Author Topic: Interesting and Unusual Bikes You've Seen (Read 641404 times)

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #1275 on:** 22 April, 2012, 04:55:49 pm »

Saw a couple on a tandem trike today, but I can't tell you anything about it as we only passed each other in opposite directions.

A couple of days ago I saw an orange Bike Friday tandem, stokerless, in the morning rush hour about to go down Park Street.

Andrij · « **Reply #1276 on:** 22 April, 2012, 04:59:42 pm »

Friday: On that evening's recce one of our fellow riders was on a Pat Rohan.

Today: A tandem locked to a bike rack on Jamaica Road. No idea what sort of tandem, but that's not the type of bike one usually sees locked up to a city back rack, especially not at 07:30 on a Sunday.

clarion · « **Reply #1277 on:** 22 April, 2012, 05:16:33 pm »

We saw a couple on a Ken Bird tandem on the tracks near home. The gentleman piloting seemed to be wearing a Tandem Club jacket. They were both happy.

We spotted a Gillott locked to a rack in London when we rode up to Pimlico Friday.

alexb · « **Reply #1278 on:** 01 May, 2012, 10:25:30 am »

I was lined up alongside an On One "Dirty Disco" at a set of lights this morning. It looked absolutely fantastic. It had been destickered, except for the rims. It's rare for me to spend much more than a few seconds eying up anopther bike, but this was really quite nice.
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOODDFBFOR/on_one_dirty_disco_sram_force_flat_bar

tiermat · « **Reply #1279 on:** 01 May, 2012, 10:31:49 am »

Quote from: CrinklyLion on 18 April, 2012, 10:16:32 pm

<snip>....Although I don't think there has ever been a bike with so few spokes in the Den before!

Ahem, I believe my Ridley, with it's shiny flange of truth and minimal spoke count has visited the Den before

clarion · « **Reply #1280 on:** 01 May, 2012, 10:43:51 am »

Ah, but I don't think Simon bothers with spokes at all. Much more lightweight to use levitation.

clarion · « **Reply #1281 on:** 02 May, 2012, 09:37:09 am »

This morning, I saw two particularly interesting bikes. One was turning onto Railton Road at Herne Hill. A nicely set up tourer in the same shade of green as Andrij's. So, as I passed, I looked to see if it was in fact a Hewitt. It was badged as a Kontour, which is not a brand I know.

Near Walworth Road, and up to NKR, I saw an orange cargo bike with two child seats (rear only occupied at that point) on the back. I thought it might be a Yuba Mundo, but it was a bit clunky-looking. Perhaps it was an early version.

Ian H · « **Reply #1282 on:** 03 May, 2012, 09:13:52 pm »

Seen only in a photo, posted elsawhere by someone reminiscing about the 70s. He called it a 'Spring bike', said it was made by Raleigh, and was lethal (look at the rear wheel and how the rear forks attach). I can't find out anything more about it.

clarion · « **Reply #1283 on:** 03 May, 2012, 09:39:53 pm »

ISTR Wobbly John knew something about this last time it was mentioned.

Tom B · « **Reply #1284 on:** 03 May, 2012, 09:47:33 pm »

Quote

ISTR Wobbly John knew something about this last time it was mentioned

as soon as I saw it I thought it was something he or one of his students had made as an experiment

Wobbly John · « **Reply #1285 on:** 03 May, 2012, 09:59:59 pm »

It's a Swing-Bike. They were commercially produced in the 70's and are similar to the Wobblebikes that I build. They are more difficult to learn than the Wobblebike, but I have seen some impressive riders on YouTube.

The spring can be removed once you have got the hang of riding it. They are very collectable.

I have had a go at building one but haven't got the geometry sorted yet.

The company (or a resurection of the company) did start producing a new version about 3 years ago which was more like the wobblebike that I build.

Ian H · « **Reply #1286 on:** 03 May, 2012, 10:03:16 pm »

Ah! Thanks.

RJ · « **Reply #1287 on:** 04 May, 2012, 12:29:14 am »

Quote from: RJ on 17 April, 2012, 10:17:54 pm

Last week (but the rider looked regular), outside the Crown at Pantygelli - a Hetchins, mainly black, with a Sturmey-Archer 4-speed hub (the shifter is about the only useful identifying feature to have come out on the photo I grabbed)

Finally, a picture:

Hetchins by rjevans6, on Flickr

clarion · « **Reply #1288 on:** 04 May, 2012, 08:10:58 am »

Chainstays a bit slack.

Adrian · « **Reply #1289 on:** 04 May, 2012, 08:17:19 am »

Left out in the sun too long I expect.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #1290 on:** 04 May, 2012, 09:50:05 am »

Must have been last year!

PaulF · « **Reply #1291 on:** 04 May, 2012, 06:45:00 pm »

A left hand drive BMX.

A first I thought it was fixed but when he freewheeled I realised that it had a reverse freewheel. IIRC Wolly did that to his fixie "just because he could"

tiermat · « **Reply #1292 on:** 07 May, 2012, 06:31:08 pm »

Yesterday, whilst at the pub we saw a Pace RC-100 complete with Mahura brakes and age appropraite rigid forks, in yellow. My only disappointment with it was that it was the ano-grey colour and not the red one.

Next to it was an old sit-up and beg bike (can't remember the make) that was notable for it missing a pedal.

Torlanda did also mention another MTB oldy hiding out back of these ones, but I missed what it was

Oh and there was a very gorgeous purple Carlton Continental, a Circe Helios and an Elswick Hopper (chapeau to Clarion for riding it to the pub!) amongst our group.

clarion · « **Reply #1293 on:** 07 May, 2012, 06:44:12 pm »

I was rather put out that I was not the only person riding a rod-braked bike to the Buck in Maunby.

I didn't recognise the headbadge on the other bike, but it was also notable for its double top tube.

I rode the Elswick through central London in the rain, and home. I was an interesting experience.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #1294 on:** 07 May, 2012, 08:13:14 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 07 May, 2012, 06:44:12 pm

I was rather put out that I was not the only person riding a rod-braked bike to the Buck in Maunby.

I didn't recognise the headbadge on the other bike, but it was also notable for its double top tube.

I rode the Elswick through central London in the rain, and home. I was an interesting experience.

That's pretty common on Indian bikes - perhaps you saw an Atlas, Safari or Hercules!

itsbruce · « **Reply #1295 on:** 08 May, 2012, 01:20:01 am »

A custom trandem at the Tweed Run:

itsbruce · « **Reply #1296 on:** 08 May, 2012, 08:03:34 pm »

One of the regular Tweed Run marshals is Briggy, who restores and sells vintage bikes from a location near Waterloo station. This is his bike (and yes, that is his helmet):

(Images are from Facebook. Should be visible - shared publicly, but tell me if there's a problem viewing them)

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #1297 on:** 08 May, 2012, 09:16:47 pm »

The helmet looks cool but is probably hot to wear, the saddle is... hot but must be cool to ride!

alexb · « **Reply #1298 on:** 09 May, 2012, 12:56:19 pm »

Quote from: tiermat on 07 May, 2012, 06:31:08 pm

Yesterday, whilst at the pub we saw a Pace RC-100 complete with Mahura brakes and age appropraite rigid forks, in yellow. My only disappointment with it was that it was the ano-grey colour and not the red one.

The RC100 was only available in grey. Anodising was introduced with the RC200

/nerd mode off

I have a very complete RC100s sitting in the loft which I must clean up and seel to someone who could use it at some point.

tiermat · « **Reply #1299 on:** 09 May, 2012, 01:11:18 pm »

Quote from: alexb on 09 May, 2012, 12:56:19 pm

Quote from: tiermat on 07 May, 2012, 06:31:08 pm
Yesterday, whilst at the pub we saw a Pace RC-100 complete with Mahura brakes and age appropraite rigid forks, in yellow. My only disappointment with it was that it was the ano-grey colour and not the red one.

The RC100 was only available in grey. Anodising was introduced with the RC200

/nerd mode off

I have a very complete RC100s sitting in the loft which I must clean up and seel to someone who could use it at some point.

Thankyou for that, I did wonder if I was mis-remembering it. Clarion was right, he asked if the forks were original, and it appears they are (bright yellow RC-30 or 38, there was no stickers on them

)

That bike in your loft will be what they term a unicorn, over on Retrobike, due to their rarity. By the looks they are a pig to restore too, especially the BB/crankset.