THE TIN MAN is my custom, salvaged-from-junkyard-parts, hand-restored, hybrid cruiser bicycle. Upon finding his assortment of discarded parts in various junkyards, I cleaned him up, reconditioned the bearings and threw in a few new parts that couldn’t be salvaged and  created my favorite TCS Custom Cruiser to date.

My hybrid starts with a beautiful ALL CHROME, 10-Speed frame. The frame was covered with rust when I pulled it out from under a junk pile, but a few hours, some elbow grease and a grip of steel wool later… BAM! The Tin Man began to take shape.

In terms of rideability, the 10-speed frame makes for a great riding posture that gives me full leg extension – and I can get this baby crankin’! Even though it’s a 10-speed frame, I’ve stripped it of all gears and hand brakes – and replaced them with a simple, nothing-to-go-wrong, easy-to-fix-if-it-does coaster brake hub. That means nothing fancy, foot brakes only and only two speeds – pedal and pedal harder.

Fat beach cruiser tires add to the Tin Man’s comfort factor. (These and the tubes are brand new). I had to bang out the rear frame a bit to squeeze the extra width in, but it was worth it. The big tires slow me down a bit  – who am I racing, anyway? – but they’re a lot safer. I can get around rocks and potholes without worry. I love being able to cut across the grass, ride through a field or down a dirt road field or jump up on a sidewalk in case I have to get out of the way in a hurry.

The spokes on this set of CHROME rims (found in the junkyard) are also thicker than most, which I’m hoping will make sure the Tin Man holds up through heavy use, rough handling and lots of miles. I also think they help keep the wheels true over many miles of rough terrain.

I used to ride 10-speeds and don’t like the butt-floss seats they come with so this one had t go. “The Tin Man is luxuriously equipped a traditional FAT cruiser bicycle seat (I’m looking for one in ‘Fine Corinthian Leather’). Those skinny seats are obviously for aerodynamics only, so I lose some of that along with the hemorrhoids.

The seat is also one of the few fairly new parts. Although this came off an older bike my dad had stashed back in the shed, it was obviously fairly new – or at least seldom used. The only other new parts on the bike are the handlebar grips and the chain. And of course, the CHROME seat post is in keeping with the theme.

CHROME mountain bike handlebars give The Tin Man the third side to its hybrid footprint. Mountain bike handlebars are intended to give you the extra control to negotiate paths, rocks, streams and whatever other outdoor or extreme adventure you have the youthful exuberance for. With them, I can handle The Tin Man like he’s a Ducati motorcycle!

All of the miscellaneous reflectors, nuts, bolts, brackets, fasters, kickstand, etc. are salvaged parts. The Tin Man’s only high-tech accessories… an odometer for measuring speed and distance (cause you know I be humpin’) and a headlight for night riding!

Although I’ve put together other bikes before The Tim Man , and I’m still working on others, he’s my favorite right now. Lookin’ good, ridin’ good, feelin’ good and clocking plenty ‘a miles.

I’m thinking about some CHROME half-fenders… What do you think?

PEACE.
Rick

PS. A ‘shout out’ to my baby brother Jamie for the name, THE TIN MAN and for being a partner at TCS Custom Cruisers!