Tall biking past an abandoned fireworks stand |
Another reason to ride a tall bike is the reaction from other people and drivers. On a normal bike, most drivers ignore you, some are nice, and a few hate you. On a tall bike, the situation is totally different as so many people are fascinated by the bike. I made a chart to illustrate the difference:
This makes riding much safer and enjoyable - as drivers, instead of just trying to get around you as quickly as possible, generally slow down to get a good look, perhaps take a picture. It is such a strange feeling to be the center of attention rather than just an obstacle for drivers. I think every bicyclists should go for a tall bike ride at least once just to experience the difference.
Another advantage is that the tall bike provides much more opportunities for interaction when traveling than a normal bike. I have already met so many interesting and nice people because of the bike that I would normally not have a chance to meet. I met a guy who builds his own haunted house for halloween, so we talked prop-making for a while. Another gentlemen waved me down who restores old cars. It generally attracts people interested in building stuff and trying new things, just the kind of folks I want to meet on my trip!
Between the improved cargo capacity and stability and provoking more interaction with people, it seems to me that tall biking is the only way to go!