Saw someone cycling a crazy tall bicycle in London yesterday...
Saw someone cycling a crazy tall bicycle in London yesterday...
I saw something yesterday evening in London (cycling towards Greenwich) that was both hilarious and scary. It was a dude riding a bicycle in heavy traffic - normal in every respect - except that it was really, really tall. When I say tall, his head was about level with the upper floor of a double decker bus and the pedals of his enormo-bike were about level with my head (I was riding a normal MTB).
He looked like he was enjoying it enormously. As he went past I asked what happened if he had to stop and he said "I try not to"!
Anyone else seen this or have any idea what the background/history is? Seems to me like a lot of fun but also super dangerous. If he wipes out, he's either landing in the oncoming traffic lane or going headfirst into a shop window (depending on which way he falls) and the leverage means he'll be going pretty fast on the way down. Perhaps with practice and sufficient adroitness you could leap off delicately?
The mind really boggles - how does someone get into this type of cycling? Where do you even BUY a bike like that? How do you get on??? Is this an actual thing done regularly by people? And it looked like a proper bicycle (not some amateur DIY-welded bodge job). Is he a professional acrobat riding home after a hard day of circus work?
Wish I'd got a picture! The bicycle equivalent of a monster truck!
He looked like he was enjoying it enormously. As he went past I asked what happened if he had to stop and he said "I try not to"!
Anyone else seen this or have any idea what the background/history is? Seems to me like a lot of fun but also super dangerous. If he wipes out, he's either landing in the oncoming traffic lane or going headfirst into a shop window (depending on which way he falls) and the leverage means he'll be going pretty fast on the way down. Perhaps with practice and sufficient adroitness you could leap off delicately?
The mind really boggles - how does someone get into this type of cycling? Where do you even BUY a bike like that? How do you get on??? Is this an actual thing done regularly by people? And it looked like a proper bicycle (not some amateur DIY-welded bodge job). Is he a professional acrobat riding home after a hard day of circus work?
Wish I'd got a picture! The bicycle equivalent of a monster truck!
Re: Saw someone cycling a crazy tall bicycle in London yesterday...
This is not the actual bike but it was a bit like this one. On the road amidst heavy traffic! In central London! In the dark!
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Re: Saw someone cycling a crazy tall bicycle in London yesterday...
Solves the problem of your blending into the background at a stroke.
Re: Saw someone cycling a crazy tall bicycle in London yesterday...
Here's a previous thread on the subject by cycle tramp, with an interesting video at the start.
viewtopic.php?p=1652414#p1652414
viewtopic.php?p=1652414#p1652414
Nu-Fogey
Re: Saw someone cycling a crazy tall bicycle in London yesterday...
Yes! Maybe it was the GCN crew out for part 2 of that video!gcogger wrote: ↑8 Dec 2022, 10:52am Something like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKZyEHhx5LY
Thanks, interesting!colin54 wrote: ↑8 Dec 2022, 11:25am Here's a previous thread on the subject by cycle tramp, with an interesting video at the start.
viewtopic.php?p=1652414#p1652414
Re: Saw someone cycling a crazy tall bicycle in London yesterday...
The Zenga Brothers made a couple of inspiring videos on tall bikes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQLEUS_-VdQ
Over time they have developed tall bike designs with a longer wheelbase which should reduce the risk of falling of forward or backward by a great margin.
I think the videos should be seen with some caveats: They show what was fun and what worked well. They don't show what went wrong. They have experience in chosing ways that suit tall bikes. They go in a group and are imposible to be overlooked. They have experience in making stunts.
I feel too old but like these tall bikes a lot! A long time ago I drove chain driven tall unicycles from time to time but I think the tall bikes would be more fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQLEUS_-VdQ
Over time they have developed tall bike designs with a longer wheelbase which should reduce the risk of falling of forward or backward by a great margin.
I think the videos should be seen with some caveats: They show what was fun and what worked well. They don't show what went wrong. They have experience in chosing ways that suit tall bikes. They go in a group and are imposible to be overlooked. They have experience in making stunts.
I feel too old but like these tall bikes a lot! A long time ago I drove chain driven tall unicycles from time to time but I think the tall bikes would be more fun.
Re: Saw someone cycling a crazy tall bicycle in London yesterday...
Seen a few of these in Manchester, apparently it was a 'thing' about a decade ago
Re: Saw someone cycling a crazy tall bicycle in London yesterday...
Yes, there was/still is(?) a scene. I wiorked in a LBS about 20 years ago with someone who was 6'4". He had a tall bike. A Raleigh 20 shopper. He cut out the rear brake bridge and mud guard bridge to fit a 26"/700c rear wheel (I forget which fitted best), and replaced the forks with 26"/700c forks.
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Re: Saw someone cycling a crazy tall bicycle in London yesterday...
When you are my height (5'6"), all bikes are tall bikes to me!
Re: Saw someone cycling a crazy tall bicycle in London yesterday...
They look quite sketchy to ride thoPT1029 wrote: ↑11 Dec 2022, 8:36am Yes, there was/still is(?) a scene. I wiorked in a LBS about 20 years ago with someone who was 6'4". He had a tall bike. A Raleigh 20 shopper. He cut out the rear brake bridge and mud guard bridge to fit a 26"/700c rear wheel (I forget which fitted best), and replaced the forks with 26"/700c forks.
Re: Saw someone cycling a crazy tall bicycle in London yesterday...
Never seen him about. But just about every type of electric contraption can be encountered on the London cycle routes now.
The oddest cyclist I have encountered was coming up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square in heavy traffic. Youngish guy on single speed, with only one arm.
The oddest cyclist I have encountered was coming up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square in heavy traffic. Youngish guy on single speed, with only one arm.
Daily: Carlton Courette 1982 mixte 42, 32, 22 x7
Van Nicholas Yukon titanium 50/34 10sp
Lazzaretti steel 1996 10sp 48/34
Trek 1.7 10sp 3x 2010;
Ciocc steel 1984 50/34x7
Marin Bolinas Ridge MTB c1995, 7x42, 34, 24
Scott Scale carbon MTB 27.5 inch
Van Nicholas Yukon titanium 50/34 10sp
Lazzaretti steel 1996 10sp 48/34
Trek 1.7 10sp 3x 2010;
Ciocc steel 1984 50/34x7
Marin Bolinas Ridge MTB c1995, 7x42, 34, 24
Scott Scale carbon MTB 27.5 inch