20
votes
How to bend handlebar to customize it?
No! Don't do it!
Certainly not with aluminium / alloy bars. Any bending stresses the internal structure of the metal, weakening it. Even in a metalworking shop, I would be doubtful of the safety of ...
- 17.2k
12
votes
How to bend handlebar to customize it?
I wouldn't recommend bending handlebar -- if the bar breaks (which is more likely due to the stresses you're putting on it), you're probably going to lose some teeth or worse. I don't know your skills ...
- 46.1k
12
votes
How to bend handlebar to customize it?
Doing it safely with aluminum is not simple or equipment-minimal, either modifying it or making it from scratch. But, if you want to make a hobby of it for a while, you can do it safely in steel in ...
- 81.9k
9
votes
Accepted
Any companies out there that given a carbon frame could replicate it?
Your best bet is to get out a tape measure and compare your current bike's measurements to all the geometry charts on the internet, then buy something comparable. Also, depending on the age of your ...
- 553
9
votes
Accepted
Converting tandem to cargo bike
If you want to have a real cargo bike, e.g. an "inverse Bullit-style" the challenge will be structural integrity of your frame: you can't easily cut the 2nd diamond of your frame without risking to ...
- 328
9
votes
Accepted
Judging a bicycle show
Some things i would consider, some could possibly be grouped together. Perhaps others can add on with more answers.
Custom Class
Originality/Creativity
Function
*Can you actually ride it semi ...
- 9,189
9
votes
Accepted
I want a bolt on crank, but dunno what terminology to use to find one
TL;DR: The search terms to use may be "kidback adapter," "child stoker adapter," or "child stoker kit."
Googling for "tandem child bicycle crank" produced a ...
- 29.6k
8
votes
Accepted
Very nonstandard question: Is there any way to widen a tire by combining it with some other tire (cut and re-glue)?
I don't think what what you are proposing to construct would not be anywhere near strong enough to function properly as a tire.
Tires are not just molded rubber. They are contain a casing of ...
- 75.5k
7
votes
Are brake calipers directional?
Tadpole trikes have mostly had standard disc calipers running backwards on the left wheel for as long as they've existed as a category. There's not really a major concern here. How to design the mount ...
- 81.9k
6
votes
Accepted
What type of paint to use for a bike frame
Basically any paint that could be used on a car will work on a steel bike frame.
The better the paint the more robust it will be. Two-part epoxy based paints or powder coating are probably your best ...
- 75.5k
5
votes
Are chainring bolts alone strong enough?
I assume by 'ridge machined into the spider to hold the chainring centered' you mean the edge of the shoulders machined into the spider arms.
The edges are not there to position the chainring nor ...
- 75.5k
5
votes
What type of paint to use for a bike frame
Car paints will work fine, and car primers. There is one brand of paint that comes in rattle-cans and is specifically marketed for repainting bikes.
You could get a powdercoating shop to lay down a ...
- 29.2k
5
votes
Judging a bicycle show
METHOD Write up your marking criteria before seeing any entries. That will help you not be swayed by bikes you like personally.
SCORE Allocate 100 points per entrant, with say 10 for finish, 10 for ...
- 121k
5
votes
Making a 7 spd cassette or freewheel out of a 9 spd (need to save space to fit in dropouts!)
If you buy a Shimano cassette, they are generally riveted and to free them you need to drill or grind the heads of the rivets off. SRAM and SunRace cassettes have a single long bolt you can unscrew or ...
- 13.6k
5
votes
Making a 7 spd cassette or freewheel out of a 9 spd (need to save space to fit in dropouts!)
If it's the 9 speed XT derailleur you want to use, it can work perfectly in an otherwise 7 speed drivetrain since Shimano derailleurs from 6 thru 9 speed mountain (and 10 speed road) all share the ...
- 9,747
5
votes
Are brake calipers directional?
You are creating a custom project, which reminded me of another custom project I saw recently:
https://www.englishcycles.com/custombikes/project-right/
The bike in the above link has a single blade ...
- 13.6k
5
votes
Is there a way to have thru axle dropouts with thread on a left side?
In theory, a framebuilder could machine custom dropouts to do what you want. Normally, they buy premade dropouts (which are especially helpful with disc brakes, as the dropouts come with disc mounts ...
- 29.2k
4
votes
How to bend handlebar to customize it?
Could you bend one yourself? Probably.. but it would lose structural integrity if done incorrectly. It may seem okay but could fail catastrophically under load. Without using a pipe bender the ...
- 9,189
4
votes
How can I dress up a bike as a unicorn?
A minimalist yet inventive design by Korean designer Eungi Kim has caught my eye:
You could use white PVC plumbing pipes and heat bend them.
Accompany it with similarly minimalist fancy dress and ...
- 4,281
4
votes
Very nonstandard question: Is there any way to widen a tire by combining it with some other tire (cut and re-glue)?
You can have any tire size shape or colour you want. But you'll pay an incredible amount of money for it.
Companies like Hoosier Tire will make any tire you like. They specialise in vehicles like ...
- 121k
4
votes
Paint bicycle keeping stickers
To repaint metal, you'll have to strip the current coating. This means you'll have to remove the stickers as well. It is unreasonable to attempt to reuse them, just as it would be silly (or at least ...
- 14.4k
4
votes
Painting for mudguard is needed!
I'd suggest starting with enamel paints from a model shop. They come in small tins, and you will need one tin of each colour your design requires.
Enamel paints used to mean oil-based, but now there ...
- 121k
3
votes
Mix Match Using Wolftooth Tanpan
According to the Deore XT RD-M8000-SGS Long specs it should work (you are right at the limit though, but they are known to be conservative). No need to change the crank/chainrings (but you can if you ...
- 26k
3
votes
Paint bicycle keeping stickers
It would be practically impossible to paint the white part of the frame and fork without painting over the blue decals (stickers)
Bikes (and cars) have a primer coat, color coat and clear coat of ...
- 75.5k
3
votes
3
votes
Very nonstandard question: Is there any way to widen a tire by combining it with some other tire (cut and re-glue)?
Another option that may work is dual rims, aka Dualies. Again a concept from the automotive world, this is where two rims are mated to each side of a vehicle's axle, giving four rims and four tyres ...
- 121k
3
votes
Are brake calipers directional?
Edit: Note that my answer is all purely theoretical speculation. Nathan’s factual answer establishes the reality that the limitations I highlight are not problematic in real life.
From looking at XTR ...
- 15.5k
3
votes
Is there a way to have thru axle dropouts with thread on a left side?
(note - answer is flawed)
Threads like to unwind if not tightened correctly - which is why pedal threads are handed.
A TA that threads in from the left side of the bike with a right hand thread could ...
- 121k
2
votes
Is this road/city frankenbike concept a feasible idea?
I think your idea is sound, a lighter alloy frame, with decent tyre clearances to allow the comfier larger tyres.
Hub dynamos go in the front of any standard wheel. There's nothing particularly ...
- 121k
2
votes
Accepted
How can I dress up a bike as a unicorn?
In addition to my comment i wanted to provide this highly detailed artistic rendition of my idea. Make the whole bike the unicorn with you included. You could pull your princess or fairy daughter in ...
- 9,189
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible