Affectionately called “Heavy Bike”, this project started as the anti-weight weenie weight weenie bike. I did actually weigh a bunch of parts and picked the heavier ones when I could. It worked! The bike weighs 55lbs (down from 60lbs when it had a NuVinci hub). It’s an Electra cruiser frame with an 80s Schwinn cruiser fork that I modified a lot, including swapping to Campy dropouts, making an overly complicated kickstand plate because the original one tore off, a hidden bottle opener, and that rack.
The rack is brazed to the fork, no bolts. It’s sized to carry a family sized take ‘n’ bake pizza, as that was the only thing I couldn’t easily carry on a bike at the time. It will carry up to 4 paper grocery bags too.
As for the rest of the build:
- Wheels: Sturmey Archer 90mm drum generator front, 5-speed 90mm drum rear, 13g spokes, 36h, 2x race lace (all heads in) w/ Rhyno Lite rims
- Cranks: Chrome Profile Racing, American BB, and some star chainwheel that I think is from some 80s department store cruiser.
- Pedals: Pedaling Innovations Catalyst pedals
- Fenders: Chrome Wald Cruiser fenders
- Bars/Stem: SR slingshot stem with a flat tracker motorcycle handlebar
- Extras: A Brooks B17 that feels bad, but looks good. Ursus heavy duty kickstand. 36 matching stainless steel button head bolts. A complete collection of all 8 “Heavy Bike Hill Climb Challenge” spoke cards.
It’s a beaut Patrick, as my Dad would say, from Beaut Montana. I especially love the focus on weight. I made my winter cruiser super heavy by adding Mag Wheels, you might consider this. Also, one of those Radio Shack bike AM radios…