Pondo
Finally riding a big boys bike
That's very cool! I didn't realize this was a UK based build. Great use for a frame that someone had just chucked. I just blew the pic up to get a better look at the details: tires, cranks, shifter, derailleur. It's a real good looking bike and it having been a 3 speed opens up more options for a similar build. I don't know if I would have even thought to use a 3 speed frame but it seems obvious now that I've seen your bike. What would you have called this style of bike back then, if anything? There was an early offroad pioneer (can't think of his name right now but I think it may have been in the '50s or '60s?) that had a similar build that he called a 'woodsy bike.' You were ahead of the Marin klunkers by a good 5 or 6 years.Thanks for the interest Pondo?
I found the 3 speed frame in a ditch. Refinished it in a really nice light metallic blue from the auto parts store.
Then while in a bicycle shop I ask about the knobby tires that were hanging on the wall. They were for bicycle speedway, remember this is in the U.K. I had them lace the 26'' rims to a road bike 5 speed hub, then spread the frame to fit. Shifting on the top tube and cow horn bars worked great for sliding around in the dirt speedway style.
The front crank arms and bottom bracket are cotter key style, standard issue back then in the U.K. as were the abbreviated fenders.