The Banana Bike
Yesterday was my last day in the bike shop. As a special treat (Someone has offered to buy it) we got to take down the ‘Banana Bike’ from above our displays. In the 3 1/2 years I have worked there, it has always sat and looked down on everything else.
Malcolm Elliot made an attempt on the British Hour Record in the 80s riding this bike, but wasn’t successful.
I always thought it was huge, but it’s actually for someone not much bigger than me, with 165 Campagnolo Record Pista cranks. The silk tubulars are totally dead now, and probably wouldn’t even inflate without a lot of work.
Oddest thing about the bike (Yes, even odder than the bullhorn bars and small front wheel) is the weighted rear wheel. It has ‘3kg’ written on it, and is pretty hard to get going, and to stop. Not really a bike for riding around the town.
I should have taken more photos, but I only had my phone with me, and the light was starting to go outside.