I mentioned above, or somewhere in one of these threads, how much more fun it's gonna be when more GEBE'rs get on board, and realize that the very same little frustrations you guys are having, I already did.
The "idea" in the back of my mind is to eventually get enough experienced GEBErs to make a step by step procedure to do the infinite number of bikeframes that pop up here with questions.
When you build that first one successfully, you can show others how to do it, and IF you wanted to help guys install a kit in your neighborhood, you could buy the engines in bulk, maybe make a $100 per install.
A guy in Truth or Consequences is about to do his install, and the only way I can give advise is for him to do my $85 wheel/tire/tube upgrade, no matter what kind of bike he chooses.
For GEBE prospects, the perfect bike is 7 speeds, even with cruiser tires it will pull a trail.
BUT- and heres the big secret !! It's a hobby, soon to be a sport when the races get started. My neighbors locked outbuilding got burglerized, 8 fishing poles worth $1,800, with two other piles of poles of lesser value sitting right there.
Fishing as a hobby is mighty expensive, or archery or bowhunting, just because you gotta a string and a stick, you won't catch anything without patience.
This GEBE "hobby" costs about $850-1,000 to start, bike/upgrades and engine, to get done right. If you get others involved locally, you can buy the lowest priced bike stand via your bike shop, for $120.
In other words, a younger person is going to have to save up a little coin to get involved, have access to about $100 basic metric tool set.
You need that $20 fancy/foldup allencrewdriver set the bikeshop has on the wall.
You need that fancy socket to take off sprocket/cassettes.
Watch a bike repairman, you need the basic tools, because the bike is twice the headache of the engine.
You need ultra-communication skills, (i just wing it), both to describe the exhileration and possibilities (and these pesky problems).
I'll give you an example- all you guys using mountain bikes with slivers for saddles- Rocinante, with all her tire modifications, can climb most any dirt trail, go a mile or two on a steeeeep upgrade. Me walking beside her, thumb on the throttle, carrying 50 pounds of gear, but remember the cowboy pictures, thats how you get a horse across a ridge or over a creek.
When the invasion comes or floods arrive, (whichever conspiracy you subscribe to), when the s**t floats", meet me up on the high ground !
But Rocinante's front wheel bearings are loose, gotta think about that. There may be a limit to what the stock FRONT can do, this one has over 6,000 miles on it, but is still pointing forward.
I put "The Wheel" by the GratefulDead (tm) as my signature, (have to click off the dam*n default every reply), but the signature pretty much sums up the main forum advise I can offer.
