...9.6...Mountain Bike--Commuter Bike Conversion...Day 16...

...Before...

Previous Changes:

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15

...so this part...I had kind of forgotten about...when I painted the basket white...I removed the black foam padding that protects the handlebars and the fork where the basket rests against them...it also keeps it from making a lot of racket while you're riding...

...anywhoo...they were just black foam tubes...and I could have painted them white as well I guess...but I thought it would look much neater if it had rainbow coloured pads that matched my seat cover...

...so...I just knit some strips in that leftover yarn...I thought about knitting a tube (which would have taken a lot longer)...but decided that a strip sewn in place would be tighter...and...I had no way of getting a tube onto the fork portion of the basket rack...I guess I could have crocheted around the posts though...

...here they are stitched in place...they are so CUTE!...

...and they look cute with the basket too...

...and on the bike...you can see the new reflector bracket didn't even have to be moved...so YAY!...not sure how reflective it will be under the basket...but it really doesn't matter as I don't ride after dark...

...the basket fits perfectly onto the rack...I'm glad because I actually thought about it making it too tight when I was adding the weaving...

...and I thought I'd show you the ingenious way that the basket 'attaches' to the bracket...

...you just lift the handles and slide it into place...they would probably be in the lifted position anyway if you had the basket off the bike...haha...

...and when you lower the handles...the prongs grasp onto the bracket...genius!...

...the Bike Conversion Project is pretty much OVER...but I found that the basket rattles quite a bit more than the old plastic strapped one...and since I'm using my daily bike ride to get out of the house and enjoy a bit of nature it can be quite annoying...so...I'm going to have to come up with something to fix that...and at some point (when I find or make one)...I'll be adding a chain guard...not that I really-really need one...I just like the looks of them on Commuter Bikes...and then I won't have to strap my pants leg down for cool weather riding...

~Have a lovely day!