedwa,

I do love it here near the Mississippi.

That fork crown is very light. Its a 7 degree rake for straight blades. I was worried about bending the blades but I've picked up some good pointers on bending lately and may order another crown to build up a traditionally raked fork.

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I ordered from Nova Cycles and from Joe Brinheli. I recommend them both.

The lugs have nice tight tolerances, a good thing for those brazing with silver.

And I plan on making a silver and enamel headbadge to cap off this project.

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Disco, No. I didn't melt down the cans and cast the parts ( interesting concept, though I once grew my own BLT sandwich from scratch)