Witchcraft

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ren531

ren531

Veteran
Location
Lancaster uk
After playing around with this bike trying to get it to fit and not enjoying the ride (it's a bit too small) I put it back to its original state and had a ride even though its set up with the seat too low ditto the bars and it has transformed the ride beyond words, so I have been experiencing single speed properly for the first time and I am bewitched by this machine, I have to explain I do not like racing bikes had a few and never got on with them, but this is a different beast it's so responsive to every slight pedal pressure, it seems to be almost alive so completely in its environment it almost becomes invisible underneath me, comfort and stability, braking and control all in perfect harmony with myself, so is it because its a high quality custom built bike (even though it doesn't fit) or have I just discovered the pure joy of single speed, it has a flip/flop hub and not properly tryed fixed yet but will do soon, I supose it is a mixture of the two, or its just witchcraft. View attachment 614815

View attachment 614816

View attachment 614817
 
ColinJ

ColinJ

Puzzle game procrastinator!
Location
Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I made a singlespeed bike out old bits and pieces to go to the shops on, and maybe use to nip up and down the local valley roads. To my surprise, I really enjoyed riding it so I have actually done thousands of kms on it over the past 5 or 6 years. I think a singlespeed bike is great for me as long as I don't try to do more than a couple of hundred metres at up to 10% gradient, and avoid anything steeper.

PS I will never understand how people can ride saddles pointing up like that... I have to have mine slightly nose down or after a 1 hour ride I would be numb for a week! :whistle:
 
OP
OP
ren531

ren531

Veteran
Location
Lancaster uk
I did notice in the pics the saddle looks tilted up, can't say I noticed it when riding, I shall have a look into that tomorrow.
 
N

neil_merseyside

Guru
Location
Wirral
How tall are you, that is a gate frame if ever I saw one, and it has a head tube with a big gap so must be big, so you must be well over 6' 4" if it's small. It's a nice lugged steel frame, good curved forgiving forks, so it should be nice. Sounds like your playing around undid the natural feel of that frame. Seat looks to be rather emasculating though, well I doubt bits would be cut off but they'd soon feel like they had been...
 
ColinJ

ColinJ

Puzzle game procrastinator!
Location
Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
ColinJ said:
It seems that it doesn't bother some riders - I have seen quite a lot of bikes set up like that.
Click to expand...
I just spotted another one... @Rickshaw Phil's saddle in the last photo in THIS RIDE REPORT also points upwards slightly at the front.

This is how I have my saddles...

614856
 
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raleighnut

raleighnut

Legendary Member
Location
One of the 'Elite'
neil_merseyside said:
How tall are you, that is a gate frame if ever I saw one, and it has a head tube with a big gap so must be big, so you must be well over 6' 4" if it's small. It's a nice lugged steel frame, good curved forgiving forks, so it should be nice. Sounds like your playing around undid the natural feel of that frame. Seat looks to be rather emasculating though, well I doubt bits would be cut off but they'd soon feel like they had been...
Click to expand...
Nah that's a 'medium' frame (23" at a guess) this is a big frame,

614854
 
grldtnr

grldtnr

Über Member
raleighnut said:
Nah that's a 'medium' frame (23" at a guess) this is a big frame,

View attachment 614854
Click to expand...
I am a 'Big man' frame guy,the 'DAWES', 'F w Evans', ',Thorn' & a 'Tom Board' special all over 24", all were a bit wobbly except the Tom Board, which had the seat stays bought forward of the seat tube, but I know ride a super stiff recumbent.
The compact frame design is best for a strong frame in my view, and I am only 6'2", 33" inseam.
Depends where your length is,I, am in proportion, but barrel chested, with arms of an Orangutan, but don't drag my knuckles when I am walking.
 
OP
OP
ren531

ren531

Veteran
Location
Lancaster uk
neil_merseyside said:
How tall are you, that is a gate frame if ever I saw one, and it has a head tube with a big gap so must be big, so you must be well over 6' 4" if it's small. It's a nice lugged steel frame, good curved forgiving forks, so it should be nice. Sounds like your playing around undid the natural feel of that frame. Seat looks to be rather emasculating though, well I doubt bits would be cut off but they'd soon feel like they had been...
Click to expand...
I'm 6'3" and the frame is a 23", not had a problem with the seat it's reasonably comfortable.
 
Landsurfer

Landsurfer

Veteran
Single speed and fixed are such a wonderful way to ride ....... But take a certain high level of fitness, (and always 2 brakes ), I believe. As for frames, I love big frames 24, 25 inch and i’m only 6’ 2” ...
 
Juan Kog

Juan Kog

permanently grumpy
Landsurfer said:
Single speed and fixed are such a wonderful way to ride ....... But take a certain high level of fitness, (and always 2 brakes ), I believe. As for frames, I love big frames 24, 25 inch and i’m only 6’ 2” ...
Click to expand...
I agree fixed is great and with 2 brakes , but a high level of fitness :laugh::laugh::laugh: not in my case .
My old Raleigh competition is 25 1/2“ and looks like a farm gate with wheels attached. But is really comfortable once I’m on board .
 
grldtnr

grldtnr

Über Member
Juan Kog said:
I agree fixed is great and with 2 brakes , but a high level of fitness :laugh::laugh::laugh: not in my case .
My old Raleigh competition is 25 1/2“ and looks like a farm gate with wheels attached. But is really comfortable once I’m on board .
Click to expand...
The OP's bike, looks old skool, built by one of the many specialist builders of the time, as such it would have been built to fulfill many functions, the old boys knew how to build bikes then.

A joy to own.
 
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