Burdin Pace Bike

[Paulb_imp]

Here's something a bit different I picked up at a bike show a couple of years ago. It's a Burdin cycle pace bike as used in the Bordeaux - Paris cycle race back in the 60's/70's. The generic name for this type of bike is a Derny after the original manufacturer. Less than 250 Burdins were made and mine is one of the last from 1975 so its a rare beast. It has a 75cc engine and a fixed cog so the pedals are driven constantly and the top speed is 55mph. I did a load of work to it and now take it to historic bike meetings where it obtains a lot of interest. I've yet to meet anyone who has seen another like it. The picture shows it partially restored and my thumbnial picture shows me parading the completed bike at Mallory Race Track last year.

[Rocky_imp]

Nice

[Inhouse Bob]

Very cool! So... when the bike is going 55, how many rpm are those peddles going??And the gear ratio looks pretty tall for starting the bike with the peddles. Can you start off using the motor?

[Paulb_imp]

The gear ratio is very tall so at 40mph the pedals go at a nice steady cycling pace. The bike has a friction thumb operated throttle and the idea is to set a steady speed and then make minor alterations through the pedals. The gearing is too high to pedal start so the bike is 'bump' started (there is a decompressor) and then drive is engaged through a centrifugal clutch. The bike has a high centre of gravity and is therefore a bit twitchy and care has to be taken when cornering as the inside pedal cannot be held in the up position. The bike also has an exposed flywheel and drive belt so it is a good idea to tuck trousers into socks!

[quietguy_imp]

Wow...

[Elipten_imp]

The chains and open part warrants extreme caution IMHO! I have no doubt I would get in trouble quickly.

But that is a cool piece of history. Congrats on saving it.


2014 CB1100 DLX
2013 CB1100 Std
1990 BMW K75 RT

[the Ferret]

Yep super cool. I laughed about the cornering and not being able to hold the inside pedal up. I have planted a bicycle pedal on the downside before. Wasn't a good outcome. Probably a good reason for me not to ride bicycles (not smart enough).

[4 Paws_imp]

I have a neighbor who adds lawnmower engines to older bicycles, uses 5 hp engines donated by others. Cruise around the country roads at 30 - 35 mph.
Not for the faint of heart.

[the_undecider_imp]

That is a cool machine!

The fixed gear aspect seems a bit sketchy because pedal strikes can be a disaster when you are leaned over in a corner. This bike looks to have fairly short crank arms which help that issue. 10 years ago, fixed gear bicycles were getting really popular beyond the niche users (bicycle messengers and velodrome racers). At first, the only purpose built fixed gears bikes were fairly expensive. So, people were taking old 10 speed frames and cobbling them into "fixies." Among the many compromised parts being used and generally haphazard builds was the fact that most of these frames sat lower to the ground. Since most of your budget - oriented fixie riders didn't want to invest in shorter crank arms common to proper fixed gear bikes, you had a recipe for disaster. I built myself a bike this way, but I knew what I was getting into, so no mishaps.

The owner of the bike shop where I worked in college decided he wanted a motorized bike, so he ordered one of those Chinese 80cc engine kits from eBay and had me assemble it. He went and bought a $80 Huffy beach cruiser because he didn't want to ruin a good bike. I had to "massage" the down tube of the frame to get the motor mount to fit. It had no front brake and the rear coaster brake nearly doubled the engine braking power of that small displacement 2 stroke. That thing was sketchy!

[flynrider]

Very cool, Paul! The first bike I ever rescued from a barn was a '55 Whizzer. I've always had a soft spot for the motorized bikes.