AdventureManCO 

Another guitarbuilding tool to the rescue! Here are my fret tang nippers making quick work of the excess length of the rivets -




They then got peened down, and rotated into the pedal...





And, thanks to a very generous, customized gift for the Le Grande from our very own Dude of Drillium...




And yes, the handlebars *are* slightly crooked...will fix that soon


I took the Le Grande out on it's second road test, and the test was successful.

Now, I know that some of you might be questioning the lack of clamp or buckle on the straps. Yeah, me too Honestly I just didn't really think of it! I've got some cheap nylon toe straps with a steel spring clamp on them, and I'll take them as a backup just in case, but I did measure these for my feet and shoes and the test ride felt good, so we'll see how it goes!

AdventureManCO 

Now, one of the last pieces of the puzzle is a bike stand. I'm still a little confused on how that Shimano PRO stand holds the bike *tight* by just dropping the rear axle through a slot. I see that the wheel is nestled in a groove, so that keeps it from kicking out from side-to-side, but couldn't the bike just lean up and out of the stand? I suppose I need to see it in practice. In any case, we are going to make one! So maybe y'all with some experience with these stands (here's looking at you, Kurt!) can help explain to me the nature of the fit of this stand, especially at the axle - is it loose? Tight? Is it supposed to bind anywhere, or is it literally just a slot?

So ​​​Mad Honk very generously donated a piece of lexan (?) for part of the stand, and I mainly just needed to come up with a base. I think he kept joking about some walnut burl or something, but in actuality, he is not far off -



I've got a bunch of these pieces of Black Limba (korina) that I found and will eventually use for guitar bodies (tops/backs) and this one particular piece has a crack in it, so I don't mind putting in a few holes for a lexan piece to attach to. I will still be able to use it for a guitar one day, just cutting around the holes and the checking (cracks).

Black Limba is awesome stuff, and can be a very beautiful wood:






I trued this piece of wood up with a 4 fresh sides, nice and crisp, and we have a layer of oil finish going down on it, since it will both help it look good and give it a little protection from the elements, as I imagine it may sit on grass, and it could also possibly rain.


It's not perfect, but I think it will do nicely. If I can work out the stand design quickly and in a jiffy, this will be the base for it:





It's about 7/8-15/16ths of an inch thick, and is decently dense. It's about 22" x 15". A real lovely wood, with mineral streaking and a subtle, wide ribbon flame running throughout it



Now, the bike is *still* not done, but we are oh so close. I need to basically just sort out the brake lever hoods and fine tune the cable length. I need a water bottle holder. I need to put together a ride kit. I gave up on the cycling shorts Oh, and actually get the bars straight. Oh, and one more big surprise almost none of you have seen.

I actually have 3 big reveals, and they will all happen tomorrow evening, before the ride. I hope you've enjoyed the show so far, because we are about to take it up a few notches.

cudak888 

The groove does a surprisingly good job of keeping the bike from shifting, and it's helped by an oval hole at the bottom which allows the tire to further seat below the V groove itself.

The "fork" of the stand itself is fairly narrow and usually has a fair amount of clearance between most hubs and dropouts. Depending on the bike, it'll find which side it prefers to lean and rely on the oval hole and groove for the rest.

If you wish to imitate this with the wood and the Lexan, slot a hole in the wood for the wheel to drop into - just enough to barely kiss the floor. Chamfering the short edges to cradle the wheel would be particularly beneficial. Then create the "fork" out of Lexan to fit into the wood base. If the Lexan is too thin to hold upright, create two triangulated pieces from the left side to support it.
-Kurt

RCMoeur 

I'm starting to think that you're somewhat disappointed you didn't get to smelt the original iron for the Huffy's frame...

RB1-luvr

^^ don't give him any more ideas!!

pastorbobnlnh 

I know, "Nothing is too good for the Huffy LeGrandepagnolo...," but that wood deserves better than a bike stand. Just my unsolicited two cents.

Now, with that said, I can't wait to see the bike stand completed.

AdventureManCO 

This was kinda stressing me out a bit yesterday, since today is the last day I have to do anything really, but I decided to sleep on it, and today, the lightbulb went off (on??)

Yes, it does mean sort of sacrificing this wood, but I have about 6 others just like it, and this one has a crack, so there's that. I still might be able to use it for something else eventually, or maybe it will live on w/ the Huffy for as long as the earth turns.

The idea I incorporates Mad Honk 's donation, stoneageyosh 's idea, and the wood base. I'm sold. It will just as odd as the bike, and will save me some time as well.

Expect that today, along with the other 3 big surprises. I'm nearly totally drained, but today should be one of the best of the whole project.

Mr. Spadoni 

Thanks for the mention. Glad I could make a very small contribution to this project. But why wouldn’t everyone think of Home Depot? After all doesn’t LBS stand for Lotsa Building Supplies? Sounds like Home Depot to me.

Hondo6

Hondo6

Just tell anyone who asks that they're special custom straps specifically designed for that exact set of custom toe clips and pedals.

Well, they are. You designed them and custom fabricated them specifically for those custom toe-clips and pedals, right?

dddd

...exact custom toe clips, pedals and shoes.

Thinking one of us should have sent you a pair of still-in-wrapper NOS Binda Extras.

AdventureManCO 

I’m ready lol

I mean bottom line the straps were easy to make and the leather was $8 I think? So if they end up not working, loosening up or whatnot, I will make another set with some clips.

But…clips add weight! And version 2.0 of the build will be looking over any excess weight with a fine tooth comb, so unless the fail spectacularly (not out of the question), we are going to rock them!

But the shoes…

Eric F 

Has a full drivetrain-side pic been posted yet? I don't know that I've seen the whole bike in one pic since very early in the process.

AdventureManCO 

This is an excellent idea!

I could always melt it down, and reforge it from the ground up. Just melt it into a big block and then hammer it out (using a jewelers hammer) back into a bike shape.

AdventureManCO 

Big reveal #1, coming tonight!

Eric F 

Your foreplay skills are notable.

AdventureManCO 

So the wife tells me all the time.




I keed I keed!




(or do I?)

AdventureManCO 

Guys it is looking more and more like we are going to get hammered by rain this weekend.

Of course we are still riding, but what can I do to protect my beloved Huffy???

Fenders are not an option, not the least because I cut off a fender mount tab or anything I also don’t have any

Im thinking a bag for the saddle, a shot of grease around the seaptpost junction.

What else must I do?

cudak888 

You've already greased out seatpost junctions enough. Drive side pic tonight or we descend upon your place and take all your Campagnolo.

-Kurt

AdventureManCO 

Battle of Campagnolo Hill, 2023

cudak888 

Impossible. The LeBlander Bloatier implodes every hill it's ridden on.

-Kurt

smd4

Be thankful a lot of the new parts are made of aluminum now!

dddd

At this point I would not put it beyond AdventureManCO's tenacity to re-arrange the weather to suit the need, or to perhaps force the event's date one week ahead(?).

Perhaps a clear plastic, horse-drawn tent can follow you along your entire ride, and with one of those racetrack-drying vehicles driving ahead?

Grant once showed how to mount fenders using zip-ties as I recall. Just mentioning this/him to make for a quicker 2000 posts.

AdventureManCO 

Not so! For it is now lighter than my Raleigh

AdventureManCO 

As long as Kurt is driving it.

True, with us approaching the event tomorrow and not even to 1700 yet…the universe is out of balance.