Alt Bike Culture - Flip Bike

Don't know if anyone's posted this yet, but saw this interesting bike mod online today...

http://forgloryandbicycles.blogspot.com/2007/10/travis-ds-flip-bike.html

That's cool. I saw pics of it on the Scallywags (http://non.primate.net/chicagofreakbike/rides.html) 2003 site.

http://www.chicagofreakbike.org/mayday/mayday16t.jpg

I've seen it (or one like it) but watching that video makes me wonder if I could manage to not die whilst riding that thing...

If that's not enough, there's the Swing Bike- seen on a Craig's List entry:
http://www.americasbikecompany.com/category_s/21.htm

If that's not enough, there's the Swing Bike- seen on a Craig's List entry:
http://www.americasbikecompany.com/category_s/21.htm

Meh, swing bikes are so right side up man.

That bike isn't a fixed gear, so I have to call shenanigans on the backwards riding. I'll post pictures of mine tonight.

that is not a scallywags bike, the one you show was an inspiration for this one on the video which I completed in 2008. Yay Scallys! And thanks to west town bikes for their assistance in the project.

The bike pictured was one of several built for Target in the 90s as part of their radical marketing plan. In Chicago you may have seen a bunch of guys in Target outfits riding around on red Vespas. The Scallywags ended up with the bike and later built another, smaller one.

A well-made flip bike can roll as many times as the rider wishes or has inertia for. This is the measure of its construction, just like riding no-handed on a chopper measures how well it is made. Travis Duffy's can barely manage one flip- I don't really know how you can mess it up, it's not hard to make, it's just a ring on a bike. Still, he gets all doled up in safety gear and often crashes, it's hilarious to watch.

Ironically, the wussy helmet and harness doesn't protect you from the bike's biggest danger: As the Scallies discovered, flipping this bike gives you a concussion just from your brain rattling around in your skull. This is why I never made one: I saw the Scallies entertain the crowds (it's a crowd-pleaser) and then go to the hospital with swelling on the brain. Not worth the price to me. Besides, it's a one-trick pony. I'm interested in more involved projects.

Still, they're pretty common, given that any bozo can weld a ring to a bike. Here's one at Slaughterama:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/220/449878037_556a27f483.jpg

In general I would encourage beginners to experiment, but Travis and others should consult with people who know how to build freakbikes before jumping into it, so you don't work for a year and end up with a dud like he did. Advice from the experts can prevent you from making common errors.

I wish I could contact him and request the diameter of his circle... Easy enough calculated I guess, and his isn't the best I've seen. A well built one will flip as long as it has inertia, he puts a lot of effort into flipping it himself.

The key is: You're gonna have to lift your weight to the top of the circle. If you're a six-foot fat guy with a bald spot, that's getting 250 lbs up to six feet high. Think about doing a sumersault: You tuck and roll. The smaller, more tucked the bike and ring are, the more flips you'll be able to do.

The ring measures 7ft. Eaglo: Inertia is based on mass, so unless I get fatter or balder then inertia is constant. I can change the *moment* of inertia though. I think you perhaps refer to angular momentum or velocity, or perhaps kinetic energy.

Thanks for the interest!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1017/1413506458_2228ff1271.jpg

thanks for the reply, I'm not sure if it's kinetic energy or inertia, I think they are both apply-able to this topic. More mass you would need more force to even begin to move, i.e; 250lb bald man... 100lbs of useless fat -dead weight- wont have enough muscle to physically move his body fast enough or hard enough to make the bike flip. BUT if a scrawny 5'3 skater dude weighing in at about 110lbs with 14lbs of fat won't have enough inertia to cause the bike to flip.

You require a level of weight that is substantially effective to move your bike, but with weight comes sloth.

Heavy Man + More Fat Than Muscle = NO FLIP
Heavy Man + More Muscle Than Fat = ILL FLIP

^ Formula for the 6' fat bald guy who currently is residing at his mom's basement

Payphone: The mecha-dildonic monowheel! A much more _involved_ expert level bike project, I agree! Best of luck getting it off the drawing board.

Eaglo>I'm not sure if it's kinetic energy or inertia,
I kinda though so.
I'm finding this discussion tedious.

suggested reading
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inertia

I guess maybe "fat bald guy, skinny skater dude" visualizations complete with body fat percentages is just your way of getting excited about the physics.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2320/2351246904_4ec5f558d5_b.jpg

what kind of harness are they wearing where could you get one?

how severe are the consequent concussions and how hard is it to get the knack for doing flips and not falling to one side mid-flip?

The harness is homemade.

I have not had any trouble with concussions.

The "Dual Safety" bike seems to have some problems with the concept.

Doing this motorized leads to some additional potential problems. I've seen a few of these "most shocking videos" where the person was perfectly protected by the roll cage until the vehicle caught fire. It looked like it wouldn't be too hard for Gallagher to roll out in the water, either. And falling out when it rolls is not a good thing.

The notorious Gallagher seems willing to waste a few brain cells for this related trick.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ulHO_dbyBSg


Figured he'd smash his own watermelon?

East Hill

well then im building one. will a metal/machine shop bend a ring for me and how much would that cost?

when i was first thinking about building a somersault bike i considered two rails but then i thought that i might bounce from one to another if i dint flip completely straight wich would be even worse than falling with one rail.

would it be too dangerous to make the harness some strap with a bukle so that the strap fits over the hips and tightens in the middle of the back? im a pretty skinny and light person so i might have more prominent hips than others

Here's a french clown's:

http://www.ziganime.com/new2005.htm

http://www.ziganime.com/2005spectacle/wsalto3.jpg

Here's a french clown's:

http://www.ziganime.com/new2005.htm

http://www.ziganime.com/2005spectacle/wsalto3.jpg

Ok, who's got a Siamese bike?

East Hill

http://www.chicagofreakbike.org/bikes/dixon.jpg

what the point of the third wheel?

I suspect that this guy was having the same problem that Travis Duffy has, a huge giant wheel leading to poorly executed single flips and lots of tipping over, thus all the gay safety gear (I like the clown's honkin' helmet better). So he thought the gyroscopic force of an extra wheel would keep him aligned. But that's just my guess.

oh, odd, then that these modern day builders would encorperate the third wheel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYB7CpwxcUw

I suspect that this guy was having the same problem that Travis Duffy has, a huge giant wheel leading to poorly executed single flips and lots of tipping over,
thus all the gay safety gear

I can't disagree enough with the above statements.

"will a metal/machine shop bend a ring for me and how much would that cost?"

Suggest you ask some of the other builders where they got the ring from.

Yes, some fabricating shops can roll metal sections to a radius, but it will just vary as to cost and capabilities at different shops. For what you'd need on this kind of thing, you might be able to work with a light enough section that you could use a conduit bender or home-made jig or something of the sort to bend it yourself.

I can't disagree enough with the above statements.
He has not built a flip bike, so the rule does not seem to apply to him. Its a bs rule anyway in my opinion.
Does he have a lot experience flipping one? How many successful flips? No and Few I suspect.


Chill out freak, I said it was my guess. Besides, my "rule" was applying to something as complex and subtle as a pennyfakething- not just a BMX bike with a ring on it.

I was just trying to help you- if you'd listened to me when you started then your bike wouldn't BE a failure. You should have sought instruction from somebody skilled at building and modifying bikes.

And what do they call YOU around town? Oh, that's right, they don't talk about you.

http://www.marriedtothesea.com/051208/wheelmobile.gif

oh, odd, then that these modern day builders would encorperate the third wheel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYB7CpwxcUw

Wow, 1.3 million views!

ok yesterday i called a machine shop and the person there said they would have to have a ring mailed in for $300 (!!!) but today i scored a 7 foot metal spool for the electric company! the thing is massive but i got one of the sides spokes out so now i have a 7 foot ring

ok yesterday i called a machine shop and the person there said they would have to have a ring mailed in for $300 (!!!) but today i scored a 7 foot metal spool for the electric company! the thing is massive but i got one of the sides spokes out so now i have a 7 foot ring

MUST have photos!

East Hill

it almost done, i just need to finish putting some trustable supports in there, it will probaby be done but it is too wet for stoppies anyway, sorry that all the pics i have for now but with another solid hour of welding and it will be done, im using a red x-games bike, ill post pics soon, probably tommorow

Looks solid so far!

East Hill

I think that's the spool before he started on it.

ya now its cut down to one ring with a space for the wheeels i just need to put forth the effort of wlding on it for, like, 2 hours

I think that's the spool before he started on it.

It still looks solid, and should work perfectly for the end design.

East Hill

ok so i have it built, but i am afraid to flip it because the thing practicaly weighs more than i do, does anyone have any tips on losing the nervousness or making flips better besides having front brakes which i have decided to put on there

does anyone have any tips on losing the nervousness

http://www.mikechurch.com/images/store/big_brass_balls1.jpg

Los buenos said
>>ok so i have it built, but i am afraid to flip it because the thing practicaly weighs more than i do, does anyone have any tips on losing the nervousness or making flips better besides having front brakes which i have decided to put on there

Yes. But I don't know your machine. You didn't mention a harness. Also, you don't mention putting rubber on the ring to increase friction. With my machine, front brakes enable the entire trick, there IS no trick without strong front braking. If the bike weighs more than you do, then basically none of my advice here may apply. Weigh it if you can. It is pretty difficult for me to analyze a machine I know almost nothing about. What size wheels?

Here is something to get over the nervousness.
Wear pads. I think a helmet with face shield and wrist protectors are a wise idea. FOOK the critics on this, practice alone if you are shy about it. They will not be the ones getting dental implants or wearing a brace on their wrist. Don't try and catch yourself by putting the arm out.

Keep you neck and body stiff and tuck that head. The only concussion danger I can imagine is either slamming it sideways on pavement on fall, or banging it against the ring/ground when you are upside down. If you stay with the bike, mine will not crush your feet/legs. If you land with your whole body, I don't think there is so much danger. You are going so slow, its like tipping over on a bike going about 1/2 mpg.

Start on pavement for the launch, and then roll onto grass. Start the trick like a foot or two from where the grass begins. In this manner I got it on the third try. If you find that you lose momentum and are tipping over, then increase initial speed, and brake harder. Don't forget to release the brakes after you land. There is a danger of going TOO fast initially to the point where the front wheel is going to take quite a shot.

When you are landing that front wheel, keep the steering straight, or you will warp all but the toughest rim. I prefer to fall rather land with the steering positioned to correct any lean. I have now replaced the front rim twice, but they were crap. Keep checking that rim after you land.

Good luck
Travesty

what the point of the third wheel?

I think he is asking the same thing..... probably just to make people ask questions. I would kill myself with one of those

I think he is asking the same thing..... probably just to make people ask questions. I would kill myself with one of those

The third wheel. I don't know what they were thinking. it just adds weight to the overall machine, and the force it produces is minimal and is not a factor. People seem to be entranced, and rightfully so, with how a spinning wheel likes to stay where it is in space and if you move it it produces force, but this whole effect relies on rate of spin and I think mass. The force produced is not enough to be significant I think.