Alt Bike Culture - Building a tall bike today!

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.




View Full Version : Building a tall bike today!


Blais
06-20-08, 10:35 AM
I'm planning on using my Suteki fixed conversion for the bottom frame and a mixte frame sorta like this one for the top:http://www.sheldonbrown.com/images/mixte-supercourse.jpg

My only question is wether or not to keep the fixed hub on the back. I'm worried about the chain line and safety issues concerning the toe clips. I know I've seen a thread about a fixed tallbike but I can't seem to find it. Anyone have any experience?


basscadetz
06-20-08, 03:02 PM
My only question is wether or not to keep the fixed hub on the back. I'm worried about the chain line and safety issues concerning the toe clips. I know I've seen a thread about a fixed tallbike but I can't seem to find it. Anyone have any experience?

i suggest if you keep it fixed, you call it "assplant"

Blais
06-20-08, 03:37 PM
i suggest if you keep it fixed, you call it "assplant"

I'm going to call it assplant no matter what!!! That's awesome.


basscadetz
06-20-08, 07:02 PM
mixtes also make sweet lowriders if you use a banana seat, and chop the top 2 pipes off the rear triangle, and cut the seat tube down.

example of a chopped mixte:

http://www.clockworkbikes.com/sitebuilder/images/114_1426-810x608.jpg

gentry

Blais
06-20-08, 07:29 PM
that's pretty baddass! Now I need another Mixte frame.

windup capybara
06-23-08, 01:55 PM
marty from geekhouse built a tall fixed, you could ask him. check it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/geekhousebikes/2511809385/
doesn't look like he's got straps on there. watching him trackstand on that thing is great, it's such a circus act :D

dokydoky
06-23-08, 11:59 PM
I've seen a couple of dudes on fixed tallbikes riding around LA, it seems like a good idea just so you don't have to get off when you stop. I don't think either of them had brakes either, though I think those would be especially prudent when you're riding around with a chain that long, especially given that you probably have less control over tension due to the odd angle of the chain relative to the dropouts.

Blais
06-24-08, 06:27 PM
I hadn't had wire for the MIG welder until today so I finally got to build it. It took me about 3 hours to complete, from the time I rolled both complete bikes over to the shop and took a test ride on the finished product. Probably one of my fastest builds of this size. And here it is:
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w53/hollowgrind/1download.jpg

It isn't fixed gear because of some chain tensioning issues but it will do nicely. I'm sure it will receive some more work as I get the bugs out.

Blais
07-01-08, 11:42 AM
Here's assplant with some minor mods and improvements:
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w53/hollowgrind/Bike/assplant.jpg
I changed the bars because the old set was too low and got really uncomfortable. I didn't take into consideration the fact that the mixte frame is too small for me. I also changed the supports to thicker gauge pipe and welded them to both frames to stiffen it up a bit. I switched the chain to a lower gear to cope with the Worcester hills and made a chain tensioner to help keep the chain from flying off. Still, I managed to pop it off going up a hill this morning. This being my first tallbike build, I didn't realy know what to do about chain tensioning. How does everyone else do it?
I've been riding it to work every day and it's definitely my favorite build to date. I've actually memorized which sign poles/street lights to grab at all the intersections between home and work.:lol: