My Utility bike build
 

Well I as actualy gonna buy a Utility bike like a big dummy or the Xtracycle but I have no taste in the look of those ones or any of the others for that matter! being a DIY type of guy I figured the one way to get one I like is to make one out of a bike I like. I've decided to sacrifice this Raleigh Sports 3 speed and make something nice to haul, I have a trailer but I disslike useing it because sometimes I forget it's behind me... lol

The bike i'lll be useing is this! I don't think i'll be harming it. i'll try to keep any welding on the rear half I add to the bike. so heres the starting bike, i'm searching for the right type of rear triangle.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...100_2093-1.jpg

Or next option is A firestone super cruiser, not this one, I prefer not to mess with this one, but I have another that I have apart right now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...u/100_2116.jpg


Whatcha think?

Keep us updated! That's what I think! Without any idea of what I'm talking about I think it seems easier to mod the townie. I think it would be hard to get the right angles on the cruiser (big tires, low sadle and such). Also, the townie is more powerfull I suppose. You get a better power per used energy... Something like that...

I agree, i've started the removal of some parts, I found the perfect rear triangle too! even bought some very close brown paint, i've been thinking bout a rack for the bike, time to garbage pick two chrome curved table legs!

I couldn't do that to the Raleigh !!

When you are faced with having to sell it yet you love it so dearly or making it have a good use making it so you don't have to sell it you will see the light! thus the bike has already been started, i've altered the framejust a tiny bit to fit the spindle into it, other then that the bike could easly be put back to normal when finished, the parts are drying right now, once finished I will begin assembling!

You then wonder, is it okay or safe to do this to a lugged frame? I have no clue but will do it anyway lol

I dunno ... but that Firestone, too cool.

You must stop traffic when you ride that one.

Yes I do, being in canada they arnt very common, also of bikers stop and eyeball it,
So I did work on my new bike! needs abit more but it's getting there.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ikes/bikes.jpg

Is it me or are you converting a tandem into a longtail cargo bike?

Not a Tandem, just a pretty Raleigh sports! heres another picture of how it currently looks till I gather parts for a nice rack!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...u/100_2133.jpg

Love the mix of usefulness (word?) and oldschool beauty! Wonderful! :)
How did you fit the rear extension to the bike?

Check out homebuilt xtracycles to see how, theres many ways to do so, i'd tell you but it's much easyer to look there, This is the second vintage one i've built, and it's also the best i've built aside from apocycycle