aerialcopper: June 2014

Monday, June 23, 2014

Typewriter Cover

I just bought an Olympia SM9. I thought it should have a dust cover like the rest of the nice machines. As my friend jokes, 'so I can tuck them in at night.'

I think the fabric pattern is kind of retro, it matches the typewriter.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Rear Rack on Catrike Expedition

I recently finished installing a rear rack on a 2014 Catrike Expedition recumbent trike. Since it's an unusual configuration of dropouts/frame/fender, it took some research to figure out how to make it work. I'm sharing the configuration I came up with to help those who searched the rest of the internet with little avail. Once you've got the parts, installing the rack isn't too difficult.

Tools needed:

Hex keys: 3, 4, 5mm
8mm combination wrench, or an adjustable wrench would probably get the job done.
Loctite if you're that kind of person (I definitely am)
Your method of choice for shortening 1/8" stainless steel rods
I used:

Hacksaw
Vise
File

I follow the list items with the McMaster Carr item number, when applicable.
Parts needed:

M5 x 35mm stainless SHCS (91292A193)
M5 x 25mm stainless SHCS (91292A129)
M5 x 10mm (anywhere betw. 6mm and 10mm is okay) unthreaded spacer, 12mm+ OD, Plastic or Stainless will work (92871A762)
M5 nylon insert locknuts (94205A240)
M5 plastic washers (95610A560)

The rack and mounting hardware came from bikebagshop.com. You can probably find it elsewhere.

Tubus Cosmo rack (Tubus Cosmo)
Tubus Mid-Fork Eyelets, standard size 20-32mm (Tubus Eyelets)

The panniers we chose were the Ortlieb Back Roller Classic. They fit well on the rack, can be removed easily, are really well made, and aren't too expensive. The two of them combined will hold everything and the kitchen sink.

Assembly:

The fork eyelet adapters are attached right and left of the headrest support mount. The rack arms are just long enough to reach them. The rack is bolted to the dropout eyelets with the included plastic spacers between the rack and the dropout.

The M5x25mm SHCS's are used in conjunction with the additional spacers, washers, and locknuts to attach the fender support rods to the inside of the top holes on the rack. The support rods will need to be shortened about 3/4" each so that the fender follows the curve of the tire correctly.