frankvl
New Member
I made a cruzbike-type bike from old bikes that I found on the farm where I was staying (inland of Byron Bay): a cheap mig welded alloy frame + its drivetrain on the front, a Giant alloy frame where all other parts were rusted, the rear derailer from a high end LaPierre downhill bike that got smashed when the drunk driver fell off the mountain (he's fine) and some nice stainless? Shimano wheels (they might have been part of the Giant). The mig welded bike is actually the one that I used to go from sydney to Byron Bay with a home welded trailer, but I had to stop at Newcastle because my arse and the trailer were finished.
In fact, I have ridden on the bike so much back in the Netherlands, with normal clothes and crappy bikes, that my skin has gotten too sensitive; it hurts to sit on a saddle right away. Which is what drove me to make this; I did not have the parts to try a low recumbent and that would have probably not worked in the Aussie mountains anyway.
I am opposed to money and trade for the greedy, ungrateful and wasteful effect it has on people of all kinds (I don't see a future in it so I'm experimenting with alternatives). The Dutch are also simply proud of being cheap. Anyway I never had to pay for a bike so why start now? I tried a bit to make a bamboo bike, but I ran out of time, so I tried this instead. But unless you have a tig welder and know how to use it on aluminium, I recommend getting a proper Cruzbike; my version works (for now) but that's about it. I worked about 3 months on the functional parts, mostly because I didn't know anything about bikes. I only bought new brake cables, and from the rest of my gear (all I have, apart from savings) I only had to buy the ereader (which I hacked for offline street and satellite navigation with the battery lasting about a week). Western people throw a lot of useful stuff out because specialisation makes them dumb and irresponsible.
Here is the video with excerpts from the third and successful attempt to get to Brisbane. Almost everyone's head is turned, which is a bit of a challenge in my stealth-based, almost moneyless lifestyle. Once my new passport is in I'll continue to Cairns (> 2000 km total). By the way, I'm a world nomad, it's not a holiday thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUgkEJ5FLVs?
I handcrafted the wood to the shape of my arse/a saddle, but I don't have a picture of the end result. The backseat didn't have to be this wide.
Older version with mesh seat and giant corroplast pannier (I want to try that again, but a more appropriate design this time):
Current issues:
- stem extension slowly gets loose (possibly also because I have been carrying quite heavy loads on my handlebars)
- the mesh seat wasn't very stable; the wooden version is, and provides an amazing amount of control.
- I can't make my derailer reach for the lowest gear in a stable manner, because the attachment thingy doesnt fit into the frame at the designed angle.
- I had to hammer my fork crown to sh**
- no significant suspension, and therefore no loss of energy; I don't see the point in going speeds where suspension matters; it's too reckless (with or without weight) and I wouldn't be able to enjoy the surroundings.
- starting on a steep slope usually doesn't work, even when it's in the right gear.
- I have steps along the axle for better control downhill (they aren't really necessary anymore once you learn to ride it)
- I wish I had disc brakes
- I still have to reduce my stuff further, and make proper panniers
- most is held together by rope, hose clamps, pieces of old bike tubes and duct tape.
My blog about self-sufficiency; I'll be writing about my tour here at some point, in the event that I survive:
http://howtoliveinthefuture.wordpress.com/
In fact, I have ridden on the bike so much back in the Netherlands, with normal clothes and crappy bikes, that my skin has gotten too sensitive; it hurts to sit on a saddle right away. Which is what drove me to make this; I did not have the parts to try a low recumbent and that would have probably not worked in the Aussie mountains anyway.
I am opposed to money and trade for the greedy, ungrateful and wasteful effect it has on people of all kinds (I don't see a future in it so I'm experimenting with alternatives). The Dutch are also simply proud of being cheap. Anyway I never had to pay for a bike so why start now? I tried a bit to make a bamboo bike, but I ran out of time, so I tried this instead. But unless you have a tig welder and know how to use it on aluminium, I recommend getting a proper Cruzbike; my version works (for now) but that's about it. I worked about 3 months on the functional parts, mostly because I didn't know anything about bikes. I only bought new brake cables, and from the rest of my gear (all I have, apart from savings) I only had to buy the ereader (which I hacked for offline street and satellite navigation with the battery lasting about a week). Western people throw a lot of useful stuff out because specialisation makes them dumb and irresponsible.
Here is the video with excerpts from the third and successful attempt to get to Brisbane. Almost everyone's head is turned, which is a bit of a challenge in my stealth-based, almost moneyless lifestyle. Once my new passport is in I'll continue to Cairns (> 2000 km total). By the way, I'm a world nomad, it's not a holiday thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUgkEJ5FLVs?
I handcrafted the wood to the shape of my arse/a saddle, but I don't have a picture of the end result. The backseat didn't have to be this wide.
Older version with mesh seat and giant corroplast pannier (I want to try that again, but a more appropriate design this time):
Current issues:
- stem extension slowly gets loose (possibly also because I have been carrying quite heavy loads on my handlebars)
- the mesh seat wasn't very stable; the wooden version is, and provides an amazing amount of control.
- I can't make my derailer reach for the lowest gear in a stable manner, because the attachment thingy doesnt fit into the frame at the designed angle.
- I had to hammer my fork crown to sh**
- no significant suspension, and therefore no loss of energy; I don't see the point in going speeds where suspension matters; it's too reckless (with or without weight) and I wouldn't be able to enjoy the surroundings.
- starting on a steep slope usually doesn't work, even when it's in the right gear.
- I have steps along the axle for better control downhill (they aren't really necessary anymore once you learn to ride it)
- I wish I had disc brakes
- I still have to reduce my stuff further, and make proper panniers
- most is held together by rope, hose clamps, pieces of old bike tubes and duct tape.
My blog about self-sufficiency; I'll be writing about my tour here at some point, in the event that I survive:
http://howtoliveinthefuture.wordpress.com/
