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Wormwood Limited Bicycle
Wormwood Limited Bicycle
Click picture for more detail
Click picture for more detail
During the summer of 2010, I participated in the global bicycle building competition head annually by the members of the Rat Rod Bikes community (www.ratrodbikes.com). The contest started in May, and ended at the end of August. The rules were simple: create and document the creation of a custom bicycle, using whatever parts and design ideas you wish, but the frame must be a stock frame, and cannot be modified beyond a few very spartan parameters. I have always enjoyed cycling, and when I had stumbled across a swing bike at a local establishment the summer before, I fell in love with vintage bicycles and beach cruisers (more on that later).
This bicycle is based around a 70's era Schwinn Typhoon, with a cantilever frame, and single speed coaster brake hub. The bicycle was solid, but the hub needed rebuilding, the original tires and tubes were rotten, and everything was fairly crusty (but not rusted). Over the course of the summer (starting in mid June, as I had been away at college, and did not plan to originally enter until I came across this project bicycle) I took the bike down to its base components, cleaned and repaired the damaged elements, fabricated some new parts, replaced and updated several components including a new springer front fork and Specialized saddle, and gave the bicycle a fresh custom paint job. There were a number of other touches and aspects I wanted to include, such as a pneumatic whistle "horn" I was working on, and custom lighting, but I simply ran out of time (and money).
I didn't win or place in the contest; there were hundreds of entries, and many experienced and tallented builders who had significantly more expierence and skill (and budget), and presented truly inspired vehicles. But I did win in that I learned a lot about bicycles and maintenance, and the inspiration that came from my fellow builders and participating carried me on into other projects, as well as the ambitious re-build of my college-town bicycle, documented on another page. Another prize came in the form of the many friends I made in the community, which comprises truly supportive and good natured individuals.
The gallery here shows the creation of the bicycle from "barn find" condition up to a fully restored machine. The bicycle is dubbed the "Wormwood Limited", and is a nod toward one of my favorite spirits: Absinthe.
During the summer of 2010, I participated in the global bicycle building competition head annually by the members of the Rat Rod Bikes community (www.ratrodbikes.com). The contest started in May, and ended at the end of August. The rules were simple: create and document the creation of a custom bicycle, using whatever parts and design ideas you wish, but the frame must be a stock frame, and cannot be modified beyond a few very spartan parameters. I have always enjoyed cycling, and when I had stumbled across a swing bike at a local establishment the summer before, I fell in love with vintage bicycles and beach cruisers (more on that later).
This bicycle is based around a 70's era Schwinn Typhoon, with a cantilever frame, and single speed coaster brake hub. The bicycle was solid, but the hub needed rebuilding, the original tires and tubes were rotten, and everything was fairly crusty (but not rusted). Over the course of the summer (starting in mid June, as I had been away at college, and did not plan to originally enter until I came across this project bicycle) I took the bike down to its base components, cleaned and repaired the damaged elements, fabricated some new parts, replaced and updated several components including a new springer front fork and Specialized saddle, and gave the bicycle a fresh custom paint job. There were a number of other touches and aspects I wanted to include, such as a pneumatic whistle "horn" I was working on, and custom lighting, but I simply ran out of time (and money).
I didn't win or place in the contest; there were hundreds of entries, and many experienced and tallented builders who had significantly more expierence and skill (and budget), and presented truly inspired vehicles. But I did win in that I learned a lot about bicycles and maintenance, and the inspiration that came from my fellow builders and participating carried me on into other projects, as well as the ambitious re-build of my college-town bicycle, documented on another page. Another prize came in the form of the many friends I made in the community, which comprises truly supportive and good natured individuals.
The gallery here shows the creation of the bicycle from "barn find" condition up to a fully restored machine. The bicycle is dubbed the "Wormwood Limited", and is a nod toward one of my favorite spirits: Absinthe.