Jeez...

It's been a while since anyone posted some sheet here...


Well, we did CorinBomb... that was super fun! Nobody got killed.


We did Melbourne for Charchie Brownfinger's 40th. That was fun. That was really fun!!

Crashed MGE off a vertical wall. That's right Gar'ah.

2Humpz got a girlfriend.

Yay! The new bikes coming along nicely (albeit a bit crooked in places.. but that’s rat patrol!). Taking inspiration from Jase’s swing bmx, I’ve adapted the swing idea chopper stylie.. oh and did I mention it looks tough?

It remains to be seen whether or not this creation is even rideable… I’m betting I’ll get the hang of it or at least break my other wrist trying. One really nice feature is the built in security system… anyone tries to steal this art piece from outside the pub.. I’m betting they won’t get far.

This might need to be taken into consideration of course given that reduced spatial acuity will most definitely be a foreseeable issue on pub rides… not that anyone in rat patrol rides drunk.. of course. I’m thinking of making some kind of pin to “turn off” the swing in times of “spatial uncertainty”.

This bike is going to be pretty evil (for a girls bike!) with paint substituted for black shaggy fur. Still some work to go... need a bottom bracket, and some reinforcements. I think I’ll call him G’mork… Aweee.

Bike Tech from the Frontier

As every rat knows, the only thing cooler than riding a bike you built is riding a bike you built with rad Gizmo's attached.

These can come in many forms, lights, horns, latex masks, flags etc.

Here's a bicycle noisemaker spoted in Chicago, probably owned and constucted by a Rat there.


It is constructed from old cyclometer magnets and pick up but has been wired into a 9v battery and then to the speakers. I will attempt to construct one, if all goes well, Rats may do less whooping and more drinking while riding.

KARMA!

That's right G'Ary! 4 wheel skid across Majura Ave. You can imagine my surprise and elation catching it out of the corner of my eye. I whipped the subie across two lanes and up the driveway. Got out of the car. Danced around in circles like a madman until the dude who's driveway I was in came out and asked what was going on, not with words, but with a dumbfounded look upon his face.

"Did you see who left this bike here?" I asked.

"Uurrgh.. no" was the reply.

I recounted the tale in broken English/insanity-speak as I stuffed Zed in the back of the car (which, for your future reference does not go neatly in the back of a Subie).

I drove to Limp's with the rear door fully up. A bunch of punk-@rse kids looked at me as I turned onto Phillip Ave with the tail up, going "wot's this idiot doing... does he know his boot's open?"

"Yes that's right kiddies" I yelled at the top of my lungs as I passed them and they looked in the back...

"ZED'S BACK!!!!!"



... to the lametards who thought it was a good idea to jump a rat... you're off the hook... this time!

Limp's welding tips for spaktards

Remember: Welding Masks are for pansies! I love the smell of burning cornea and gritty eyelids of uncomfort!

1.) set the welder correctly for your particular weld (power & wire
> speed): ask a good & experienced Rat Welder.
> - too much power = blowing holes, etc.
> - not enuff power = weld balling action; splatters; can't
> initiate weld bead; et-farken-cetra.
>
> - too fast = splattery shite; not enough heat therefore much
> wire trying to bond with cold metal.
> - too slow = burn back (wire heats up and makes everything go
> to shit).
>
> 2.) Know Your Welder: ours is bottom level and a bit damaged, so it
> (she!) needs love and understanding: get a tutorial from a good &
> experienced Rat Welder.
> - do only small amounts of welding at a time, and/or cool
> welder tip in an appropriate way (otherwise welder heats up and
> eventually seizes).
> - clean tip regularly (get a Rat Tutorial).
> - adjust spool tightness (loose is good, but if unravels
> you'll be spewing. Too loose, and it may create a short circuit with
> the earthed chasis)
> - wire feed adjustment: just leave it! (too loose and it
> don't grip da wire; too tight and it leaves bigger grooves in welding
> wire, which produces heaps more drag/friction when she gets pushed
> down the tube...).
> - be very careful not to stand on, twist, or excessively bend
> the feeder tube (rubber hose going to the handpiece).
>
> 3.) job preparation: all important!! Without all these thangs below,
> you won't get a decent weld.
> - place welder and/or job so the feeder tube has a relatively
> straight path.
> - make sure ALL dirt, paint and/or oil is not present at
> least 8mm from where you are gonna weld.
> - make sure you is gots a good contact with the earth clamp.
> - secure your job (ie. clamps or whatev).
> - setup a handpiece 'rest' from which you can easily do a
> slow, smooth, controlled welding movement (pass).
> - 'rehearse' the weld to make sure your 'rest' provides a
> good position for the whole welding pass BEFORE you start fucking up
> your never-to-be-the-same-again grinding job.
>
> 4.) Weld, but always keep feeding the wire NON-STOP until you reach
> the end of your pass. Some people can't help but freak out when the
> vicious sound of welding starts, which normally makes their hand move,
> and the welding job impossible... just think of Vienna. Relax.
>
> >>>>> Most peeps who get no satifaction aren't getting a slow, smooth
> welding pass; normally because they ain't prepared the handpiece rest
> or job properly. Or because they suck arse. Either way, the key is
>almost always a good setup - the welding only takes a second or three
>:)