bolt--upright lightweight diamond frameset or complete bike?
06-19-12 | 02:15 PM
#1
Thread Starter
benter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 73
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From: Sunnyvale, CA
Bikes: Santa Cruz Blur w/ GMAC, Bacchetta Giro 20, Specialized AWOL, Breezer Downtown EX
bolt--upright lightweight diamond frameset or complete bike?
I'm thinking about switching back to uprights from an underseat-steering recumbent and wonder if I can get a lightweight "Dutch" bike. I don't need fenders or a chaincase. I'd like a lighter weight cromoly or aluminum frame. I prefer a derailleur to hub gears.
Lovely Bicycle covers the uprightness range nicely.
The Breezer Uptown EX is interesting, but it's more of an English 3-speed geometry. I'm looking to put no weight on my hands. I know it'll slow my (11 mi. each way) commute down with the terrible aerodynamics, but I'm still willing to try it. If it's just too slow, I'll still have a nice bike for neighborhood grocery runs.
A bike with a quill stem could be changed a bit with a super-tall stem like the Nitto Periscopa and I could reverse the seat post to get the pedals closer to the bars, but many of the almost-Dutch bikes use threadless headsets. Threadless extenders don't seem to come long enough to fully Dutch-ify.
Even some of the Dutch bikes only come with the handlebars sky high on the loop frames with the "opas" a little less upright.
I'm 6'3" with a 36 inch inseam, so sky high (elbow hight when standing) handlebars is *really* high.
Lovely Bicycle covers the uprightness range nicely.
The Breezer Uptown EX is interesting, but it's more of an English 3-speed geometry. I'm looking to put no weight on my hands. I know it'll slow my (11 mi. each way) commute down with the terrible aerodynamics, but I'm still willing to try it. If it's just too slow, I'll still have a nice bike for neighborhood grocery runs.
A bike with a quill stem could be changed a bit with a super-tall stem like the Nitto Periscopa and I could reverse the seat post to get the pedals closer to the bars, but many of the almost-Dutch bikes use threadless headsets. Threadless extenders don't seem to come long enough to fully Dutch-ify.
Even some of the Dutch bikes only come with the handlebars sky high on the loop frames with the "opas" a little less upright.
I'm 6'3" with a 36 inch inseam, so sky high (elbow hight when standing) handlebars is *really* high.
06-20-12 | 09:37 AM
#2
Out fishing with Annie on his lap, a cigar in one hand and a ginger ale in the other, watching the sunset.
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 16,049
Likes: 29
From: South Florida
Bikes: Techna Wheelchair and a Sun EZ 3 Recumbent Trike
Moved from General at OP request. Help him out, folks. 
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. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
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. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
06-20-12 | 10:10 AM
#4
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Traditional Dutch bikes have rather low angled head and seat posts,
but they are not lightweight frames.
[OTOH, they have been serviceable for a couple generations]
lightweight diamond sport riding frames have a steeper seat tube..
One of the pieces Clever Cycles, PDX actual NL bike importer,
(they will sell and ship one)
and Brompton folding bike dealer,
say they do is to add a Brompton part, Saddle Adapter Pin atop a standard
stepped down [7/8" top] seat post.. the SAP provides a horizontal tube also 22.2..
then the saddle clip is attached to the SAP,, which , pointing backwards,
gives you a couple inches..
Tall frame the angle change will be less, obviously, than a shorter frame.
but they are not lightweight frames.
[OTOH, they have been serviceable for a couple generations]
lightweight diamond sport riding frames have a steeper seat tube..
One of the pieces Clever Cycles, PDX actual NL bike importer,
(they will sell and ship one)
and Brompton folding bike dealer,
say they do is to add a Brompton part, Saddle Adapter Pin atop a standard
stepped down [7/8" top] seat post.. the SAP provides a horizontal tube also 22.2..
then the saddle clip is attached to the SAP,, which , pointing backwards,
gives you a couple inches..
Tall frame the angle change will be less, obviously, than a shorter frame.
06-20-12 | 10:20 AM
#5
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Oh yea, there are still 'apehanger' handlebars made and sold in bike shops.
my late father another 6'3" had a bike with bars like that..
[I think he got it late, type II diabetes had already done in the nerves in his feet.]
perhaps less driving, more bike riding would have delayed the onset..
I keep pedaling to prove my theory, to myself..
my late father another 6'3" had a bike with bars like that..
[I think he got it late, type II diabetes had already done in the nerves in his feet.]
perhaps less driving, more bike riding would have delayed the onset..
I keep pedaling to prove my theory, to myself..
06-20-12 | 11:18 AM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Ape hangers may be the ticket, if you don't mind the result looking odd. 
06-20-12 | 12:51 PM
#7
I'm thinking about switching back to uprights from an underseat-steering recumbent and wonder if I can get a lightweight "Dutch" bike. I don't need fenders or a chaincase. I'd like a lighter weight cromoly or aluminum frame. I prefer a derailleur to hub gears.
Lovely Bicycle covers the uprightness range nicely.
The Breezer Uptown EX is interesting, but it's more of an English 3-speed geometry. I'm looking to put no weight on my hands. I know it'll slow my (11 mi. each way) commute down with the terrible aerodynamics, but I'm still willing to try it. If it's just too slow, I'll still have a nice bike for neighborhood grocery runs.
A bike with a quill stem could be changed a bit with a super-tall stem like the Nitto Periscopa and I could reverse the seat post to get the pedals closer to the bars, but many of the almost-Dutch bikes use threadless headsets. Threadless extenders don't seem to come long enough to fully Dutch-ify.
Even some of the Dutch bikes only come with the handlebars sky high on the loop frames with the "opas" a little less upright.
I'm 6'3" with a 36 inch inseam, so sky high (elbow hight when standing) handlebars is *really* high.
Lovely Bicycle covers the uprightness range nicely.
The Breezer Uptown EX is interesting, but it's more of an English 3-speed geometry. I'm looking to put no weight on my hands. I know it'll slow my (11 mi. each way) commute down with the terrible aerodynamics, but I'm still willing to try it. If it's just too slow, I'll still have a nice bike for neighborhood grocery runs.
A bike with a quill stem could be changed a bit with a super-tall stem like the Nitto Periscopa and I could reverse the seat post to get the pedals closer to the bars, but many of the almost-Dutch bikes use threadless headsets. Threadless extenders don't seem to come long enough to fully Dutch-ify.
Even some of the Dutch bikes only come with the handlebars sky high on the loop frames with the "opas" a little less upright.
I'm 6'3" with a 36 inch inseam, so sky high (elbow hight when standing) handlebars is *really* high.
https://www.amazon.com/Nirve-Cruiser-...cle+handlebars
https://www.amazon.com/Wald-Steel-Qui...ords=wald+stem
__________________
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
06-20-12 | 03:00 PM
#8
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
This bike almost fits your desire; put those bars Nightshade recommends and it would be pretty close (only 2-speeds though). My point, though, is you can take a tall diamond frame and cruiserize it. With cork grips and the long, wide bars, there is almost no shock into my wrists.
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I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
06-20-12 | 05:58 PM
#9
Elitest Murray Owner
Joined: Apr 2006
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Bikes: 1972 Columbia Tourist Expert III, Columbia Roadster
The breezer uptown is more upright than a typical British 3 speed. The old British light roadsters basically have the tops of the handlebars level with the top of the seat.
You can adapt an old three speed by using a longer stem if you need to be more upright than that. I have an 11" stem on my grocery-getter/beater:
And I still have about 3" of height I'm not using.
I don't know why you want to have no weight on your hands for, but I personally need to be leaned even just a tad forward to save my butt and back. The grips I'm using on that bike allow me to grab the handlebars by the ends if I want to sit completely upright, but I generally do not ride like that.
You can adapt an old three speed by using a longer stem if you need to be more upright than that. I have an 11" stem on my grocery-getter/beater:
And I still have about 3" of height I'm not using.
I don't know why you want to have no weight on your hands for, but I personally need to be leaned even just a tad forward to save my butt and back. The grips I'm using on that bike allow me to grab the handlebars by the ends if I want to sit completely upright, but I generally do not ride like that.
06-21-12 | 01:18 PM
#10
Thread Starter
benter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Sunnyvale, CA
Bikes: Santa Cruz Blur w/ GMAC, Bacchetta Giro 20, Specialized AWOL, Breezer Downtown EX
Thanks all. I hadn't really been thinking flexibly, but now I've got a lot more ideas. Somehow I convinced myself the Breezer Uptown has a threadless headset, but it's threaded so a Periscopa and longer reach handlebars would work.
Ape hangers are a great idea. I like this example. Rans even makes a 3-way "chopper" bar adjustable for rise, reach and angle.
The no weight thing is because of repetitive strain injury from typing w/ bad posture & switching from electric to acoustic guitar.
Ape hangers are a great idea. I like this example. Rans even makes a 3-way "chopper" bar adjustable for rise, reach and angle.
The no weight thing is because of repetitive strain injury from typing w/ bad posture & switching from electric to acoustic guitar.
