Bikes for big people

After visiting Mercian to get fitted for his custom tourer frame, they have informed my dad that they cannot make a frame suitable for someone his size (height & weight).

Does anyone know of any uk based frame builders who can make large strong frames? My dad is 6'9" and weighs nearly 290lbs.

Whoa, holy giant! Hope you find a frame builder!

There is a frame builder in the US who makes bikes for basketball players as publicity stunts. Here's Yao Ming's bike.

http://bp1.blogger.com/_jaawLzKLk7g/...6_MingBike.jpg

http://bp1.blogger.com/_jaawLzKLk7g/...6_MingBike.jpg

http://www.londonfgss.com/post419382.html

Oh, Yao Ming is 7'6".

After visiting Mercian to get fitted for his custom tourer frame, they have informed my dad that they cannot make a frame suitable for someone his size (height & weight).

Does anyone know of any uk based frame builders who can make large strong frames? My dad is 6'9" and weighs nearly 290lbs.

Lazy. Probably couldn't be bothered getting the calculator and ruler out...
That or they have a fear of long headtubes...

Steve Goff will be able to help you out I would think, he didn't seem at all phased by the idea of making me a frame (I'm 6"8) and said he'd made ones for taller folk...

Lazy. Probably couldn't be bothered getting the calculator and ruler out....

I agree. After all, the whole idea of "custom", is to make a bike that fits the owner, for size and use.

Any good builder should be able to source thicker, stronger tubes for seatstays and the like.

Hobo, I'd recommend a chat to the good folk at Thorn Cycles, as they specialise in heavyduty touring designs, and might like the challenge and PR that would go with building a bike for your dad. Though, a Thorn bike would not be as pretty as a Mercian? Still, I'm sure all sorts of options could be discussed.

Also, for something a bit out of left field, maybe a call to Trevor Jarvis might be in order. There's a waiting list, but I'm sure your dad would be prouder of a Flying Gate, than of any Mercian he could ever possibly own. Trevor Jarvis chooses the right tubes for each application, so I think that could be a quite beautiful marriage.

Another option, is an extra-large Pedersen? Tres cool. Pedersen made-to-measure frame sizing. It accomodates riders to 210cm, which easily covers your dad's height, which is converted to 206cm.

I suppose it's safe to says that they have little experience with really tall customer, rather them to be honest than try and make one.

The problem with huge frame is that a normal triangle frame will be a lots more flexible due to the geometry (not just tubing), essentially from what I gather, a tall head tube mean the frame won't have a normal triangle, just a bizarre square and a rear triangle.

a sloped TT frame would be a good idea for someone like your father hobo, assuming Mercian couldn't do a horizontal TT one without compromising strength (and not just tubing).

I suppose it's safe to says that they have little experience with really tall customer, rather them to be honest than try and make one.

good point.

Lennard Zinn is a large bike specialist. Worth checking.

I suppose it's safe to says that they have little experience with really tall customer, rather them to be honest than try and make one.

The problem with huge frame is that a normal triangle frame will be a lots more flexible due to the geometry (not just tubing), essentially from what I gather, a tall head tube mean the frame won't have a normal triangle, just a bizarre square and a rear triangle.

a sloped TT frame would be a good idea for someone like your father hobo, assuming Mercian couldn't do a horizontal TT one without compromising strength (and not just tubing).

So you're suggesting a touring LoPro?

I agree. After all, the whole idea of "custom", is to make a bike that fits the owner, for size and use.

Also, for something a bit out of left field, maybe a call to Trevor Jarvis might be in order. There's a waiting list, but I'm sure your dad would be prouder of a Flying Gate, than of any Mercian he could ever possibly own. Trevor Jarvis chooses the right tubes for each application, so I think that could be a quite beautiful marriage.

My dad thanks you GA2G. He is driving down too Tembury Wells tomorrow to see one of the magnificent (his words) frames!

Tell your dad that he's very welcome Hobo.

In fact, if he does consider buying a Flying Gate, he might wish to buy a bike, and a separate frame.
Flying Gates are not just bikes, they're practically heirlooms.

There are only two modern bikes that I worship the design of, and they are the Flying Gate, and the
Paris Galibier (now from Condor). There is also Hetchins, but I'd combine the Magnum Opus with a
Bates Diadrant fork (made by Ron Cooper for Bates).

Three totally unique bikes. Two from framebuildersbike companies, and one, a mash-up of separate bike and fork.

Hobo

Your dad makes me feel like a lightweight at 6'5" and 220lbs

Best of luck to him finding a bike though, I know the frustration but obviously not to that extent.

HBicycles (France) will make whatever you want (Titanium) for €1000.

I cant really see the problem with building a frame for a bigger guy. Edscoble is spot on regarding the long head tube producing a square as opposed the usual near triangle. But the Gunnar frames show how this could be avoided. Would it not be resonable to design a slightly slopping geo then add an extra tube from the seat/tt join to the downtube/headtube join.

I've also seen an example of a home build using a massive custom tube for the down tube, and downtube tubing for the top tube ...and so on.

Although, if TJ can make him a Flying Gate. Then he'll be a lucky man. Thats my favourate classic bike.

Was the reason they couldn't make the frame he was too tall or too heavy or a mix of both of them? I would speak to dave yates, I think he has a 70cm frame somewhere on his website. If getting a frame strong enough that big then you could try Curtis, they don't do the type of frame you are looking for but specialized in T45 tubing which is not just for the bike industry so will come in longer lengths and it is very, very strong. Curtis frames are some of the strongest frames you can get, they might make you one if you design it for them.

Actually, a Miss Mercian design with a added top tube should siffen up the front triangle and the the rear triangle in one neat solution*.
http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/graphix/81_full_miss_mercian.jpg
(*feel a bit scared after recommending a ladies frame to such a large guy)

There was a super unusual argos touring frame for sale on the CTC For Sale forum recently, looked like a massively long head-tube. Worth having a peek, if only to see what's possible. Any decent custom frame-maker should be able to sort you out.

EDIT: this one http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=30333

Personally I wouldn't go with a flying gate, but that's just because I don't like them. At least you could lots of extra tubes to beef up the design without making the bike look any uglier.

I suspect one reason why Mercian didn;t want to do it is because they aren;t really super custom bike builders, more a small factory, and a bike for your dad will need some extra thought adn a different approach. Maybe a custom DT, using a DT for the TT and maybe two TTs to stiffen the main triangle. For blades for chain stays etc. I would go for Dave Yates because he is first and foremost a very skilled engineer who makes genuine custome bikes and so will be able to think this through and come up with the best design. It's also going to be almost impossible to make a frame for your dad using lugs because many of the tubes will have to be oversized, so you might want to bear that in mind.

I don't like Flying Gates, either--I'm a big fan of the classic diamond frame with a horizontal top tube.

Clarence, has your dad already made his decision or should he still try Chas Roberts? They're London-based, fully custom frame builders and may be able to help.

Momentum and Oliver, I can't say I'm shocked that some people don't like the monkeying around with such a classic design, as the diamond frame, but I am surprised that such as yourselves can't see the beauty in something that bit different. Is this a familiar theme - a love for something a bit different, on my part at least?

Trevor Jarvis is the last maker of the Flying Gate, and as such, is a treasure. Imagine if Monty of Condor had not been a part of the original Paris Bikes Galibier setup? We would be poorer for lesser choices. Not quality of course, but quantity.

My thinking was, that Hobo's dad chose Mercian for the same reasons that he might have chosen Hetchins - style and quality. Mercian may have won on cost though. The reason I threw the Flying Gate into the mix, was that I have had correspondences with Trevor Jarvis, and learned from him that he does select the right tubes for the application. Yes, the design is a bit of a Marmite affair, but what is beyond doubt, is that the Flying Gate is a living masterpiece. Let's put it this way, if the Design Museum in Shad Thames had to chose between the most ornate, or classical Vanilla and a Flying Gate, there would be no contest. The Vanilla may be more beautiful and classical, with a modern twist, but for someone wanting something "special" (which is what I guessed Hobo's dad would be after), the common diamond framed cycle is a chimney sweep's flat-capped tifter, compared to a Bowler or a Top.

There is only the Flying Gate and the Paris Galibier that stand out in such a different appraoch to the classic racer design. To wit, one could choose a Rotrax, a Witcomb, Mercian or Bob jackson, and the results would be all much of a muchness. Only when moving onto a Hetchins or a Bates Cantiflex (built by Ron Cooper, with Diadrant forks) would the shape of the rear or the front be substantially different to the classic racers one could buy.

Hobo's dad is lucky to be living at the same time as Trevor Jarvis, as he has the possibility of buying a frame made for him, as opposed to something similar from Sotheby's in the distant years to come. Love it or loathe it, it's ground-breaking, and history-making British craftmanship, that won't be around forever.

Golden Age of cycles; see post 8 for the precursor to the very modern Slingshot.

Swings and roundabouts.

I'm sure Dave Yates has made 30" frame a pic. is on his stie...

Trevor Jarvis is the last maker of the Flying Gate, and as such, is a treasure. Imagine if Monty of Condor had not been a part of the original Paris Bikes Galibier setup? We would be poorer for lesser choices. Not quality of course, but quantity.

It's obviously fine if people like these designs, and it's great that they're available if they prefer them. I just think that in terms of functionality, they're a bit of an evolutionary dead end.

I'm all for diversity, by the way. One of my favourite magazines is VeloVision, which features many an unusual bike/trike/quadricycle/you name it.