Greetings from Michigan. Proof that even in the snowy north the Tall Bike Posse gets representation.
My name Is Ed and I have been building tall bikes for quite a few years now. I don’t do it for some rebellious cause, I do it because it’s a tremendous amount of fun. There are advantages with visibility, and it is a good tool to help spread the positive aspects of biking. I’ll tell anybody they don’t need something fancy they just need to get out there and ride a bit. I occasionally write for the local paper on cycling activities, and I like to participate in local charity rides. I can ride up and steal the spotlight away from the most coordinated spandex clad carbon fiber frame riders on a couple old huffy’s welded together covered in the finest $.99 spraybomb paintjob. I also ride in local parades and have made the papers three times (including a front page)
I am very fortunate to also be a member of the Peddlers Bicycle Club. The peddlers started out small but twice this summer have had rides in excess of 160 people. Even in February, in sub-freezing temperatures, with winter storm warnings we’ll draw in over 30 die hard riders, cruising the streets between watering holes and local business.
This past weekend I hosted my first ever Tall bike build day. We ended up crafting two fine bikes. One from an old Diamond Back mountain bike with a generic top for the mechanic at the local bicycle shop, and the other was a curvy blend of an old western flyer, a schwinn and a couple parts of some bike I had never heard of.
It would seem the message is catching on. I have to thank my friend Alan for showing up and lending a hand(and encouraging me on some design aspects back in the day) Buck and Terry from the Peddlers for making the move up in the world. Terry’s Girlfriend Karen, and the Owners of the House of wheels in Owosso for lending a hand and witnessing the maiden voyage of two fine new bicycles. Last but not least My wife and kids for never really directly discouraging me from aiming high. Our celebratory ride wasn’t long since it was 95 degrees with 95% humidity but all bikes performed well! Thank you to Sheriff Bill for helping me to organize this stuff, and encouraging me to encourage others.
I also put together a Little video of the eventTall Bike Build day 2011
Tags: Michigan Tall Bike Posse