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24 inch Free Spirit BMX Cruiser (Still figuring out a name for it)

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Miq

Cruisin' on my Bluebird
Silhouette mock up pics are a great idea and your design looks really cool.

You could cold set the rear stays if it’s a steel frame. People will want to argue but there is good info about it on Sheldon Browns site. If you want the curve to start after a certain spot, you could block that spot at the spacing you want with some wood while you cold set the frame. You need to spend some time, after you reduce the spacing, on getting the dropouts to be lined up correctly. Make sure they don’t put a lot of stress on the hub axle when the nuts get tightened. When you reduce the spacing, the angles of the dropouts usually changes and they don’t line up right any more.
 

Bike from the Dead

Wore out three sets of tires already!
Silhouette mock up pics are a great idea and your design looks really cool.

You could cold set the rear stays if it’s a steel frame. People will want to argue but there is good info about it on Sheldon Browns site. If you want the curve to start after a certain spot, you could block that spot at the spacing you want with some wood while you cold set the frame. You need to spend some time, after you reduce the spacing, on getting the dropouts to be lined up correctly. Make sure they don’t put a lot of stress on the hub axle when the nuts get tightened. When you reduce the spacing, the angles of the dropouts usually changes and they don’t line up right any more.
Thank you!

It's a hefty steel frame, so cold setting shouldn't be an issue. I've already had a few guys mention Sheldon's site, as well as blocking parts of the frame I don't want bent. Straightening the dropouts will most likely be the trickiest part to this, as well as keeping the frame even. Thanks for the advice!
 
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Bike from the Dead

Wore out three sets of tires already!
I have a little bit of progress to report from this week.

First, I picked up a couple of white grips, along with a few other parts, at the Springfield, Missouri Bicycle Swap Meet this Sunday. I don't know if I'll use them, but I'm willing to give them a shot.
234247-BftD-springfield-2023-haul.jpg


Next, I tried mocking up a couple other chainrings earlier this week to see if I could make do with what I already have. First I tried this Murray chainring with the extra holes for mounting one of those plastic covers some of the Spaceliners had. The chrome's good on it, and it's got potential, but I still don't like it as much as the previous chainring I had on it.
234239-BftD-Free-Spirit-52623-1.jpg


Next, I tried this 5 spoke chainring off a later model Huffy bike. Can't say I'm the biggest fan of it either.
234240-BftD-Free-Spirit-52623-2.jpg


Today, I cut out a block of wood to help keep the seat stays wide enough where the rear tire is at its thickest while I narrow the rear triangle.
234241-BftD-Free-Spirit-52623-3.jpg


Lastly, I did some scouting for paint options.

I found this engine paint that, based on the cap, would make a great anodized gold color for all the parts I wish to paint that way.
234244-BftD-Free-Spirit-52623-6.jpg


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I also found some lime green, bright green, and teal spray paint that matches the digital mockup of the bike I made earlier.
234242-BftD-Free-Spirit-52623-4.jpg


But I also came up with this other color palette I really like too, with lime green, bright blue, navy blue, and black. I feel like I need to explore a few more color options before I decide on paint.
234243-BftD-Free-Spirit-52623-5.jpg


While I was at Home Depot, I also picked up some 3/8" threaded rod and some nuts and washers to squeeze that rear triangle down to the width I want.

Progress has been a little slow this month, but I'm ready to kick things into high gear and start ordering parts soon.
 
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Bike from the Dead

Wore out three sets of tires already!
Well, I was afraid it would come to this, but I need to pull the plug on this build, at least for now. Unfortunately, I just can't afford to build this bike the way I want to right now. I need to save my money for more critical things at this time, and I need to spend more time working on the things that will help me get into a more financially stable position.

That said, I'll still be tinkering with this bike during the Build Off and making whatever progress on it I can. Maybe I'll even slap it together just enough to get it riding. Who knows. I'll still be working on my Class 1 build, as I have most everything I need to get that bike done, but this bike's going to have to sit on the backburner for now.
 
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