Alt Bike Culture - my tall bike (yeah its nothing new)

i saw a guy riding one on saturday night, thought it was cool, liberated two really old bikes on sunday, and built it yesterday, then we were riding it last night.
I guess when i decide i want to do something i get it done likedy-split.
The bikes were really old and busted down road bikes i found in an old neighbor of mines shed, she let me have them for the cause. they were totally unridable and the bearings didnt even turn, but beggars cant be choosers EH? i found a year on one-it said 1984 i think they hadnt been ridden scince 85'. I hacked em up and got the bearings i wanted moving then slopped some weld on em, and twas done!! I got new tubes and tires and chain(s) for it and we were off. it works pretty good, but one night of 250 pound guys bunny hopping and curb hopping on it did a number on those old 27" wheels. Also im having problems with my ghetto one-speed conversion(custom chain length, sans deraillers) the chain hops around on the rear cassette, and now its settled on one geear but the chain is on there wicked tight. i think ill leave the rear derailer on my next one. tell me what you think.


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If you can find a wheel with a three speed hub in it, you should use that! Makes chainline easy, though you may need to cold set the rear triangle to get things to line up. Then you can ditch your extra chainrings and derailleurs and stuff, makes life much easier!

I can't see where your chain is run, but if it isn't direct to the rear wheel, you should endeavor for that, less to go wrong. You can also move your brake to the chainstays instead of the seat stays if you need more clearance up there. :)

Very nice! What city are you in?

peace,
sam

yeah this is the first evolution, i found two more bikes, and im going to start construction on a new one tomorrow, these new bike are heavier duty, and the components arent 20 years old. i have a rear wheel that takes a freewheel type cassete, but im not sure about getting a freewheel for it. Thanks for the tips, ill be sure to post the new one when its done

Nice work, looks like fun!
Wonder how a coaster hub would work on a tallbike? Or maybe that would interfere with balance?

A coaster brake hub would work, but it would make mounting and dismounting a little tricky, since its handy to be able to backpedal to set the crank position. But I'm sure with a little practice you'd be fine.

peace,
sam

i'm building a tall l l l l l l - bike with a coaster brake at the mo'.

the handle bars are about ten feet off the ground... good little climb for me at 5'10". still, i plan to get my 5'2" sister up on it one way or another.

i don't think a coaster is a problem. you can always back yourself up with front (and rear) v brakes if you'd like to. a regular rider would very soon get used to putting the pedal in the right plave before they start climbing. should be finished by the weekend, i'll post a pic in the main forum.

our bike club also has tallbikes like yours, where you can reach the pedal from the ground. Nature's Gentleman has a coaster brake augmented by a caliper on the front - see picture. rides like a dream... or something...

i'm used to antique fixed wheel bikes, and coaster brakes, and i love the idea of this simplicity in a tallbike.

That's cool! I started building one last year but didn't finish it. There are some guys at this site that have made some pretty tall ones. :eek: www.atomiczombie.com (http://www.atomiczombie.com).

I don't know what kind of braking system they used. The have a gallery. You can send them a pic and they'll post it. Hope u will post some pics here when its done!

A coaster brake hub would work, but it would make mounting and dismounting a little tricky, since its handy to be able to backpedal to set the crank position.

Yeah because if the pedal's not in the right place, you backpedal on the mount and that makes you stop dead! Haw haw haw!!!! I recommend them for big beefy cargo cruiser tallbikes.

These bikes look remarkably like a Danish bicycle called a "Pedersen" built in Copenhagen for a number of years.

Check out the link: http://www.koolstop.com/pedersen/pedersen.html

Riding one of these was like riding a cross beween a camel and a hammock.

wow someone brought this back to life, ive scince built a new tall bike its much more stylish and funtional, ill have to post pics of it soon.

i'm building a tall l l l l l l - bike with a coaster brake at the mo'.

the handle bars are about ten feet off the ground... good little climb for me at 5'10". still, i plan to get my 5'2" sister up on it one way or another.

i don't think a coaster is a problem. you can always back yourself up with front (and rear) v brakes if you'd like to. a regular rider would very soon get used to putting the pedal in the right plave before they start climbing. should be finished by the weekend, i'll post a pic in the main forum.

our bike club also has tallbikes like yours, where you can reach the pedal from the ground. Nature's Gentleman has a coaster brake augmented by a caliper on the front - see picture. rides like a dream... or something...

i'm used to antique fixed wheel bikes, and coaster brakes, and i love the idea of this simplicity in a tallbike.


Actually, Garden Lark, Nature's Gentleman doesn't have a coaster brake. Never has. Personally I don't think it would be ideal for a tallbike.