The Flying Pigeon Project

Double Bar Controversy

In my post on the bikes of Guangzhou I pointed out that many bikes had a double top bar. This is sometimes referred to as a "Pig Bar" because, allegedly it was designed to allow a pig to be carried to market.

I doubt this for several reasons.

1. In China, any weight carried on a bike is almost ALWAYS carried over the rear wheel, whether that be a passenger or a mountain of walnuts. Weight is NOT carried between the rider and the handlebar. This can be seen in the picture above.

2. If you were to put a pig or any other sizable cargo between the rider and handlebar the rider's knees would have no place to go. Pedaling would be impossible.

3. The double bar is probably not even a Chinese innovation. Take a look at the attached picture of this 1940's Hercules which I took in a Beijing Pawn Shop. Rudge made a similar bike and probably other European makes did as well. I'm guessing...and it is just a guess, that '40s British pig farmers probably preferred a lorry to a bicycle as a method of swine transport.

So why would you design a double bar? Because it strengthens the frame. Period. You can carry heavy loads, or just put it to heavy use and abuse on poor roads without worrying that the lugs will be shaken to bits. This is why this design is such a favorite among the delivery bikes of Guangzhou. It is strong and lasting. But a specific use such as "designed for carrying pigs to market" seems to be just mythology to me.

I would be interested in what other old bike aficionados have to say. Maybe someone knows better.

BTW: The double-bar Hercules is still made in India, albeit with side-pull brake rods, not center-pull.

Wu Yang Clan

Bikes of Guangzhou

That's Canton for you westerners. Guangzhou is occasionally called the "Five-Rams" city and so it is no surprise that the main bicycle manufacturer here is called Five-Rams or Wu Yang in Chinese. A recent trip to Guangzhou gave me the opportunity to check out some of their products...which offered a lot in the way of surprises.

First off Wu Yang's main business these days is motorcycles, but moto che are BANNED in Guangzhou. It is the equivalent of Harleys being banned in Milwaukee. Electric bicycles are also absent. The hole in the transportation hierarchy created by the lack of motorized bicycles is filled by pedal powered Wu-Yangs.

Most of these were a dark green, where as the Forevers and Flying Pigeons common in Beijing are always black. Also, most of the diamond framed bikes were "Double Bars", meaning that they have two top bars to reinforce the frame. Some times this is called a "pig bar" bike, because supposedly these were designed to carry a pig to market.

Honestly , I don't see how this could work. It would be impossible to pedal with a pig, live or dead on the top bar. Your legs would have nowhere to go. Indeed the usual method for carrying a passenger or any cargo is to put the weight on the package rack. Passengers usually sit side saddle. In any case, I saw more double bar bikes in 1/2 hour in Guangzhou than in my entire year in Beijing.

Finally, While most Beijing bikes tend to be 22" frames with 28" rims, the majority of Guangzhou bikes were 20" frames with 26" wheels.

Lots of delivery bikes. One gentleman was stacked 2 stories high with styrofoam. While it is not uncommon to see this in Beijing, it is usual a tricycle hauling the load. Not a bike.

There were other surprises as well. Check out the pictures. Let me know what you think

Olympic Pigeon?

What happens when a US Olympic cyclist rides a Flying Pigeon? Apparently....fun!