Rat Bikes! Pub Bikes Beaters! Frankenbikes!

Except the bars are angled upwards, which is never right.

Are they?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/odeum/4798089045/in/photostream/

Yes, see that big image helpfully posted.

..

Yes, see that big image helpfully posted.

They're perfectly flat. If anything they're pointing downwards

Scribbled some lines on in Photoshop and the bars are, as far as you can tell from the angle of the photo, perfectly parallel to the top-tube. Not that it matters. Nice looking bike.

^ are you guys really doing that?
this thread is turning into bike porn..

[/Random trivia] Apparently the use of bits of Coke Can to shim out aero-bars has been patented by Boone Lennon who was working with Lemond in 1999 - you're in the clear if you use it to clamp a seatpost or even a pair of drops!!

i can finally post my bike! havent got any big pictures, will soon.

Is the top tube lug actually coming away at the bottom? Looks like a gap.

i dont think so, but i could be wrong. now i will have to check all the lugs over!

Rat trailer spotted today outside work.

Omg amazing. Wood! I bet its some really soft pine too. Good effort. Saw one in camberwell last year that was like that but loads more metal (excessively). It looked super heavy.

Reflector. ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????WHYZZZZZZZZZ

^it came in a set with the pingy bell.

Is it fixed with no foot retention or free with no back brake?

Nice frame though - looks good - but if was me I'd be peeling the stickers from the rims.

Yeah it's fixed. Definitely get rid of the stickers, doesn't suit the rest of the build at all.

the upside Thomson faceplate is a nice touch

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nice ^ &^^^

...want.

but it has no rack or mudguards!

Neither half of my bikes.

i can't work out whether i put north road bars on my rat bike because i saw them in this thread or whether i have started a crap trend...

^^^ 1st trek I've actually liked the look of, though TBH any used and abused looking rig is fine by me

Well into this!

Thanks Toby.D

Definitely a suitable beater:

The left/right brake issue is to do with indicating. Imagine you are going down a hill and want to turn off half way down. If it is a left, not a major issue, you can just turn off, not cutting across any traffic. If you turn right you will be cutting across oncoming traffic, so you will want to indicate. If your front brake was in the standard position (LHS) this would be the only brake available to you, and using your front brake one handed is not recommended as your wheel will dip dangerously to the left. BS6102 part 1 1992 was the standard that dictated this, although it is being superseded by a raft of EN regs. The main issue with this is that STI's, ergo's etc. are designed to be used the other way round, so a lot of "roadies" will swap them round so as to have the use of their rear mechs while descending and using their front brake. You can still sell a bike in the UK with the brakes "Polish" , you just have to get the customer to sign some form of basic disclaimer.