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high wheels

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Old 04-05-06 | 01:55 PM
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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.
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Old 04-05-06 | 02:14 PM
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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.
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Old 04-05-06 | 02:15 PM
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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.
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Old 04-05-06 | 02:16 PM
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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.
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Old 04-05-06 | 02:32 PM
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say, pigmode, ever take a spin on an antique?
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Old 04-05-06 | 04:23 PM
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Bikes: surly steamroller w/coaster brake, electra single speed cruiser, specialized rockhopper commuter, no-name single speed folder, 700c ultimate wheel, 24" unicycle, specialized bmx lsd, single seat single speed huffy tandem, pink upsidedown parade bike

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.
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Old 04-05-06 | 09:53 PM
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Bikes: Mtb,Road,Fixed

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.
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Old 04-05-06 | 10:02 PM
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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.
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Old 04-06-06 | 12:39 AM
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hehe.
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Old 04-06-06 | 04:59 AM
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This dude seems to have it down.

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

Apparently there are people who ride them from coast to coast. That seems insane to me.
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Old 04-06-06 | 05:28 AM
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I'm not sure has it entirely down...

https://www.pennyfarthingworldtour.com/

look for the word "header"... ouch.
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Old 04-06-06 | 06:04 AM
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at first i thought you were going to ask about high tires or low tires... there's a thread discussing them here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...high+tires+low
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Old 04-06-06 | 06:21 AM
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Originally Posted by jayrooney
at first i thought you were going to ask about high tires or low tires... there's a thread discussing them here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...high+tires+low
best thread ever.
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