Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

Presumably to fit the box under the handlebars, and also because a smaller wheel is inherently stronger for given materials/construction.

Although lowering the centre of gravity of a two-wheeled vehicle theoretically should make the handling less stable, not more - the physics behind it is basically like balancing a broomstick on your finger - it's a lot easier with a 10ft broomstick than a 10 inch one. If the centre of mass is higher, you have to move the point of rotation (i.e. your finger on the broomstick/where the wheel touches the pavement) a lot less to get it underneath the centre of mass. If you've ever ridden a penny farthing you'll know how hard it is to fall off one.

That's the same as my frame

I'm not sure if this is porn or not.

http://www.kemper-velo.de/uploads/pics/IMG_0004_03.jpg

It's nice, but it's not for me.

I'd like to have a go on one at least. There's a place near me that had one available for hire but they sold it.

How on Earth do you sit on that saddle is it like a hamock?

How on Earth do you sit on that saddle is it like a hamock?

exactly it.

when you sit on the saddle, the frame stiffen up properly, and it's brilliantly comfortable.

let says the riding position is quite like an ol' english town bike, nice and upright but it doesn't feel hard work to accelerate or anything.

Loved riding it, but see no need of owning one, maybe if I let my red bike unlocked...

Yes, quite comfortable. Does take a little getting used to.

Handled a little strangely, but got the 6 miles home without incident. Wasnt great for my endos.

How was it for skids though? Endo's are so last decade.

I was looking ahead for potential hazards to avoid the need to brake sharply, thus saving wear on my tyres and ensuring the safety of myself and others around me.

Having said that the weight on the back did enable me to pull a 60 metre wheelie down Norwood high street, I ran the lights at the junction and nearly took out a lady with a pram but my wheelie was so awesome I dont think she minded.

Hell yeah...

I'd like to have a go on one at least. There's a place near me that had one available for hire but they sold it.

There are a few at the Bicycle Library (thebicyclelibrary.com) that the owner Karta would be more than happy to let you have a go on!

saw this today, thought it was snazzy

^ I put a shopping basket on my girlfriends bike. I removed the handles and used a load of cable ties to attach it though, so perhaps it's not as functional as the 'quick release' version above.

Anyway. Carlton's finished - SA S2C Kickback hub, dynamo (aka whine-amo) lights, mudguards, rack... it's like riding a freighter ship compared to my last bike. The only new parts are the wheels and bar tape, everything else I got secondhand or out of my parts bin - kept the total spend down to about £220ish (£150 of which was the wheels).

I've sorted the saddle and rack angles now. Can't wait for the chainring to wear out so I can get some better cranks... I bought these about three years ago for my girlfriend's cheap bike but never fitted them.

looks snazzy

how come you gave it such a easy ratio?

S2C hub so it's 70" and 50" (ish) - because there are lots of hills in Bournemouth and I prefer not to be sweaty when I get to work.

Oh that's pretty good actually, i didn't realise it was 2 speed

i need to build a bike for a similar reason, hoping some fatter tyres, 5 speed and swept back bars will chill me out a bit

Yeah the 25cs are a bit narrow for my liking. I'm not spending money until they wear out though.

i want some 32c's pretty perfect size i think

Where is the best place to get a bottle cage like that?

my frame doesn't have any braze-ons

You can get clamp on bottle cages

I got it at LBS, it was only a couple of quid for the clamp and you can fit a standard bottle cage to it. I also made one for holding a bottle under the saddle out of a piece of sheet steel bent into a trough shape, with the sides of the trough sitting through the seatpost bolt, and the bottom of the trough having two holes in it through which a standard bottle cage was bolted. Unfortunately I lost it so I'll have to make another one - it only took about 15 minutes though.

maybe you would be interested in this..

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=65844

i think its pretty snazzy, i want one my self for those hot sweaty long rides