We rode the sidehack Friday evening of course, up and down the street a few times. We couldn't help ourselves. Everybody wanted a go but it was a little hairy not being properly bolted together and with the treadplate loose it really was a Rattlebone.
So at the crack of mid morning on Saturday we set out to button it all down proper like...
rants and ramblings, sidehacks & bikes, cars, arts, and others.
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
1st build of the Rattlebone Mk3!
The bike was built up and ready to go (minus a few details) and despite the evening closing in we couldn't wait 'til the morning to get this baby hooked on and test ride it. Wheels came in the form of Alex Supra 'E' (x3 of course) and with a strange stroke of serendipitous luck we wound up with a freecoaster on the back (more on that later). I found a nice big lever to pull that Evolver hard and the most burly chain to keep it all bombproof looking.
So like a pair of kids on christmas morning we tore into the packaging and armed with spanners, allen keys, stirrup pumps and hairspray - for the grips of course - we set about making this thing rideable.
As I had the honour of taking delivery earlier Carl had the enviable task of unwrapping.
This is a great detail on the Rattlebone, the Manu's name cut into the fender mount.
Out of its wrapping and shown the bike, Steve & Nick from SN Designs thought we might need a longer M10 to bolt it up. We did, so for the time being we just used a quick clamp... I know, I know, hardly the best way to go but it was a fix.
This bracket goes over the top tube and the bolt goes underneath.
Just standing back to see how it all looks...
...and standing on to see how it all fits. llllllllike a gllllloooovvvve.
This is the first time we saw it looking useable, its still a bit of a frankenstein with the wrong front wheel, a clamp up front and the treadplate just resting on the sidehack's frame but I don't mind admitting I was jumping up and down with excitement itching to ride it.
So like a pair of kids on christmas morning we tore into the packaging and armed with spanners, allen keys, stirrup pumps and hairspray - for the grips of course - we set about making this thing rideable.
As I had the honour of taking delivery earlier Carl had the enviable task of unwrapping.
This is a great detail on the Rattlebone, the Manu's name cut into the fender mount.
Out of its wrapping and shown the bike, Steve & Nick from SN Designs thought we might need a longer M10 to bolt it up. We did, so for the time being we just used a quick clamp... I know, I know, hardly the best way to go but it was a fix.
This bracket goes over the top tube and the bolt goes underneath.
Just standing back to see how it all looks...
...and standing on to see how it all fits. llllllllike a gllllloooovvvve.
This is the first time we saw it looking useable, its still a bit of a frankenstein with the wrong front wheel, a clamp up front and the treadplate just resting on the sidehack's frame but I don't mind admitting I was jumping up and down with excitement itching to ride it.
Monday, 30 May 2011
Care in the community
DC Hackers would like to proudly introduce the newest member of the team.
We are all about helping the the most unfortunate members of society.
We found 'The Bear' living in the woods on berries and half eaten Ginsters.
We gave him a bike and y'know what? he's really REALLY f&good.
Or.
You could caption this pic 'The 40plus Club'.
Carl, Barry and myself. Friends since we were kids. Old school, OG BMX'ers through and through.
just...can't...wait...
With the arrival of the Sidehack on Friday morning my day at work dragged until I was able to pick it up from the postroom and drive it home. On the way it dawned on me we still needed to assemble the bike it was going to hang from.
It took and hour or so but with a rummage through the parts bin and some borrowing from other steeds we had a workable ride, give or take some cables, grips, wheels and tyres - easily fixed.
1st up were cranks, Cro-mo 3 piece, 180mm arms so lots of leverage to heave 2 grown men around a track and a big fat Volume chainring with 44 teeth.
Pedals are Freeagent mag-alloy platforms, trusty, light and nice & grippy - I love these peds.
Rear brake - Odyssey evolver mk1. Another stroke of genius from the Odyssey peeps, (did george help design this too?). Nice, thick, machined arms and super strong springs make these things work a treat and should slow us down pretty good, even with all that weight, all I need to do is find a nice big handful of lever to go with it.
Bars n Stem. Not much to say about the bars, generic chrome BMX bars, they will do for now. The stem is a DK billet number, appropriately mid-school too.
There would be no point putting a new-school polyprop integrated seat and post on this, besides it'd just rattle around in the seat tube! No, this tank need saink comfy, step up the overbuilt (natch) padded armchair that is the Freeagent 'Jump Seat'. They dont make 'em like this anymore.
It took and hour or so but with a rummage through the parts bin and some borrowing from other steeds we had a workable ride, give or take some cables, grips, wheels and tyres - easily fixed.
1st up were cranks, Cro-mo 3 piece, 180mm arms so lots of leverage to heave 2 grown men around a track and a big fat Volume chainring with 44 teeth.
Pedals are Freeagent mag-alloy platforms, trusty, light and nice & grippy - I love these peds.
Rear brake - Odyssey evolver mk1. Another stroke of genius from the Odyssey peeps, (did george help design this too?). Nice, thick, machined arms and super strong springs make these things work a treat and should slow us down pretty good, even with all that weight, all I need to do is find a nice big handful of lever to go with it.
Bars n Stem. Not much to say about the bars, generic chrome BMX bars, they will do for now. The stem is a DK billet number, appropriately mid-school too.
There would be no point putting a new-school polyprop integrated seat and post on this, besides it'd just rattle around in the seat tube! No, this tank need saink comfy, step up the overbuilt (natch) padded armchair that is the Freeagent 'Jump Seat'. They dont make 'em like this anymore.
Friday, 27 May 2011
A little man or big wheels?
Dont get me wrong, I understand the theory of bigger wheels on a bike, 29ers made some sense and lets face it the flagging Mountain bike industry needed to do something to inject more interest into their apathetic consumers. This guy has taken it a little too far though, 39 inch! I think i might have a penny farthing somewhere, my wheel(s) are bigger than yours.
Thursday, 26 May 2011
HD Eyebrows?
I was rolling along on lunch the other day, minding my own when I saw a sign outside a beauty shop window for 'High Def Eyebrows'... High Def eyebrows! WTF?
On my return to work I asked one of the office vacuums what this could be, turns out its an actual 'facial therapy' - expensive too, about 30 quid an eye.
Thing is, I haven't yet upgraded my eyeballs to see HD, I mean the standard definition is already really, really good, very clear in fact and I never see any pixels or motion blur - well almost never - and to be honest I thought real life sight was about as Hi Def as it got.
So what if I do upgrade? sure I'll be able to see that chick's Hi Def eyebrows (along with the pock marked skin, blackheads and blonde moustache clear as a bell) but what else, will I see more colours in the spectrum, will I finally see the point of Katy Price or maybe I'd have sight beyond sight like Lion-0? (that would be great) Conversely it could be horrible, I might end up seeing freaky shit like Rowdy Roddy Piper did when he put on those natty shades in 'They live'!
I no like.
Ladies, save us all from alien invasion and save some money on the way, do like my auntie did, pluck 'em all out and draw 'em back on again in felt tip.
(this isn't my Auntie BTW)
On my return to work I asked one of the office vacuums what this could be, turns out its an actual 'facial therapy' - expensive too, about 30 quid an eye.
Thing is, I haven't yet upgraded my eyeballs to see HD, I mean the standard definition is already really, really good, very clear in fact and I never see any pixels or motion blur - well almost never - and to be honest I thought real life sight was about as Hi Def as it got.
So what if I do upgrade? sure I'll be able to see that chick's Hi Def eyebrows (along with the pock marked skin, blackheads and blonde moustache clear as a bell) but what else, will I see more colours in the spectrum, will I finally see the point of Katy Price or maybe I'd have sight beyond sight like Lion-0? (that would be great) Conversely it could be horrible, I might end up seeing freaky shit like Rowdy Roddy Piper did when he put on those natty shades in 'They live'!
I no like.
Ladies, save us all from alien invasion and save some money on the way, do like my auntie did, pluck 'em all out and draw 'em back on again in felt tip.
(this isn't my Auntie BTW)
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Project Melee
Melee
A confused hand-to-hand brawl.
confusion; turmoil; jumble:
'Cos I don't have enough projects on the go at the mo' I started another new one recently.
The idea is pretty simple, it follows no trends and doesn't really fit into any sort of genre, just a bomber, a UAV, stripped down, single speed, 1 brake, 26inch rims, and thats about it. Some BMX parts, some mountain parts and fingers crossed it turns out OK.
The frame is a little hoopty granted, and a little compact for what is essentially a 17 inch mountain bike. It feels more like a 24in BMX when ridden but it has some classic features I couldn't ignore, like the double top tube and those burly forks. I ground off all the ugly Linear pull brake lugs and nibbly little cable guides along with the hangars for panniers etc. I'll weld on a disc mount inside the chainstays and leave it at that, try and keep it as clean as poss. Still no firm idea about final finish - do I go bare metal with clearcoat and lots of anodized parts or find inspiration elsewhere?, time will tell.
Meantime I'll keep stripping the paint...
Im using some new stuff I found in BnQ, its from Polycell and its really easy to use, just paint on and leave it overnight.
Its like a thick opaque gel, smells like nail polish remover but MAD strong. It bubbles up like normal but dries to a flake, you just brush it off after.
It did this after 10 mins, I wonder what it'll look like when I get home tonight?
(Dang! I hope it don't melt the frame!)
A confused hand-to-hand brawl.
confusion; turmoil; jumble:
'Cos I don't have enough projects on the go at the mo' I started another new one recently.
The idea is pretty simple, it follows no trends and doesn't really fit into any sort of genre, just a bomber, a UAV, stripped down, single speed, 1 brake, 26inch rims, and thats about it. Some BMX parts, some mountain parts and fingers crossed it turns out OK.
The frame is a little hoopty granted, and a little compact for what is essentially a 17 inch mountain bike. It feels more like a 24in BMX when ridden but it has some classic features I couldn't ignore, like the double top tube and those burly forks. I ground off all the ugly Linear pull brake lugs and nibbly little cable guides along with the hangars for panniers etc. I'll weld on a disc mount inside the chainstays and leave it at that, try and keep it as clean as poss. Still no firm idea about final finish - do I go bare metal with clearcoat and lots of anodized parts or find inspiration elsewhere?, time will tell.
Meantime I'll keep stripping the paint...
Im using some new stuff I found in BnQ, its from Polycell and its really easy to use, just paint on and leave it overnight.
Its like a thick opaque gel, smells like nail polish remover but MAD strong. It bubbles up like normal but dries to a flake, you just brush it off after.
It did this after 10 mins, I wonder what it'll look like when I get home tonight?
(Dang! I hope it don't melt the frame!)
A legend is born
I witnessed the birth of a new motor racing legend last night.
Zebadia Hoon III's glittering career began as its sure to continue with gold in every heat of every race from Rally to Land Rush, Stadium Trucks to Gymkhana, Rally Cross to Time Trial.
The Stoic driver of German descent may be late in life to begin professional motorsport at 40 but that seems not to deter him. Despite not being in the best shape of his life, balding and possibly 3 stone overweight, he appears to have been born at the wheel with a natural ability to balance a vehicle on the bleeding edge of control. Strangely nicknamed 'Princess' I can only deduce his lightness of touch and the sublime beauty of his drifting technique are where that moniker derives.
With the first round stages all complete and rewards received for reaching the top of the leaderboard the world waits for what could be the next world champion to enter round 2. To witness this historical motoring event and have the privilege to say "I was there" join me on my sofa tonight, after lights out, I'll crank up the PS3 and we can play Dirt3 - its proper good.
Zebadia Hoon III's glittering career began as its sure to continue with gold in every heat of every race from Rally to Land Rush, Stadium Trucks to Gymkhana, Rally Cross to Time Trial.
The Stoic driver of German descent may be late in life to begin professional motorsport at 40 but that seems not to deter him. Despite not being in the best shape of his life, balding and possibly 3 stone overweight, he appears to have been born at the wheel with a natural ability to balance a vehicle on the bleeding edge of control. Strangely nicknamed 'Princess' I can only deduce his lightness of touch and the sublime beauty of his drifting technique are where that moniker derives.
With the first round stages all complete and rewards received for reaching the top of the leaderboard the world waits for what could be the next world champion to enter round 2. To witness this historical motoring event and have the privilege to say "I was there" join me on my sofa tonight, after lights out, I'll crank up the PS3 and we can play Dirt3 - its proper good.
Hack's in the post.
So we got an email from Steve and Nick at SN Designs, the Rattlebone mk3 is built, packaged and in the post. Roll on the weekend, we can get this bad-boy hooked up with a wheel and hung of the side of the Hellcat. By Sunday we'll be launching the big dubs. (by Sunday night we'll be in A&E).
Look at all its bare metal glory, all Lazer cut and welded up.
I love how you cant tell WTF this is under wraps.
When it arrives at work I might tell 'em its a knee joint for the giant mecha suit I'm building.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
1st blog. 1st post.
Am I doing it right?, testing testing 1,2,3 do you read?
Ok I assume this all works and the world is listening with baited breath, so here goes.
We are DC Hackers, we live in Diesel City and we are having a Rattlebone MK3 sidehack built for us by the nice fellas at SN Designs, (they tell me it should arrive sometime this week).
It seems appropriate to show the build of the 'hack as its gonna go through a couple of incarnations before its done, so a blog will be a good way of keeping a record.
can I add pictures to this thing...?
Sh*t yeah, I can.
ok, this is the donor frame, a mid-school, late 90's Freeagent Hellcat and a tank of a bike it is too, look at that mad gusset and those chunky-ass dropouts, if this bends we r doing it rong.
Ok I assume this all works and the world is listening with baited breath, so here goes.
We are DC Hackers, we live in Diesel City and we are having a Rattlebone MK3 sidehack built for us by the nice fellas at SN Designs, (they tell me it should arrive sometime this week).
It seems appropriate to show the build of the 'hack as its gonna go through a couple of incarnations before its done, so a blog will be a good way of keeping a record.
can I add pictures to this thing...?
ok, this is the donor frame, a mid-school, late 90's Freeagent Hellcat and a tank of a bike it is too, look at that mad gusset and those chunky-ass dropouts, if this bends we r doing it rong.
Its got a gusset like a fat chicks nikkers.
the dropout(s) is overbuilt too, good stuff cos its gonna have a bunch of steel with a wheel bolted to it and a couple of grown ups hanging off it.
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