high wheels
 

Just wondering if any of you fixed gear types have ever tried a high wheel and what you thought about it. I seriously want to try one. I'd love to commute to work on one.

I took a spin on an antique. The height was intimidating and the logistics of the dismount scarey. Speed control, balance, turning, and just getting from point A to B is best thought out beforehand. Wish I had had more time to play.

I took a spin on an antique. The height was intimidating and the logistics of the dismount scarey. Speed control, balance, turning, and just getting from point A to B is best thought out beforehand. Wish I had had more time to play.

I took a spin on an antique. The height was intimidating and the logistics of the dismount scarey. Speed control, balance, turning, and just getting from point A to B is best thought out beforehand. Wish I had had more time to play.

say, pigmode, ever take a spin on an antique?

I got to try one at a party last weekend. Was almost all the way up when the handlebars shifted by about 4 inches, so I hopped off.

Before I got to try again it was crashed a couple times and wasn't rideable anymore. But I did get to see what I would bet is the first time a high wheeler ever crashed into a Surly Pugsley.

Everything about it, even as I push-scootered it around the parking lot trying to hop on, felt insanely dangerous. They are crazy tall and unstable in all directions. Not surprising that 'safety' bicycles have become the design of choice.

Rode a friend's highwheeler a couple of times. Tight turns on gravel can be interesting. The high center of gravity is something to watch out for. There is a guy who does Ragbrai (gasp) on one every year.

There was a dude in Waco that used to commute on one smoking a cigarette. I was riding to work one day when I first saw him going the other way, and I literally almost rode into a lampost because I thought I was hallucinating.

hehe.

This dude seems to have it down.

http://www.brekus.org/hi-wheel/

Apparently there are people who ride them from coast to coast. That seems insane to me.

I'm not sure has it entirely down...

http://www.pennyfarthingworldtour.com/

look for the word "header"... ouch.

at first i thought you were going to ask about high tires or low tires... there's a thread discussing them here:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...high+tires+low

best thread ever.