D.I.Y. is an acronym for "Do It Yourself". Questions here are resources for enthusiastic amateurs working on their own bicycles.
12
votes
6answers
1k views
How can I get started building a bicycle?
Now that I've been riding a while, I'm interested in building my own bike. In this case, it will be a bike for commuting and getting around town. It will probably be a flipflop fixie/single gear, ...
12
votes
5answers
456 views
Luggage rack attachments for laptops?
So, while out riding my bike, I really dislike having a backpack on. I have a trek luggage rack on my bicycle and would love to find something that could attach to it, capable of holding a 17" ...
9
votes
6answers
1k views
One vs. Two wheeled bike trailers
I am considering making or buying a bike trailer.
It seems to me that the most important desision I need to make is whether to have a one wheeled bike trailer like the Bob or a two wheeled bike ...
9
votes
4answers
5k views
Removing a stuck pedal
I'm sure this question must have already been answered somewhere here, but it doesn't show up in any search results I make...
I'm changing the pedals on a 40 year old bike. Pretty sure the pedals are ...
9
votes
6answers
10k views
DIY wooden bike rack — looking for plans
I'm planning to build a bike rack to store several bikes on the floor of my garage. Does anyone have plans for such a rack? We have a circular saw and a drill and the usual hand tools, but no router, ...
7
votes
7answers
2k views
How can I make a glow bike?
How I can make my bicycle glow? As seen in this Blackberry commercial (with screen capture image below).
7
votes
6answers
2k views
Trailer hitch between a bike and trailer?
I want to make a bike cargo trailer. It seems to me that making the hitch will be one of the most difficult parts so I opened a separate question for this.
How would you attach the trailer to the ...
6
votes
2answers
850 views
Making panniers out of canvas map bags — how to seal after the build?
I'm planning to make my own panniers out of a set of army map bags -- these are small bags, about as large as a small front pannier, with a rigid back.
The hooks I'm planning to use attach to the ...
5
votes
2answers
274 views
Laws applying to Homemade Tricycles
I am a freshman in high school who is planning to build his own recumbent tricycle. However, I would be very disappointed if my creation was illegal to ride on bike paths and sidewalks. I have ...
5
votes
2answers
230 views
Checking spoke tension without specialized tools
I have laced and trued my first wheel (YAY!) at home, while in the fork. It is fairly true (to the point I used to pay money for), but I am not sure if the spokes are tensioned properly (I guess it is ...
5
votes
2answers
403 views
How can I build my own open-source cyclometer?
I am interested to build a bike but I would also like to have free software/hardware. How can I build a cyclometer with open-source software? Would it be possible to find reflashable hardware or open ...
4
votes
3answers
666 views
How to clean out the inside threads of a braze-on?
I'm installing a basket on my cruiser, and getting some of the allen screws into the fork braze-ons is rough going. It feels like there's dirt or grease inside the threads of the braze-ons. Forcing ...
4
votes
6answers
814 views
Recumbent, diamond-frame or trailer to move heavy things?
Heavy things can be a lot of books, full beer cans, construction woods and other misc in a place where I cannot use a car and the trip is long and suitable for riding. So which one would you favor? ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Equipment needed for Frame-building?
Since misunderstood question here, a new question with narrow scope. So what are equipments need for frame-building?
3
votes
6answers
443 views
Tools required for trailbuilding?
Shovel,
Saw,
Roulette (very long, perhaps even geodetic roulette),
Ax.
The trail will be built in a forest. So there's no rocks, just dirt, small stones and a lot of roots. What else will I need to ...
2
votes
4answers
822 views
How to make a cargo trailer?
This page is for a general answer and it consists of at least two main parts: personal experience and technical part. The technical parts are perhaps the two hardest parts.
Has anyone attempted to ...
2
votes
2answers
91 views
Does new chainring require change of other parts?
I'm thinking about changing my 2nd chanring to a smaller one (2 chanring setup). I hear most people recommend to change the chain when changing the cassette.
Hence my question: should I expect to ...
2
votes
2answers
141 views
Would like to custom-build a bike but I'm not sure on what parts to buy
Currently I have a 2011 Trek 3700 (no disc brakes) and just this year have gotten into riding mountain bike trails and would like to have a bike better suited for doing that.
I'd like to keep the ...
2
votes
2answers
411 views
Converting downstem shifters to barcons
What considerations should be made for converting a downstem shifting system to barcons? Both the current system and the system that I would like are friction shifters.
The bike is a 1986 Peugeot ...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
DIY colouring components
I find silver, black and occasionally red are quite dull colour choices. Granted there are some components out there in more interesting colours, but the engineer in me won't let me choose the "wrong" ...
1
vote
2answers
6k views
Building my own full suspension MTB: How to I select a frame?
I've recently gotten back into mountain biking. I took my 5 year old Iron Horse full suspension out to the mountain with some friends that had recently purchased new bikes. I haven't ridden for a ...
1
vote
3answers
3k views
How to attach and mount wheels onto a cargo trailer?
I am planning a bike to move heavy things, separate question here, and sixtyfootersdude is doing a cargo trailer that converges to some extent with my goal to move cargo here. I am not sure whether ...
1
vote
1answer
180 views
Cheap energy sources for electronics during touring with low amount of sun energy?
My goal is to find a cheap energy sources for touring.
I cannot use solar all the time so I am planning to get Reelights outlined here, for lights, because they are cheaper than installing a hub ...
0
votes
5answers
1k views
51cm top tube too small for someone who normally cycles frame with 55cm top tube?
I'm looking to buy a second bike and have found a really nice frame. The bike I cycle at the moment, which fits me perfectly (I am 5'11" (180cm)), has a 55cm top tube. The frame I'm looking at has a ...
