Dang Girl, You Made That?

Remember how in my last post I hinted about a lot of cool stuff happening with the bike? Well, I'll let you in on a secret, Gretta is home. I'm playing catch up. I hadn't really had time to blog about everything as it happened, but I'm so proud of the different steps of the process and the things that I learned during them so they're being included in this blog.

I know in the last post I had told you guys I had become a fabricator, and this entry is dedicated to me fabricating a part for Gretta. Gretta has coaster brakes and if you guys haven't seen coaster brakes before there's a little tab that sticks out to connect the brake hub to the bike. Once G knew that we were dealing with coaster brakes, he told me we'd have to find a way to connect it to the frame. Luckily, my wonderful boyfriend knows how to fabricate parts and suggested we fabricate our own piece. So that's what we did. In the process, I learned how to use a lot of different tools. I wish we had gotten pictures of me using these tools because I feel like most people won't believe me when I say I used them. But I did. So there!

First we had to measure around the back spoke to see how long of a piece of sheet metal we were going to need. Once we had done that we marked it and headed to the band saw. I was actually quite frightened to be using this little guy. He's intimidating. G soothed my nerves and helped me set it up. Next thing I knew we had a rectangular piece to work with. Following this we needed to create rounded edges. G helped me mark them up, and we went over to the belt sander. If I was frightened to use the band saw, I had no desire to be any where near the belt sander. When we started to get ready to use it, G noticed we needed to change the sand paper belt that was on it. The second he turned on the machine to position the belt it started tearing pieces off. I might have squeaked,but if I did I don't think G heard me. Using the belt sander was interesting, it required a certain amount of pressure and the right movement to get the edges nice and smooth. I got the different edges rounded, but G had to do the final touches because let's face it, I can only do so much.

Once we finished with the belt sander, I got to use a drill press. G figured out the positioning and the diameter of the holes, and we got down to it. Frankly, the drill press didn't freak me out at all. It wasn't buzzing and darting back and forth like the band saw. It wasn't ripping sheets of sand paper apart. Once we drilled the two holes I got to use my favorite machine ever-the sand blaster. Remember in the beginning how I used the sand blaster A LOT to take paint off of Gretta's different parts. Well, I got reaaal good at it. Okay maybe not at professional standards but at my "I've never used tools for real before" standards. I got to sand blast the part, and then it was time to bend it. G started out by bending the piece by hand, but that could only do so much. It took the power of the vice to bend it the rest of the way.

After we got it bent in the right position we hooked it up on Gretta. Here's the part where you guys get a picture. If you've read all this so far, High Five! If you haven't, I totally understand.

Dang guys, all that work for that tiny little part. I'm super proud of it though. Gretta totally needed it to be able to ride and brake properly!

On that same day, I got a surprise from G's dad. Remember those garages filled with magical items, G's dad had one of my dream items just laying around. A Schwinn bell! That's right people, a bell. I had told you all that it was on my list of eventual parts to get, and I was super excited to be given one. G's dad even had another one which G might put on his bike if we go about building him a bike.

Gretta just looks even happier with a bell on her. In case you were wondering what the bell sounds like, check out the video above.

The next entry is going to be awesome. You guys, I'm so excited to share the final product with all of you. It's been a long process, but it was totally worth it. Until then, keep the bike ridin'.