Monday, October 27, 2008

Ricardo Reincarnate



Mer has been spending many evenings in community theatre lately, which has given me some free time in the evenings after putting the bambinos to sleep.  What to do with free time?  Chop, weld, paint, and grease of course!

I purchased an 80's model ten speed at DI about a year ago made by an Australian company.  The name of the bike, emblazoned on the piping in white over green was "Ricardo" and this was soon well known to the neighborhood street kids.  After a few months of tinkering, cutting and rejoining, with a few added parts, ricardo became a sleek, lowriding, recumbant, reincarnation.  (The street children have accused me of forcing Ricardo's early passing from this life).

The most costly part of the project was the $24 i spent on 3 ten-speed chains to get the length I needed to circumcogulate the front and rear gears.  Otherwise, I went through parts from two DI bikes, and a steel bar or two from my neighbor Randy and grandpa Al. (Thanks!)

The final product is a 9.5 foot long roadster with about an 18 foot turning radius.  If you want to give it a ride, let me know!

3 comments:

Angie said...

How hard is it to keep your balance on that thing??? Looks like you'll have to find a new project now!

Suz said...

Having first-hand experience watching Mike ride the Ricardo up and down the street I can tell you he does keep his balance. It is so low to the ground that it is amazing to watch him streak by.

Greg Francom said...

You are a sick, sick man, Mike.