Do you own an unsuitable bike?

[redefined_cycles]

Didn't Charlie T(former)BM run an event like that back in the day? There were various anti-prizes/punishments for turning up on anything that was too close to a mountain bike.

Yes, Charlie used to do a 'Klunker race' which I recall involved self-inflicting injuries by riding an unsuitable bike down a hill as fast as you could.

My initial thoughts are a multi-day ride involving a number of 'check-points'. These would be selected on their unsuitability to be ridden on anything other than a mountainbike*

*It all makes perfect sense in my head

Just a wee question, now that me and my brain have caught up with the thread... Is the route you're gonna make for this 'event' based around Charlie and his Klunker race... IE. I should plan and expect to have a very high liklyhood of (semi-serious) injury to bike or rider... If so (and cos I'm a big fat softy) I'm out

[Bearbonesnorm]

Just a wee question, now that me and my brain have caught up with the thread... Is the route you're gonna make for this 'event' based around Charlie and his Klunker race... IE. I should plan and expect to have a very high liklyhood of (semi-serious) injury to bike or rider... If so (and cos I'm a big fat softy) I'm out

Not at all Shaf ... this is bikepacking.

[redefined_cycles]

Just a wee question, now that me and my brain have caught up with the thread... Is the route you're gonna make for this 'event' based around Charlie and his Klunker race... IE. I should plan and expect to have a very high liklyhood of (semi-serious) injury to bike or rider... If so (and cos I'm a big fat softy) I'm out

Not at all Shaf ... this is bikepacking.

Ace... I look forward to putting my Earnie through his paces... He's a Canyon and according to Hambini they're crap (only cos they just pretend to make all their stuff in house and mine that seemed to have been shipped from China most likely didn't have much in the likes of quality control... still, he's my Earnie and I love him regardless) so the sooner I brake him the better

Was only just thinking earlier today about when the BB200 'buy tickets' window opens and how on earth I'm gonna manage to get my foot in there before everyone else takes em

[wriggles]

Did a fat bike tour of the outer Hebrides beaches 6 years ago and bumped into a lad on North Uist touring on a fixie with huge rucksack. Particularly impressive was the plastic duck seatpack and grill strapped to frame. Thought good for him!

hebrides fixie.jpg

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[Bearbonesnorm]

That bike looks tiny. Was it?

[wriggles]

700c wheels Stu. Think its the very low aero bars that make it look small, but then most bikes look tiny to me

[JohnClimber]

That bike looks tiny. Was it?

[barney]

Charge plug for me, although not sure I can fit my bar bag harness on the bull horn bars!

[Alpinum]

Finally... after having had this idea in my head for a few years, I'm finally off bikepacking with my unsafety bicycle, the penny farthing. So far all went well, about 4 km to the train station.
It's been a couple of months since I rode it last, but all good and well. Took me 20 meters to feel "it" again.

On the train to Thun where I'll ride along the lakes and then go up the Grosse Scheidegg (has some flat bits, so shouldn't all be a hike-a-bike), check out some new paved roads towards First, ride down to Grindelwald, then Interlaken.
Trunks & towel packed.

Will probably use my Twitter account to share some photos.

[PaulB2]

It's fair to say I don't think too many UK trains would be able to cope with a penny farthing.

[Bearlegged]

It's fair to say I don't think too many UK trains would be able to cope with a bike of any description.

[GregMay]

24 street trials bike definitely counts I guess.

[woodsmith]

I'd like to think my Surly ECR is eminentley suitable. Unfortunatley it turns out my lungs are less so with a recent spirography test ( not the 70's mandala designing toy) showing they're only working at 79% of expected function. Which along with my inability to TLS, explains a lot about my lack of hill climbing ability. You'll find me wheezing along in Lantern Rouge position at this weekend's Jennride.

[Robster]

Darbeeze, maybe we will get to ride in Wales together this year after all!

[Alpinum]

It's fair to say I don't think too many UK trains would be able to cope with a penny farthing.

Yeah, probably not. Thankfully not much of an issue here.

Managed to ride as planned. A mix of mostly quiet roads and some gravel along the Lake Thun & Lake Brienz, then lots of pushing heading from Meiringen (600 m.a.s.l.) up to my bivy spot (2006 m.a.s.l) close to the Grosse Scheidegg.
Got free drinks at the Hotel Rosenlaui which was built during the time penny farthings were the ordinary bicycle, just because of the bike.
No traffic, not steep and incredible views of hanging glaciers and 1600 m high vertical cliffs, I knew (from many prior trips to this area) the pass road would be a good choice to take the penny into the Alps. A seventh (distance) of the climb were even rideable.
From there on it was all more or less downhill in the positive sense.

Was lovely, will do something similar again. *goes and checks maps*

[belugabob]

Well, according to a lot of motorists, all bikes are unsuitable.

On a more positive note, I'm changing jobs next month, so my 60 mile round trip, by car, becomes an 8 mile round trip by bike - mostly on reasonable cycle paths.
Happy days

[BobCatMax]

I have a lovely 80's carbon Alan Road bike on 25c skinnies that is very unsuitable, also a 30+lb GT LTS 2000 that would be fine for few hours and then probably not very fine at all

[TheBrownDog]

I think my folding e-bike would be very unsuitable. It’s genuinely dreadful and a poor replacement for my now sold Tim-powered Brompton. It has nowhere to put bags and wouldn’t even take a seat bag given the size and shape of the seat post. Tiny wheels, warped discs, very heavy and a range of about 30 miles before it becomes an unpedalable dead weight. And … and … it’s basically a med sized frame and my XL sized frame does not work with it. Picture a baby elephant riding a tiny clown bike and you have an idea of it all. Count me in.

[TheBrownDog]

Double post … how does that happen?