Doohickie

See https://www.ratrodbikes.com

sailorbenjamin

Yeah, like that but with skinny tires and caliper brakes.

-holiday76

hmm. heavy, uncomfortable , unpractical cruisers?

I'm not sure about those, but cafe bike inspired racers might be cool.

surreal

the whole "ratrod" thing is basically a build with minimum cash investment, maximum character, typically using as many parts-on-hand from the parts bin as you can. Cheap paint or no paint is common. Keeping things original or even going for period correct or otherwise "appropriate" is generally discouraged, but not forbidden.

The ratrodbikes.com ppl prefer cruisers & their ilk, but there are exceptions over there. Weight is typically not a consideration, but when it is, the tendency is to use fewer parts rather than lighter parts.

The concept of "ratrod" should appeal heavily to you folks; although it is far from "classic", it is an entirely unfashionable and "so five minutes ago", which is another way of saying "vintage". The rockabilly guys on prb spent several weeks heckling the term viciously any time there was no music playing. And that happened 2 years ago!!

Right up your collective alley, I suspect.

Proof you may have something in common:
https://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/vie...p?f=21&t=54228
https://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/vie...hp?f=6&t=22295

I've always wondered why this forum shows such a strong aversion to cruisers, old american bicycles, and old-school bmx... These are clearly bikes that should fall under both the "classic" and "vintage" umbrellas...

-rob

ps-marleymission, your bike is the heat

-holiday76

no aversion here. it's just that I like to ride my bikes so I don't much use for those.

surreal

I thought I hated cruisers, too....til I tarted riding them. They're my favorite if I'm not in a hurry or offroad, these days. BMX is harder, unless you're talkin bout 26" BMX cruisers...

And, there are plenty of old american bikes that fit the basic roadbike or city bike classification. Seldom lightweight, but totally rideable.

eschlwc

many of us would actually like to see more vintage cruisers and 3-speeds on this site. i just don't necessarily wish to ride one (usually) because agility, speed and climbing are so much fun... and there's so little time. but whenever i visit my mom, we get out the 3-speeds and cruise the suburban hood.
with that said, homemade pizza is the best. i put everything in the fridge on mine, including chicken, peppers, onions and brocc. wash it all down with box cab and work it off with a late night jaunt...

surreal

I couldn't agree more. I make everything for mine from scratch, except the cheese. I looked into it, and I don't think I'm ready to make my own mozzerella yet.

As far as cruisers go, I tend to use mine when I'm riding to restaurants or up town with my wife on her 3speed mixte. I also ride my BMXed 3-bar worksman on trails, where it climbs and handles with aplomb. Geared too low for fast (or even "fast-enough", really) use on the street, but I sometimes ride it to the local trails--and the aforementioned restaurants. I sometimes make my 6.5 mile commute to work on my early 50s Schwinn Spitfire, running a 44/18 SS CB set-up. I only gotta alot an extra 3 minutes or so. I live in South Jersey, so there's no real climbs to speak of around here, least nowhere closer than Manayunk.

Cruisers are heavy and slow, but good ones are fully-functional bicycles, totally capable of getting one from point A to point B...just not so fast as one might on a roadie. I suspect that their lack of popularity among the C&V crowd has much to do with their popularity with non-cyclists...(who can't stop gushing over my cruisers.) No one wants to be associated with those ppl. =P
-rob

sailorbenjamin

A friend of mine gave me a quart of homemade ricotta last year. Man, I made a lazagnia that would knock your socks off. Not a pizza, but close enough.
So what I want to see here is a bike that defines the personality of C+V. Of course we all love to see a shiny Pinorello or some minty barn find prewar randonnuer, and they are as much a part of C+V as anything but there's not a lot of creativity going into a perfect restoration.
So who are we when we take away the shine and sparkle and ditch the factory spec sheet?
I love my ratty straighbar Schwinn but the real problem with rats and cruisers for me is that I'm tall. I special ordered a really long seatpost and it's a good fit but it's a little awkward, aesthetically. Good looking bikes for me start with 23" frames and go up from there.
I think in a lotta ways, the rat rod thing is more about style than functionality. For me the bike has to fit and make funtional sense. Maybe speed is one of our values, too, but we can't take that for granted.
Maybe this thread needs some pictures. These aren't mine but they've inspired me.

Velognome 

Sailor and Marley have got the idea, I used the term "ratrod' incorrectly. Perhaps "English beat-en" or "French-Fried" would be more discriptive.

Here is the foundation for my entry






What, the French don't have vermin?

sailorbenjamin

Yeah, baby. All that thing needs is a pizza rack!

Road Fan

Didn't Cuisinart use 531 for the dough blades?

Seriously, BP Jimmy, I have a UO-8 that fits the bill, here in Ann Arbor. No clue when this is, but how about doing the ride (whatever it is) in Battle Creek or somewhere between us? I figure your Niles or St. Joseph?

BigPolishJimmy

Sounds like a plan. When I get on a better connection I'll look for trails around Battle Creek, and a pizza place.