Author Topic: DIY Porteur Bike  (Read 10767 times)

bikenerd

DIY Porteur Bike
« on: 24 April, 2009, 12:02:37 pm »
I'm been asked by friends to build them a shopping bike.
I have a vague idea of making something like the Kogswell PR but with a step through frame.

So, any ideas as to what type of frame I should look out for?

The friends are a couple and the male is rather tall, about 6ft 3".  The female is tall for a lady, but probably a good 6" shorter.

Racks I'll make in the style of these DIY porteur rack

Cheers!

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #1 on: 24 April, 2009, 12:36:45 pm »
You'll want a stiff frame, most step-through frames don't handle well with a load.  Loaded high-mount front racks only work well with lots of fork rake i.e. low trail.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #2 on: 24 April, 2009, 12:52:20 pm »
Are you sure you want a rack fitted to the forks, and not a delivery style one that is attached to the frame?  Might make handling a bit easier...
Getting there...

bikenerd

Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #3 on: 24 April, 2009, 02:23:55 pm »
Are you sure you want a rack fitted to the forks, and not a delivery style one that is attached to the frame?  Might make handling a bit easier...

I would prefer a rack fixed to the frame, as the rake on the forks wouldn't have to be so pronounced.
My Moulton has the front pannier racks attached to the frame and steering is completely unaffected by any load I have in the panniers.

More food for though! :)

fruitcake

  • some kind of fruitcake
Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #4 on: 26 April, 2009, 12:38:31 pm »
I often see a Pashley Mailstar locked up at the Sainsburys where I buy my lunchtime sandwich.
The oversized rear rack is great.  
It clearly is an ex Royal Mail machine now being used as a shopping bike  
Pashley Cycles - Mailstar

If I were doing a DIY job I would make a heavy duty rear rack, using pre-drilled flat bar stock.
Any front basket could then be for 'overspill'.

Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #5 on: 05 August, 2009, 10:23:51 pm »
If the frame has to be step-through, a Mixte frame is strong.

border-rider

Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #6 on: 05 August, 2009, 11:17:06 pm »
An American chap did LEL on a very nice mixte frame.

Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #7 on: 06 August, 2009, 10:43:22 am »
The two design classics for this purpose seem to be the Pashley and the newish Kona:






Both look great fun!

Mr Larrington

  • A bit ov a lyv wyr by slof standirds
  • Custard Wallah
    • Mr Larrington's Automatic Diary
Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #8 on: 06 August, 2009, 10:53:01 am »
An American chap did LEL on a very nice mixte frame.

I had to stop myself from going up to him and saying "See your bike?  That's a girl's bike, that is!"  :P
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

border-rider

Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #9 on: 06 August, 2009, 11:13:50 am »
I did chat to him on Wednesday morning, asked about his "unusual" frame design, and he said he kind of liked it for its looks.  I couldn't bring myself to suggest that it might invite comment from yoofs.

nicknack

  • Hornblower
Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #10 on: 06 August, 2009, 11:25:22 am »
Yoofs will comment on the strangest things.

I've had this described as a gurls bike despite it being enormous (I'm 6' 5").

There's no vibrations, but wait.

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #11 on: 06 August, 2009, 12:25:51 pm »
Yup.  It's a gurl's bike. ;D

IGMC...
Getting there...

Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #12 on: 06 August, 2009, 12:47:57 pm »
Frame and fort mounted racks - Dutchbike .co .uk Dutch bike direct sales. Dutch style bikes and specialized bicycles

They are the same one that basket-meister David Hembrow sells, and I suspect he could make you the mother of all baskets to go with it

David Hembrow, basketmaker - Wicker / Willow Bicycle Baskets

If I was going for a shopping bike, something like the Azor Postman bike with nexus-8 and roller brakes, plus the heavy duty front rack would catch my eye... oops there goes next-years cyclescheme...



This is cool though...


nicknack

  • Hornblower
Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #13 on: 06 August, 2009, 01:12:49 pm »
Yup.  It's a gurl's bike. ;D

IGMC...

 :P
There's no vibrations, but wait.

francisbarton

  • Francis
  • I've only got one bike, and it's only got one gear
Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #14 on: 06 August, 2009, 01:15:14 pm »

Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #15 on: 07 August, 2009, 11:14:39 am »
This is cool though...



CABS
Might be a bit of a handful in a crosswind :)
I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that.

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #16 on: 07 August, 2009, 11:20:42 am »
But it is well equipped to withstand wind effect.  It can be prevented from being blown off course by the simple addition of the latest accessory: More weight.

More weight was of course invented in the USA by the rad hipsters, and introduced to this country by London's messenger community... ::-)
Getting there...

Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #17 on: 24 October, 2009, 09:23:26 am »
An American chap did LEL on a very nice mixte frame.

”American”?!  I'm not a bloody Yank!  ::-)

I did chat to him on Wednesday morning, asked about his "unusual" frame design, and he said he kind of liked it for its looks.  I couldn't bring myself to suggest that it might invite comment from yoofs.

Yoofs seem to be better behaved–and/or more enlightened!--than you give them credit for. Apparently, they know that a mixte is a unisex frame (as opposed to a ladies' specific design), as I received no comments from them. The comments I did receive were all very favourable, and they all came from, um, middle-aged male audaxers.

For LEL 2013, I'll have to convert it into a fixie. Let's see what the comments will be like then!  :P
"There is nothing nothing nothing wrong with spending money on a bike."--R. Ballantine

Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #18 on: 04 November, 2009, 06:38:50 pm »
Here's one spotted in downtown Helsinki on Sunday:

"There is nothing nothing nothing wrong with spending money on a bike."--R. Ballantine

nanas

Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #19 on: 20 July, 2010, 10:10:27 pm »
I find carrying the weight at the front a lot more difficult than at the rear.

Re: DIY Porteur Bike
« Reply #20 on: 23 July, 2010, 07:57:24 pm »
I suspect that bikes that are designed for it feel so much better than those that aren't. The carrier on this one is frame mounted, and didn't seem to affect the steering. Azor Lightning; a lovely piece of kit.