Eccentric / ridiculous / ingenious ideas

So... I'm working on a potentially really lovely build for an excellent, progressive cause.

I'm pretty set on most of the build and how it's going to look and feel. But I want to do something a bit weird with it.

Has anyone seen anything eccentric, ridiculous, or downright ingenious either on this forum, or elsewhere? Things that go beyond merely bolting parts onto frames, I guess.

How weird are we talking

Like…cut bike to bits weird, or a unique use of existing parts to create a unique composition, distinct from “bolting whacky thing to boss” ?

or a unique use of existing parts to create a unique composition, distinct from “bolting whacky thing to boss"

this, I think

Do you mean things like Dear Susan? Zenga Bros do quite a few tall cargo bike type things which I think are quite cool

Mmmmm

Artistic moments but… for bikes

Mismatch but complimenting hub profiles/ colours
Mismatch but complimenting rim profiles
Slick back tyre knobblie front
Unconventional colour cable outers
Complimenting stickers/ patches
Saddle charms
Unique and bold saddles
Bike ornaments (friendship bracelets/ hand made charms etc)
Thematic paint jobs
Non standard decals
Good mix of old and new

I’m really into Building a bike with a non bike reference

I’ve always thought it would be cool to build a long wheelbase step through like a bozuzoku motorcycle or like a low rider etc

A lot of my sticker jobs / colour schemes come from Japanese car culture, wabisabi from drift missiles reeeeaally gets me

I find it helps frame the design in something less bike orientated , but with clear cross over to produce something that still feels novel even if using the same parts

I’d still like to get round to growing ivy / some other evergreen creeper all over a bike, rooted in a pot on the bike.

Half bike half horse

The guys that sang "Trumpton Riots?"

For example: I once saw a build (maybe on here?) where the person had built it up with two gears. 2 chain rings on the front, two cogs on the back. To change gear, the rider had to stop, take the chain off, and put it on the other set of chainring/cog. Which is obviously mad. And incredibly impractical. But fun.

If you’re on Facebook check out freakbikers unite, I think you’ll be pleased

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/291532/

I thought robots wars was a pretty good idea

Retro direct bikes are nothing new but brilliantly eccentric.

I went to the filming of RWs once. It was after Phillipa Forester had finished presenting it, which was unfortunate.

I can sign 'welcome to Robot Wars' so hit me up if you want to learn.

A giant flipper or a self righting mechanism on a bike would be amazing.
Or one of those spinning disc wheels as a weapon. Not sure if a clincher or tubular would be better suited?

Having a mix of square and diamond crank arms at a 90° angle is easy/cheap fun. Not great for actual riding though.

It's also fun to build stuff with odd wheel sizes, that isn't a cargo bike.

I remember a primary school fete when I was a kid where they had a bike that steered the opposite way, and you had to pedal backwards to make it go forwards. Total headfuck. I don't think anyone made it more than 5ft before crashing it.

Do that. It'll be funny.

They had another one where the hubs were laced off-centre, so it "galloped" as you went along

Being able to barspin is always a desirable feature. Thinking of doing this on my minivelo, maybe

https://www.instructables.com/wobble-bike/

My grandad modified a bike that steered the wrong way. I don't think we ever got it further than 50cm.

My dad reckoned that he put a steering wheel on a bike once, never saw it so I don't know how true it is

Yeah this is mad

just spent the last hour watching vids of Razer on youtube, thanks

I’ve seen stained glass in the triangle above the rear brake bridge. Lovely.

https://www.mtbr.com/threads/dinglespeed.706679/

It was a “thing” for a while