Very cool "Flying Gate"! I hear they're a great ride, but haven't tried one.

how does it ride? it looks cool. I would like to have one just for the novelty

What's interesting is that, if Sheldon is to be believed, these Flying Gates count as being mixtes: 3 sets of stays. Perhaps our "Mr Mixte" should be aiming to add one to his stable?


(the bike's not mine, btw...I just found the piccy in a slideshow of someone's cycling trip thru Scotland and the north of England)

Oh, I've seen those before. Originally built by Baines, now reproduced by TJ Cycles.

https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Bri...les/Baines.htm

Here's the people now making it:

https://www.tjcycles.co.uk/

If you like that, you might also like this:



And here's a recent repro by Condor - you can buy one right now (rather like the Flying Gate!)

Bloody hell.






(only joking)

Long torso, short legs. Just like me!

The entire "style" that Sheldon is speaking about is a "cross frame" (no not cyclocross).
There's an interesting artlcle on them at
https://www.rijwiel.net/
a very interesting Dutch bike site.
below is a 1901 illustration of cross frames from that site
Marty

That's cool.

I got to see a Rigi in person, which isn't quite as funky but same short wheelbase deal:

https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/RIGI_main.htm

The guy who owns a bike shop in pasadena own one. Some sort of seamist green with all black anondized components, italian I think but not campy. And the tires and hoods (or tape maybe) were kind of a salmon, I think. It was the most beautiful bicycle I've ever seen.

I think I've seen frames like that in the 3 Stooges short where they worked in a frame shop. Yeah, that's it...

Cool! One of the guys I used to ride with back around 1980 had one of those. Could never remember what it was called though. Thanks!

That things freaken awesome! Kinda mutant looking.. Id be stretched out riding that thing though, would need a shorter stem to be comfy probably

A chart of some of the most infernal frame designs ever invented.

I also fail to understand #32 - looks to be a standard frameset with a third stay running parallel to the ground from the dropouts, past the seatpost, and affixed to the downtube of the frame.

Is this correct? Or is it a combination of a small tube between the seattube and downtube PLUS the third chainstays?

-Kurt

It's a joke. That's a chart on how to make an origami swan.

Kurt,
I think its as you say additional stay running parrallel to the ground, how it attaches
I haven't a clue.
but pretty radical stuff for 1901.

marty

Were there any French makers doing frames like these Rigi's? I was at Southwest Frameworks yesterday and David had a frame that looked very simular. Of course the frame had been repainted a time or two so the Mericycle or something simular on the downtube could be from anything (anyone). Very interesting frame. Hope David takes the time to do a proper repaint one of these days.

Those frames remind me of this one. Only reason I ever noticed this bike (Waller) is because it's my last name.

https://www.classicrendezvous.com/Bri...Waller_NMs.htm

Duane, I grew up with the lowland Wallers...are you Dutch by any chance?

This thread is awesome, by the way. I am extremely enamoured of unusual things.

Just what is the design rationale behind a frame like that? It sure isn't apparent.

From what I've been able to gather, I'm British and something else that my family can't put it's finger on. They say either French (I hope they're mistaken) or possibly Dutch or Belgian. Geez, I hope it's either Dutch (cool shoes) or Belgian (chocolate).
The 'Lowland Wallers" sounds like they lived at the bottom of the hill.

Mike - if you mean the Flying Gate, shortening the wheelbase will be one factor. Look at where the seat is - you'd have to have a curved seat tube to make that work otherwise. The Galibier is supposed to be stiffer. Of course, there's always the theory that in a world where logos were not allowed on race bikes, you wanted something to make yourself stand out.....

and just to let you know those oddball cross frames did actually exist
here's a photo I lifted from an ebay auction, Dursley Pedersen.

I'll stick with traditional diamond-shaped frames, thank you very much. Most of these things remind me of "factory seconds".

I think most of the Rube Goldbergs who are hard at work making a more convoluted moustrap prefer to make hash of MTB frames these days.

I will have one of those....Copenhagen Pederson's are great reproductions. I saw one go at Copake for just $400.

Thank god I don't have to compete with USAZorro for taste...we're the same size!


"Whether is be pleasant or unpleasant, so long as it is unusual..."
-Emperor Nero

https://www.dursley-pedersen.net/index.html