Originally Posted by
Citoyen du Monde
Yes do check it out and then run as far away as possible from any of their bikes. If you don't mind the wait, you could try one of these:
http://www.tallbike.com/tall/index.html
I have a 54" Rudge racing machine from about 1884 and have ridden thousands of miles on ordinaries, including time trials and the like.
You should try to do a 10 mile out and back ride on a narrow country road.
My locale is .5 mile from the Natchez Trace Parkway here in Mid-TN. It's an asphalt/blacktop 2 lane bicycle friendly(40mph speed limit) highway 442 miles long from just outside Nashville to Natchez, MS. I live just off of MP 423. From MP 423 to MP 408 there are grades of 2-4% max. When I
do get a PF or as I'm beginning to realize is the more correct reference an 'ordinary' bicycle this is going to be my training ground. The exciting aspect of the success of my first attempt was how quickly I adjusted to it. I realize 1500 ft isn't a 20 mi rt, but it was enough for me to grasp that I
could ride one to begin with and build up distance off of that. It's the same stretch of road on which I learned to ride a fg w/confidence.
The whole experience was a surprise b-day present from my wife as she'd met the owner in a completely different context. I'd shared w/her a couple of weeks earlier how I'd always wanted to try one and she surprised me w/the opportunity.
The 'tallbike' website looks to have machines reasonably priced for a contemporary build. Looks like my size according to the blog would be a 52". Thank you very much for the link.