What to do when you are at the rebuilding phase? Get back to your roots and do something that makes you happy and is inexpensive fun. I need a test bike - scratch that - I need a bike. I dig on the 29inch platform so I was thinking of getting a Surly Karate Monkey. But... the tinkerer in me knows I have a "slightly" bent steel 29er frame that I was gonna cut up for a beach bike (with ATV tires). I got to thinking if it was a steel bike that got bent from braking force, then I could certainly "bend" it back. The bike company issues these frames with dropouts that include disc brake mounts, but chose not to brace the frame properly. So... I got out the three pound sledge and did work.
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| Bare naked frame after I put the three pound sledge to work |
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With the frame "straightened", it was time to make some upgrades. Time to find some random metal around the house that looked acceptable in the frame.
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| 1/2" steel box rough cut to fit |
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The rough cut needs to be cleaned up so it fits the frame a little better for strength and appearance.
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| Square tubing mitered with the frame prepped for welding |
With the piece ready, it was on to welding.
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| Square tubing welded in |
Not sure Independent Fabrication will be calling me to weld anytime soon but weld areas show good penetration and should clean up fine.
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| Cleaned up and ready for paint |
Pretty sure this "test" bike will be all black with a truck bed liner paint job. Have thought of gold accents. Not sure. Will post pics of the build soon.
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