You probably recognize the Somerville, Massachusetts-based Royal H Cycles from the time trial bike that blew the blogs away during November, with that amazing rear disc wheel. The latest build from Royal H Cycles features a 650c front wheel and a 700c rear, but it’s not a funny bike. It’s a terry bike.
In the mid-1980s a style of bicycle was designed for riders of a shortened stature with a smaller front wheel — sometimes as small as a 24” clincher — to combat the toe overlap caused by a shorter top tube. Terry Precision Bicycles for Women instigated this style in 1985 and while brands such as Raleigh, Miyata and Fuji took it up later they were always referred to as terry bikes. Bryan Hollingsworth (the ‘H’ in Royal H Cycles) designed this frame for a special female customer, and it could very well be the best looking and up-to-date terry bike ever created. Bryan kept the head tube the same length to prevent the funny bike analogy, resulting in a perfect saddle height, no stand over issues, a 700c drive train and most importantly for a fixed gear: no toe overlap.
Bryan firmly believes that a 650c / 700c configuration is the perfect solution for the smaller fixed gear rider: they fit and handle properly, don’t catch pedal cages and look a hell of a lot better than a tiny sized frame. I concur. See more of Bryan’s skill in the Royal H Cycles gallery.
