Freakbikes, choppers, funnybikes, clownbikes, kustoms, tallbikes, swingbikes, lead sleds, chunkbikes, trashbikes, mutant bikes, tallbike jousting, cargo bikes, tallchoppers, and frankenbikes. This is a record of human-powered creativity in Chicago.
[home]
[bikes]
-'52 freakin'-
-vintage p-cola freakin-
-zany
bikes of redmoon ii-
-zig anime-
-australia freakin'-
-rat patrol russia-
-vintage freakbikes ii-
-skunk's cloudbuster-
-bikes of burning man 07-
-pedal-powered crane-
-rat patrol belgium-
-jet rides-
-fat boy's bikes-
-vintage freakbikes-
-Steinlauf family 1920's-1960s-
-afghanistan tallbikin'-
-india tallbikin'-
-spain freakin'-
-not hard enough-
-porno squad-
-grillbike/drumbike-
-chicagofreakboat-
-pushmepullyou-
-green machine-
-rolling
bonfire-
-scrounger-
-the
human television network-
-zany
bikes of redmoon-
-*shrug*-
-fatback
bomber-
-WTF?-
-two-wheeled
tank-
-precious
cargo-
-showerbike-
-ghana's
national tallbike-
-twang bang-
-electro-rat-
-trampoline
trailer-
-san fran freakin'-
-wooden
packrat-
-the
loserbago-
-foley
freakin'-
-n'awlins
freakin'-
-schwinn
cycle truck-
-question-
-the
bike formerly known as the white elephant-
-abigail-
-trashbike
1-
-glowbike-
-chopsicle-
-reCycle-
-UV chopper 2-
-handcycle-
-crimebike-
-mightybike-
-gateway
drug-
-lee's
bent 1-
-trout lake
freakin-
-tiger-
-angel-
-UV
chopper 1-
-pipe
bomb-
-unicyclin
bear-
-a
work in progress-
-the
chopper-
[rides]
-pride 07-
-death of a tallbike-
-st ratrick's day 07-
-guerilla floatilla 07-
-st. ratrick's 07-
-bike kill IV-
-hootenanny 06-
-ratification 06-
-5th annual st chino's run-
-sweethearts build day-
-madison art bike parade 06-
-slaughterama 06-
-guerilla flotilla 06-
-st ratrick's day 06-
-the buurn, maaaaan 05-
-rat rides 2005-
-black label bike kill iii-
-pedal pushers-
-ratification 05-
-Guerilla
Flotilla 2005-
-St.
Ratrick's Day 2005-
-2nd
Annual St. Chino's Run-
-rats on the mass-
-gimp
haulin'-
-ratatistas!-
-rat patrol
vs. human television network-
-monkey tag
ride-
-stockyards ride-
-build
day 112004-
-magic
bean ride-
-puke ride-
-ratification
04-
-rat
rides 2004-
-rat
race 04-
-clunker
classic III-
-ghana freakin'-
-st.
ratrick's day 03-
-the stingray kids-
-may
day 2003-
-the
scallywags come to chicago critical mass-
-a
rat retreat to the redneck riviera-
-a
visit from the BLBC-
-rat
rides 2003-
-rat
rides 2002-
[Miscellany]
-can't
you read?-
-trashcastle-
-rat
trikes-
-scratch-made
arc welder-
[lexicon]
[links]
Email and Submissions:
johnny@rat-patrol.org
|
|
|
|
Johnny 6:32 PM
 Schwinn Cycle Truck
Not a homemade bike but a true beauty nonetheless. The Schwinn Cycle Truck, manufactured as early as the 30s, this is the original chopper... and the original Pack Rat. I can't believe I found one of these, because usually they are used and used and used until they fall apart. A Google image search will reveal plenty of beautifully restored examples... but I don't seek what's been restored and prettified... I'm looking for the rusty ole bikes lurking in the back of a storage room, like this one.
Note how the front wheel is tiny, like on a chopper, to accomodate the large front basket. Also, that wee little wheel has spokes with a gauge like a locomotive's. Note that the rear wheel is also some big fat meat. That odd crossbar between the top and down tubes is designed to add structural support to the basket itself... because the weight is suspended from the frame, not the front wheel! Your traditional front rack supports itself on the axle, which means the load swings back and forth as you steer- making for a very squirrelly ride!
I believe these bikes were made as late as the 70s, but this one is obviously very old.
Here you can see the bracket that holds the rack a lot better. This bike is also missing its huge kickstand, which straddled the front wheel like a square halo and swung down to lift it off the ground, providing a stand that would support the entire load. Just think- a chopper that can haul cargo! What greater merging of style and function could there be?
Johnny 6:21 PM
Question
I saw this bike at a Critical Mass, forgot to take a picture of it, and then happened upon it again at its home shop.
Johnny 3:58 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
