300# Gorilla

It was on Kickstarter
Block wind noise and enjoy the ride!

TransitBiker

All ready linked it....

- Andy

corrado33

I love building things for my bikes. Admittedly, I haven't built anything from scratch, but I've modified a few things on my bikes to make them work better for me. I originally had bought SKS raceblades for my commuter, however they did not cover the front of the rear wheel and were not low enough on the back of the front wheel. I was "lucky" enough to have them break (and since they have a lifetime warranty) I got a new set. I took the old broken set, bolted and epoxied it onto the new set to make longer, more full length fenders that work a heck of a lot better. (The first set did actually break, with no prodding of my own. By the time I contacted the company my rear fender was in 3 pieces (held together with duct tape.))

I wish I had a mill. Currently I only have a drill press, vice, and a ton of hand tools. A metal brake would be nice as well. I can't do a lot of fabrication because I never learned to weld unfortunately. My brother is a really good welder though, so maybe he'll teach me one day!

EDIT: OH! I totally forgot I built myself an entire trailer for my bike. Don't know how I forgot that...

PatrickGSR94

Yeah I love tinkering, also.

I mounted Topeak racks to both of my bikes using insulated P clamps, Problem Solvers seatpost clamps, and some stainless hardware from the hardware store.

I have some tail light mounts where the clamping screw won't tighten enough, or tightens too much, to also hold the tail light mount at the correct angle. I have solved that by using some washers as spacers on the screw. That gives a solid filler for the screw to tighten against.

Other than those, the biggest home-brew solution I've done is my cargo trailer I use for groceries and other stuff, using my kid's trailer folded flat (he still uses it sometimes), with plywood and storage boxes. The boxes are attached with carriage bolts, washers, and wing nuts so they can be removed or installed with no tools needed.

PatrickGSR94

Oh almost forgot, I use a $2 telescoping engine inspection mirror from AutoZone, strapped to my helmet, as a rear view mirror. I keep saying I'm going to get a proper helmet mirror, but this one works so well I haven't been able to justify spending $20-$30 on a "real" bike mirror.

10 Wheels

Made a Light Bar for my trike.

Paramount1973 

Whoa. That's some lumens you are throwing out there.

PatrickGSR94

That light bar is just sick!

bluegoatwoods

I like to think of myself as a Fred. No doubt I qualify. I couldn't even begin to list all of the weird things I've done to bikes (and cars, motorcycles, etc.,) over the years.

But here's a few recent bicycle innovations of mine.

The first is a pretty successful attempt at lowering my loads. Both front and rear. I took a standard rear bike rack and turned it around ('facing' backwards). Then I rotated it rearwards so that it sits further back and lower than the typical rack. I made a clamp for the seatpost, attached to strip steel running over the rear wheel and back to the rack. Plus a couple of struts running forward to the upper chainstays for added strength and stiffness.


On the front I added a small framework that's about a foot long, running lengthwise to the bike, mounted on the left fork just above the axle. I have a lashing strap attached to this. The book bag hangs by a carabiner hook off the top of the basket. The lashing strap on the low framework wraps around the book bag and helps support it and keeps it from flopping around.

Here's a half-decent view of both front and rear cargo setups.

Note also the Cloud 9 saddle with springs added by me. As long as I'm showing off my Fred.



If I really load the rear rack down heavily, then if feels something like driving a pickup with a trailer that's overloaded. Or like the tail wagging the dog. But the load has to be heavy for that to happen. Mostly getting my loads lower has been helpful.

Here's another mod. Homemade bar mitts.

300# Gorilla

It started as adjusting, then cleaning, then rebuilding the brakes on my old Schwinn World Tourer, as I was putting them back together I picked up some nylon washers leftover from another project. They fit perfectly and make a night and day difference! Of course then I had to swap out the old steel rims for aluminum ones. and on it goes ...

wphamilton

Excellent fred work! I put one of those on my fairing, about 3 inches from my eye since my position was pretty stable. It seemed weird but it worked pretty well and never felt dangerous.