Rat Bikes! Pub Bikes Beaters! Frankenbikes!

Vanttera, what did you use for cutting the holes?

I used a hole saw and it butchered the alloy and made terrible mess of it.

Also intrigued, as the one I made had a load of channel sections under the plate to act as structural supports... which I then realised it didn't need most of!

Do you have anything under or just the axle mount supports?

Also, what thickness plate did you use, what process did you use for folding it (never thought of that meself!), and what material did you use for the axle supports?

Step drills work well

You can get them from most engineering suppliers or ebay - Maplin do a set for £17
http://www.maplin.co.uk/3-piece-titanium-step-drill-set-354167

if it will be it kinda already is?

Err no. I think people need to re-visit what constitutes these bikes. Loads of threads for different types. There's nothing ratty or beater about that bike

i didn't mean that actual bike, that Leader looks pretty wank tbh', but just saying, some bikes are built up brand new to be a beater, like my Steamroller

i guess this can go here?

Vanttera, what did you use for cutting the holes?

I used a hole saw and it butchered the alloy and made terrible mess of it.

Also intrigued, as the one I made had a load of channel sections under the plate to act as structural supports... which I then realised it didn't need most of!

Do you have anything under or just the axle mount supports?

Also, what thickness plate did you use, what process did you use for folding it (never thought of that meself!), and what material did you use for the axle supports?

Wow that is a lot of questions. First of all, I'm from Finland, so English aint my native language. Meaning that I dont know the words/names for all those machines in English, but lets try.

4mm alloy, IIRC 4,5% Mg, so 5345-series or smth. Folded it with this type big machine

Holes made first with another big thing that moves. It doesnt drill, but presses the holes, which makes for nicer edges in the holes. Worked like a charm, but i wanted more and bigger holes, so just a normal handdrill and a proper blade like this

Axle mount supports are made of 2mm edged alloy pipe, which is formed with yet another big machine like this

The ends of the pipe have been pressed together and then drilled.

The platform is only supported by the thingies at the handlebar and then the axle mounts. Seems to work perfectly, carried little brother (94kg) fine, although i wouldnt do that on a regular basis. But im more worried about the axle or fork than the rack.

Hope this helps, and sorry for posting all this in a non-rack-topic.

^ rep, a new member who seems to have grasped the forum immediately!

i didn't mean that actual bike, that Leader looks pretty wank tbh', but just saying, some bikes are built up brand new to be a beater, like my Steamroller

Surely you end up with a cheaply built new bike? Pub bike mayhap. Beaters need to be weathered

having a fucking computer on that leader defeats any point to it or argument that it's a beater/pub bike

readers wives:

having a fucking computer on that leader defeats any point to it or argument that it's a beater/pub bike

Have rep

^^ Like it
Especially the seat cluster

(Front QR is on the wrong side though)

seattube looks very steep , even considering the angle of the picture

It all looks nice and tight - who made the frame?

cheers guys, I put the tyre on the wrong way and can't be arsed to change it. Angles are very steep and clearances are very tight, just managed to get 25's in it but will probably have to swap out to 23's.

after asking on here i think the best guess at who made the frame was Dave Russell

Rik, I think it was actually you that pointed me in the direction of Dave Russell, mainly based on the seat cluster.

like this one

Yeah, that makes sense, he made some supertight Track and TT frames.
Very nice sir, looks like a fun ride

Used to ride this to the bar all the time. Unfortunately the frame broke at one of the welds. Now it's a wallhanger

^ is that pre or post break?

Pre-break.

ground clearance was less than 2 inches. On a steeply crowned road, it would scrape the frame if I made a u turn

readers wives:

i think i'm in love with your bike

Made this with friend.

it's fixed

lol that's rad.

something is telling me that double ghost ring is not the safest way to have chain tension when riding fixed brakeless.

have you considered a half link? shite chains, but might be a little safer.

I haven't seen narrow half link chains, the wider dont sit on those chainrings. ebb bottom bracket would be best, didnt have any that kind of frames though.

And there was only one ghost ring but after few rides the chain was too loose so needed to add second one. But its nice to ride in snow, gives whole new meaning to whip skid...

here is our DIY front tyre for the snow and ice:

My rat, summer-setup:

Winter-setup: