Homemade Sport Utility Bike (SUB)

Step 5 Brakes, Chain and Derailleur

You'll need long cables for your rear brakes and rear derailleur. If the cables you're finding just aren't long enough - ask for tandem bike cables ;)

For my chain, I combined my donor's chain and my conversion bike's chain to make a suitable length. This is quite easy with a chain tool which you can buy for a few dollars at any bike shop. I keep the chain tool in my tool pouch in case I need to convert back while on the road.

You may be wondering - why didn't I attach the support tube at the top of the seat tube? My goal was to make this 100% removable and not require any welding. The sacrifice is higher stress loads through my support tube which has not been a problem after over five hundred miles of use ;)

Now you've got plenty of room to mount an extra big rack to carry all your groceries, large items or even a passenger!

Comments

[da winksta]

you should attach the support tube at least to the middle of the seat post.

[taiden]

I guess I don't understand the point of this. It looks like you extended the wheelbase. How does that make it a 'sport utility bicycle'?

[bobthebilder]

Why not leave the shock instead of building a rod of sufficient strength?

[trebuchet03]

I couldn't find a clevis joint and didn't want to fabricate one... Plus, how many road bikes do you see with a spring/damper suspension? ;)

[ffrysnyder031293]

good design i might make me 1 :]

[Gridnack572]

180 to 200 pound passenger + bump or pothole = short bike ride

[trebuchet03]

I'll let me passengers know that their completed rides will be shortened retroactively :p I'd tell them before, but my time machine keeps blowing the breaker :p

[exponent]

I think a passenger would be a bit too much without welding it.