Messages

151

General discussions on Wheelmen topics. / Re: Sloping top tube

« on: October 25, 2018, 01:23:11 PM »

Didn't realize only one picture can be posted? Here's another. Oh I meant to say the handlebars could be adjusted to as low as to just clear the front tire. The bars shown are stock Lyndhurst Racing drop bars but lower custom ones could have been made to get super low at the grips height off the ground.
Mike Cates, CA.

152

General discussions on Wheelmen topics. / Re: Sloping top tube

« on: October 25, 2018, 01:15:32 PM »

Here you go. Remember those sliding handle bar clamps could be positioned all the way down the fork legs so getting the rider low wasn't a problem. Also note how the crank axle is lower than the center lines of the wheels, again to lower the center of gravity. A specialized machine for sure! Enjoy the photos!
Mike Cates, CA,.

153

General discussions on Wheelmen topics. / Re: Sloping top tube

« on: October 22, 2018, 09:59:30 PM »

Racing bicycles were also utilizing drop handle bars of varying length of drop and degree of angle to get the racer's arms as low and tucked in as possible.
I owned a 1890'sLYNDHURST RACER that had front forks that looped over the top steering head bearing race and nothing stuck up past that point. The handle bars were mounted on sliding brackets at each fork leg so you could place the dropped handle bars below the bottom of the steering head tube with the grips then just a couple of inches above the front wheel axle center line. Talk about getting low!! The forks that looped over the top steering head is positioned right against the rider's chest or adam's apple depending on the stance of the rider. The crank bracket was also dropped from the centerline of the front and rear wheel axles in an effort to lower the center of gravity as much as possible. The crank arms were made just long enough to be efficient and he pedals missed the ground by a couple of inches when the bike is vertical so definitely a racing machine for velodrome or smooth tracks. The frame was super light with very thin walled tubing and sounded like and older vacuum cleaner pick up tube when tapped on with a screwdriver, etc.
Mike Cates, CA.

154

Board for buying and selling Wheelmen goods and services. / Re: Need repro grips for New Rapid ordinary

« on: October 22, 2018, 01:25:06 AM »

I had made a mold years ago to cast Columbia Double Girp right and left hand grips. If an original T-grip is located, someone should make a mold off of it to produce it as a replacement part.
Mike Cates
(760) 473-6201
cates0321@hotmail.com

155

General discussions on Wheelmen topics. / Re: FASTENAL 3PL SHIPPING SERVICE

« on: October 22, 2018, 01:21:53 AM »

My contact is:
Mike Cates
(760) 473-6201
cates0321@hotmail.com

156

General discussions on Wheelmen topics. / Re: FASTENAL 3PL SHIPPING SERVICE

« on: October 22, 2018, 12:49:11 AM »

From what I have inquired about, Bike flights won't take high wheel bicycles as they only take standard size road bike sized cartons OR custom plastic bicycle cases. They also have weight restrictions as well. Bike Flights are good for HTS, CTS, & PTS 28" or 30" wheeled bicycles though "if" you can break them down small enough to fit the standard sized boxes they ship. Greyhound Bus Lines also will take safety sized bicycles $99 coast-to-coast but you have to pick it up at larger Greyhound Bus stations and not the local smaller ones.
Mike Cates, CA.

157

General discussions on Wheelmen topics. / Re: Sloping top tube

« on: October 22, 2018, 12:36:30 AM »

Alan,
Sloping top tubes were experimented with in either forward slope or rearward slope.
Most racing bicycles of this era had forward sloping top tubes to allow the handlebar stem to be as low as possible coming out of the steering head as the racer was tucked down to lower his/her center of gravity and also to get his/her body in a position for maximum leg strength to push the pedals via pulling against the handlebars for every pedal leg exertion. The shorter stem provided a more ridged feel for leverage from the rider's arms to transmit to his legs. forward sloping top tube frames are also better for high speed riding as a racing bicycle would experience.
Rearward sloping top tubes, as the bicycle you picture, allowed the long distance or pleasure rider the same advantage of a shorter handlebar neck for the ridged feel and also more frame mass forward to handle road conditions such as potholes, dips and rough surfaces encountered. Rearward sloping top tubes work better at medium to slower speeds. Just look at a modern trials off road bicycle or motorcycle which is at home doing 0-15mph as everything is angled rearward to keep the center of gravity as low as possible for balancing these specialized machines.
Handling would differ from a level horizontal tip tube bicycle frame via the less ridged longer handle bar stem letting the frame wiggle a little more due to the stem's flexing and torqueing somewhat.
Hope this helps.
Mike Cates, CA.

158

Board for buying and selling Wheelmen goods and services. / Re: Kennedy Ordinary on Ebay

« on: October 17, 2018, 01:13:03 AM »

SOLD for $2000 opening bid.
Mike Cates, CA.

159

General discussions on Wheelmen topics. / FASTENAL 3PL SHIPPING SERVICE

« on: October 17, 2018, 01:09:17 AM »

I just learned that FASTENAL industrial fastener stores offer shipping for large and heavy crated items on their trucks for a great rate. You simply crate your bicycle, car engine, motorcycle, etc and take it to your nearest FASTENAL store and they unload your shipment and put it on the next FASTENAL warehouse truck and it's that easy.
Click on this link  https://www.fastenal.com/en/22/3pl-(third-party-logistics)
Mike Cates, CA.

160

Board for buying and selling Wheelmen goods and services. / 36" High Wheel on ebay

« on: October 11, 2018, 02:29:26 AM »

If you are considering this bicycle, best to call me directly (No Texts Please). It is offered by a seller on ebay in California. I saw this bicycle close up today and want you to know things that the auction pictures don't show. Absolutely nothing against the owner's knowledge(or lack of) as he is a nice guy but, just want to be factual about this bicycle with my 45+ years of focusing on pre 1900's bicycles to a prospective buyer.
Mike Cates, CA.
(760) 473-6201
cates0321@hotmail.com

Click on this link to his ebay auction here:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/1880s-36-JUNIOR-HIGH-WHEEL-PENNY-FARTHING-TYPE-ANTIQUE-BICYCLE/232946440207?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

161

Board for buying and selling Wheelmen goods and services. / Re: Columbia High Wheel on ebay Needs Lots of TLC

« on: October 11, 2018, 02:01:49 AM »

Not a RATIONAL style which means having a larger rear wheel diameter and slightly increased fork rake for a little more safety addressing taking headers. Columbia RATIONALS were only made in EXPERT or LIGHT ROADSTER models 1890-1892. I own a 1892 52" EXPERT  COLUMBIA  that has the second highest serial number known in our club anyway.
Mike Cates, CA.

162

Board for buying and selling Wheelmen goods and services. / Re: WANTED FRONT BALL END HUB & SPOKES FOR COLUMBIA CHAINLESS SHAFT DRIVE BICYCLE

« on: October 06, 2018, 10:04:01 AM »

My email is:  cates0321@hotmail.com

163

Board for buying and selling Wheelmen goods and services. / WANTED FRONT BALL END HUB & SPOKES FOR COLUMBIA CHAINLESS SHAFT DRIVE BICYCLE

« on: October 05, 2018, 09:54:14 PM »

WANTED- Front ball end spoke style hub and any amount of ball end spokes for a Columbia Shaft Drive Safety Bicycle.
I have a Porcupine Columbia front hub for direct pull applications I would trade or will buy your hub outright.
Mike Cates
(760) 473-6201 Calls Only (No Texts Please)

164

Board for buying and selling Wheelmen goods and services. / Re: Wanted Elliot Hickory Seat

« on: September 14, 2018, 12:50:44 PM »

If you need good close up pictures, I have photos of the Elliott I sold a few years ago. Best to call me directly (No
Texts) Mike Cates (760) 473-6201