twobikes

I do not need a second water bottle, but my bike has two bosses and screws to mount one. I decided to make a basket to carry a tube, a multi-tool, and a snack to make use of those bosses. The basket is welded from metal rod from lawn sign mounts. I had to add a high inverted "V" on the left side to avoid catching the cuff on my trousers when I ride.

Ritterview

Uh....well, it is certainly interesting.

Miller2

Nice handiwork, but they make something called a Cage Rocket for just that purpose.

https://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=8&description=Cage+Rocket+Storage+Bottle&vendorCode=PS&major=3&minor=12[/URL]Cage+Rocket+Storage+Bottle&vendorCode=PS&major=3&minor=12

vantassell

Won't things kinda 'bounce around' down there? i think that'd be annoying

vpiuva

Fred Alert. Basket, trousers, probably rides in his sandals.

Nice work, but I'll bet you could have bought something useful for the time you have invested.

twobikes

To Miller2 and vpiuva: I have always enjoyed making things rather than buying them, whenever I can. For me it is therapy and relaxation on a level similar to a good bike ride. I already had the welder and the steel rod. Just like cyclists enjoy an excuse to ride, I always enjoy an excuse to use the welder.

To Vantassell: I thought things might bounce around, but they never have. If they did I would improvise a lid or a retainer of some type. Once a banana moved a little and the stem rubbed on my leg with each pedal revolution. That was mildly annoying until I broke off the stem.

Overall, to all of you: Thanks for your interest.

Sprocket Man

I think it's cool because it's unique. There's something tremendously gratifying about building something useful by yourself rather than going out and buying it. I wish I knew how to weld.

vpiuva

If I owned a welder I'd weld, too. My last weld was on a Datsun roadster frame back in the early 80's - wonder what happened with that? Instead I have a compressor so I paint. Probably why the brain cells are going.

twobikes

Sprocket Man,

A lot of people, including me, have learned to weld by reading about it and trying what we have read until it works. There are some good books for beginning welders from sources like Lincoln Electric. I also learned a lot from welding forums on the Internet.

Thirty years ago a friend loaned me his oxy-acetylene gas welder and showed me some basic principles. He said it is like riding a bicycle. Someone can explain how to move the handlebars to avoid falling over, but each person finally must acquire the right sense of how to keep the bike upright.

Some experience with a gas welder helps to acquire a sense for controlling a puddle of molten metal that carries over for electric arc welding, but is not necessary. Beginners will stick the rod and will also burn holes in their projects. Some of their welds may break or will be just plain ugly. In time you learn how to overcome those problems. A common mistake is to move the rod forward too fast. Watch for a crescent of light like a quarter moon at the front of the bead a millimeter or two behind the rod. When you see that, you are going slowly enough to make a good bead and a good weld.

A wire feed welder costs more than a stick welder, but is easier to learn and to use. If you want to weld on an auto body with an electric process, a wire feed welder is needed.

Patriot

That would be great for a comfort, or townie bike. However, for a fast paced roadie, I can't help but ask...


Why not get a wedge (or a bigger wedge than what you have) for your spare tire/tubes, etc?

clausen

If it was made of CF you could make a fotune selling those to the guys around here.

ruppster

But CF rod is hard to find!

EventServices

It looks perfect for carrying eggs back from the hen house.

Tinkerers make the world go round. Henry Ford, for example, was famous for going around the world stealing ideas and raping the countryside of all its natural resources.

Namenda

Let's not forget how he also financially supported the National Socialists. Just sayin'...

ElJamoquio

And how he decided to pay his workers $5 for an eight-hour day rather than $2.30 for a nine hour day; while enduring being derided by his competitors as a communist.