Tall bike attempts
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 54
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Tall bike attempts
it's really nothing special to you guys but to me it's my first tall bike, well 2 attempts at a tall bike
first:
didn't work so well
second:
should be good and street worthy in a matter of days
first:
didn't work so well
second:
should be good and street worthy in a matter of days
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Gnv, FL
Posts: 1,890
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Second attempt with the road frames looks a lot better. The mtb attempt looks like a triple decker some of my friends are making. That is to say, it looks like it would collapse if you rode over a bump.
I didn't trust booger welds until I destroyed my tall bike - the seat lug peeled away before the weld broke. I guess they're okay, even if they are ugly.
I didn't trust booger welds until I destroyed my tall bike - the seat lug peeled away before the weld broke. I guess they're okay, even if they are ugly.
#5
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sumter-Columbia, SC
Posts: 20
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Just out of curiosity (I'm not trying to patronize anyone, I'm genuinely interested), what is the appeal of tall bikes? I can imagine how you'd get on one, but what if you need to stop before you get back home? How do you dismount? How hard is it to maintain balance up there?
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 54
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
it's really not too hard to keep balance on it, and if you want to get off, just bring both feet on one side with one foot on the pedals then jump off, i still need to get breaks on mine before critical mass though
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Dallas Suburbpopolis
Posts: 1,502
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 9 Times
in
5 Posts
I saw a dude tooling along, helmet on head, messenger bag on back, along the street in Simi Valley CA (suburb of LA) a couple months back. Guy was in the bike lane, stopping at lights, dealing with mid-AM weekday traffic. Very cool.
#8
*****es love tarck
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Sandy, UT
Posts: 3,301
Bikes: so many
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You get off the way you got on, just swing your leg over the saddle. I also like the wheelie dismount. Mine acutally rides just like a normal bike for the most part, I can acutally trackstand on it.
__________________
#9
sucker for lugs
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 364
Bikes: Shogun 800 (had to cull the herd)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Nice job, dude! my first tallbike was an all-Huffy monstrosity with super-sloppy MIG welds and no brakes or, for that matter, grease in any of the bearings. This week I've been teaching myself how to TIG so I can put together a pair of beautiful old cruisers that are past their prime, big old fenders and everything. I'm so excited, but more than a little bummed that it won't be ready for critical mass this friday...
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: 804
Posts: 293
Bikes: giant TCR campy-shimano mix/ Trek fuel 80/ Fuji track
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
the first ones head tubes were too far from being aligned at the same angle to be able to turn. number 2 could benefit from either raising the rear just a bit or using a shorter steering tube, but it should work. nice bike!!
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Quarantine
Posts: 238
Bikes: fixed gear raleigh super record, Fixed gear tall bike, SS tall bike, Triple high tall bike, Trek 4500, Diamond back viper, trek 800/nishiki chopper bike, I think/hope thats all
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
here's my fixedgear tall bike. I can trackstand on it and do a backwards circle
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: 804
Posts: 293
Bikes: giant TCR campy-shimano mix/ Trek fuel 80/ Fuji track
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Quarantine
Posts: 238
Bikes: fixed gear raleigh super record, Fixed gear tall bike, SS tall bike, Triple high tall bike, Trek 4500, Diamond back viper, trek 800/nishiki chopper bike, I think/hope thats all
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Nope mike stratton is the guy that made that one. I would like to try riding that tall tandem but it's not in town any more. Oh and there's an alleycat race for fixie riders at war memorial at 11:59pm Friday Nov. 30
#16
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,115
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Just be aware that while welds don't have to look good to be sound, a booger, or surface splat is not a good weld. The fact that other stuff broke first, does not make it good to go. Detructive situations will often take the path of least resistance, while wear may take a sneakier path. Of course you probably aren't putting 3000 miles on these things anyway.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 84
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
All the tall bikes I see in these pictures have the seat tube and saddle way too far back, why not do it how we used to do it years ago, flip the frame over so the bottom bracket is on top, flip the fork around and weld a new pipe along the seat tube going up to a new seat, that way, the seat is forward over the bb.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Blacksburg VA / Northern VA
Posts: 72
Bikes: 08' Trek Madone, 08' Specialized Tricross, 06' Trek 1500, Raleigh Grand Prix, Raleigh Technium, Bridgestone MB-3, Project Tall bike, Homemade recumbent
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
All the tall bikes I see in these pictures have the seat tube and saddle way too far back, why not do it how we used to do it years ago, flip the frame over so the bottom bracket is on top, flip the fork around and weld a new pipe along the seat tube going up to a new seat, that way, the seat is forward over the bb.
Do you have a picture of this, because I'd be interested to see how exactly you go about pedaling, unless you mean, that you use the existing bottom bracket on the flipped over frame. So are you saying that seated position is much higher on the older style bike you're describing?
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Quarantine
Posts: 238
Bikes: fixed gear raleigh super record, Fixed gear tall bike, SS tall bike, Triple high tall bike, Trek 4500, Diamond back viper, trek 800/nishiki chopper bike, I think/hope thats all
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Do you have a picture of this, because I'd be interested to see how exactly you go about pedaling, unless you mean, that you use the existing bottom bracket on the flipped over frame. So are you saying that seated position is much higher on the older style bike you're describing?
I believe this is what he was talking about. https://blog.makezine.com/ridinghigh.jpg So yes you do use the existing BB of the flipped bike. I've never built or ridden a bike with this design, mostly because I don't think the look as good. The handling may be better, having the seat farther back on stacked bikes isn't a big deal once you get used to it.
#20
Bruise collector
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Worcester, Ma
Posts: 247
Bikes: Gary Fisher Mullet, Centurian Le Mans, a stripped Schwin, some random frames and parts.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
(Not talking smack, I do browse that thread and it's often pretty funny.)
Also, next halloween, you could mock-up the other 2 or 3 triangles, paint it white, and make it a snowflake. Like this:
(Sorry, online image editor and no patience. you get the idea.)
Then again, I'm probably the only idiot besides the guys from SCUL that dresses up his alt-bike for halloween. Next year I'm painting my chopper woodgrain, adding fake leaves, branches etc. to make it a bike-tree. I think I'll go as a forest gnome or a lumberjack.
Last edited by Blais; 12-04-07 at 04:33 PM.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Quarantine
Posts: 238
Bikes: fixed gear raleigh super record, Fixed gear tall bike, SS tall bike, Triple high tall bike, Trek 4500, Diamond back viper, trek 800/nishiki chopper bike, I think/hope thats all
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You should totally post that in the elitist/purist convention that is the 'Jackass Fixed Gear of the Day' thread. Seriously, I think you may put a few hipsters in a sarcasm-coma.
(Not talking smack, I do browse that thread and it's often pretty funny.)
Also, next halloween, you could mock-up the other 2 or 3 triangles, paint it white, and make it a snowflake. Like this:
(Sorry, online image editor and no patience. you get the idea.)
Then again, I'm probably the only idiot besides the guys from SCUL that dresses up his alt-bike for halloween. Next year I'm painting my chopper woodgrain, adding fake leaves, branches etc. to make it a bike-tree. I think I'll go as a forest gnome or a lumberjack.
(Not talking smack, I do browse that thread and it's often pretty funny.)
Also, next halloween, you could mock-up the other 2 or 3 triangles, paint it white, and make it a snowflake. Like this:
(Sorry, online image editor and no patience. you get the idea.)
Then again, I'm probably the only idiot besides the guys from SCUL that dresses up his alt-bike for halloween. Next year I'm painting my chopper woodgrain, adding fake leaves, branches etc. to make it a bike-tree. I think I'll go as a forest gnome or a lumberjack.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Blacksburg VA / Northern VA
Posts: 72
Bikes: 08' Trek Madone, 08' Specialized Tricross, 06' Trek 1500, Raleigh Grand Prix, Raleigh Technium, Bridgestone MB-3, Project Tall bike, Homemade recumbent
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sean, can you post some close up pics of your welds, where the bottom bracket meets the tub tube, also the quality of your welds at the top fork. I picked up a 100 amp mig welder last week for $100, so the prefab has begun, just need to make sure I have the bike setup the way I want to before I weld anything.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Quarantine
Posts: 238
Bikes: fixed gear raleigh super record, Fixed gear tall bike, SS tall bike, Triple high tall bike, Trek 4500, Diamond back viper, trek 800/nishiki chopper bike, I think/hope thats all
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
PM sent. Also sounds like you got a good deal on the welder. Let the crazy bicycle shenanigans begin!
#24
Uber Goober
I ran across a couple of odd videos here- basically tall bikes made to ride similar to a penny-farthing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znbOXVpXzgg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQH_2kz1H3o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znbOXVpXzgg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQH_2kz1H3o
#25
Hail Saitan!!
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i had a tall bike for about a month and it went fine for a wile but one day wile i was riding it the weld broke and i fell right threw traffic. i think the main problem was because of the pole i used to connect the stem and the fork for steering. does anybody know where i can get a pole that is the right size to right in the holes. the one i had was too big and i had to weld it on but it was never a sturdy that would help alot. that and maybe the width of the pole.