When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

My custom bed bike build

-

DonChristie

Riding a '38 Autocycle Deluxe
In Memoriam
I have never made a custom bike before, but here I am headed down that path! I was thinking I wanted a tall bike to goof around on. You know, where one attached a bike frame atop another and sits up high? So while doing research, I stumbled across this pic! I knew then my tall bike design had changed!

0B84FDB1-7092-464E-8EFC-6127A4328598.png
 
Amazed and fascinated by the Bed Bike, I now focused on it. Based on a thread here I was able to figure out who the original builder was and 2 of them were made. Joseph Steinlauf was a bicycle pioneer of sorts back in the 30s. His old bed broke one day while in it and thats when the idea was hatched! He had 3 brothers and tons of family in the Chicago area. At first, I thought of tracking down surviving family members via facebook/linkedin to see if this bike was still around. No luck. Thats when I decided that in order to have a Bed Bike, I need to build it!

8CA01461-80A1-43B8-8AF8-9B91B940B94D.png


3D651F18-0470-4C04-B267-AF1F7235660A.jpeg


043309E9-17FF-4E3F-B570-1F9231B41356.png
 
So now I was on the hunt for a similar style headboard to use as a frame. Low and behold, a headboard and matching footboard show up on craigslist for $20! Mine! Unbelievable how heavy these pieces are. Im guessing 65 lbs and 40 lbs! The footboard was the smaller of the Two so thats the start. I can scab parts off of the other for fabrication.

01D6F3C2-A30A-4A17-81DE-8280E995C44C.jpeg


A6906408-4398-4669-92FB-877030CCA84F.jpeg
 
So after after a few days of thinking and a handfull of hours chopping, heres the bottom end taking shape! (Disclaimer: I have no idea what I am doing so if someone sees or thinks of something, speak up)! The horizontal grey pipe will be replaced with a similar piece from the headboard.

F75532D1-D7F4-4EE2-BAA3-6ED8C12EEB4A.jpeg


DF36844B-937E-4334-948C-2D92B79FF835.jpeg


EF1D4593-0879-4BC6-8C75-EABF4FFD38C2.jpeg
 
Back
Top