Race against time

[Minority]

Will it be ready in time?

I had hoped to have this project finished ages ago, but more mundane things such as decorating bedrooms and building wardobes seem to have delayed matters.

But now I have a deadline, the Perth freeway bike hike on March 16th.

Hopefully it will all be complete and I will have a chance for a quick "shakedown" ride - the Bike Hike is 30km, a long way to walk if something goes wrong!

[daacha]

Stunning.

[Minority]

Thanks, I'll post some more pics when its finished

[stevendavid75]

that colour is sensational, what is it?
What is the bike?

[Minority]

The colour is a Kia Rio (the car) colour, I think it was called "soft green".

The bike is a combination of bits off a couple of bikes. The frame had been re-painted (white) when I got it so I have no idea what it is, but I think it is 1970s and of reasonable quality, probably Cro-mo from the weight.

I got the Shimano 105 groupset (RD, FD, crank, brakes and shifters) from another donor bike.

The wheels came with the original frame but I polished the Shimano large flange hubs, cleaned the rims and rebuilt them with stainless steel spokes.

[Aushiker]

That is nice. The colour really works. Well done. BTW where did you get it painted?

Andrew

[Minority]

I painted it myself, it's in acrylic so not as tough as two-pack or powdercoat but it came up quite well.

[singletracking]

I painted it myself, it's in acrylic so not as tough as two-pack or powdercoat but it came up quite well.

Good effort - it looks fantastic!

You could always clear-coat it with a 2pak?

[Mulger bill]

Wow, looks shittot Minority, the gumwalls set her off a treat.
Are they 27" wheels?

Shaun

[Minority]

The wheels are 27 x 1.25 Ukai rims and I like the gum walls too.

Even on 700c tyres I prefer the gum wall look to all black, although black with other colours can look good.

[Birdman]

Just back on the paint champ. What did you use to apply the paint and where did you get it from (the paint)?

Beautiful looking ride.

Mitch.

[Minority]

I just used spray cans from the local auto accessory shop, the larger size cans have quite a reasonable spray head. They have a reasonable range of standard colours and of course primer and clear coat.

The Kia soft green wasn't available in the standard range but there are lots of places that will mix up the colour and but it in an 350-400gm aerosol can. If you haven't sprayed before I wouldn't make your pride and joy your first job!

I have had a bit of practise and done some spraying with a compressor and gun before.

The trick is of course in the preparation, lots of rubbing down with progresively finer wet & dry deagreasing and a clean environment.

When you add it all up with the cost of paint, and labour it may not be worth your while, but is is satisfying when you have done it all yourself.

[Birdman]

Anything which is done by ones self is always going to be self satisfying no matter how bad the job.

I was actually thinking of just standing the bike up and getting my daughter with painted hands (19mth old) to put little hand prints on it in different colours. Cute...

Obviously after a coat of paint first.

Mitch.

[Kid_Carbine]

The wheels are 27 x 1.25 Ukai rims and I like the gum walls too.

Even on 700c tyres I prefer the gum wall look to all black, although black with other colours can look good.

It's sure coming along well & the colour is quite similar to one that my green Carbine had been painted in. I went to an emerald green later on.

I suspect that the wheels & tyres are actually 27x1-1/4 & the gum walls always look good, but try not to store the bike in the sun or in a hot tin shed as the gum rubber tends to deteriorate in those conditions.

[WyvernRH]

The wheels are 27 x 1.25 Ukai rims and I like the gum walls too.
but try not to store the bike in the sun or in a hot tin shed as the gum rubber tends to deteriorate in those conditions.

Ohhhh.... been there, done that!
I second that advice strongly!
Cheers
Richard

[Minority]

Well, I didn't get it completely finished, but it was rideable, so I rode it in the Perth Freeway Bike Hike.

38ish kms in total with no problems. Nothing fell off, the wheels (my first attempt at wheel bulding) stayed true and it rode really nicely.

The weather was great, thousands of bikes on the freeway and everyone seemed to be having a great time.