What Did You Think Clown Circus Bike Meant?

For a term as oddly specific as “clown circus bike” you might think there wasn’t all that much room for interpretation. All the same, when you use a term like that, you might be intending something entirely different than your audience conjures up in their imagination. For example, you yourself might be envisioning a minibike when you think of a clown circus bike, whereas someone else might be thinking of a larger bike that’s intended for stunt riding.

At any rate, these are some of the odd bikes we offer here in our collection. Chances are good that one of them will fit the bill of your expectations for a circus clown bike.

Hoppley 20” Circus Bike

Our Hoppley 20” Circus Bike is in every way the consummate clown circus bike. It is built to an exemplary standard of quality and ideal for mastering all sorts of tricks, even BMX style tricks!

This circus bike is made with a Hoppley round crown steel mainframe with a steel lower frame with 40mm stamped maincap bearing housings. Its 20 inch wheels are complemented by steel singlewall rims for exceptional strength.

Both wheels spin 360 degrees around and also rotate independently of each other; the crank arms attach directly to the axle of the rear wheel for excellent control and maneuverability. Because of these latter features, this circus bike is absolutely tops for stunt riding, hopping, and learning other new tricks. It’s also a great way to challenge yourself to learn to ride something new and become a more complete, well-rounded cyclist.

It also features steel stunt pegs affixed to the front wheel - you can try honing your skills trick riding with another rider - just pick a brave partner!

UDC Minibike

Our UDC Minibike is, perhaps, the quintessential clown circus bike. These are the tiny little cycles that clowns, following the popular conception, ride to show off their skills. Our Minibike might be entertaining, even whimsical, but make no mistake about it, it is no joke.

Let’s put it this way, this might be a little bike but it is absolutely rock solid. It features a steel frame and mag chrome rims. This little bike weighs almost 14 pounds - that’s over half as much as our 20 inch Circus Bike at much less than half the size. In other words, even when you and this bike suffer unplanned dismounts, you’ll both be able to get right back up. This little thing is tough.

It has other features that make it both tough and comfortable at once. For example, you’re going to need to cram yourself down into a small space with a little minibike like this, so you might as well take comfort where you can get it. This little bike comes with a large UDC cruiser saddle that is surprisingly comfortable. It also features an integrated lift handle so you don’t need to ride this little bike everywhere.

This little bike also features non-pneumatic tires, which, if you’re not familiar with the term, means they never need to be inflated. They are solid rubber. Given the forces that you’ll impose on a bike of this stature by riding, that’s a blessing. Solid rubber tires might ride a little less smoothly, but you won’t need to worry about flats.

This is a great little bike to tackle if you’re interested in honing your skills as a cyclist - but just as great if your aim is to entertain a crowd!

Penny Farthing Bikes

One more highlight from our collection of odd bikes, which some people might envision when they hear the term “clown circus bike” is a penny farthing. These are the bicycles that have one larger front wheel to which the crank arms are attached and a smaller trailing wheel to the rear. They are so named because the arrangement of their wheels looks like the juxtaposition of the Sterling “penny” and “farthing” coins - the penny is much larger.

These were actually the first cycles to be called “bicycles” and represented a significant improvement over earlier models. The larger front wheel, to which the cranksets are attached, enabled riders to achieve higher top speeds. It also softened the ride over rough roads due to the shock-absorption-enhancing properties of the larger circumference. Earlier models of “bikes” we often referred to as “boneshakers.”

A penny farthing bike is another great example of what you might call a “clown circus bike,” if only because it has an antiquated air and turns heads through its rarity. That said, there are still some organizations dedicated to riding and racing, and mastering a penny farthing is just another skill you can tackle if you want to be a more complete rider!

Whichever of these bikes comes to mind when you think of a clown bike or a circus bike, they will each test your skills in different ways. If you’re up for the challenge, consider learning to ride one, and if you have any questions at all about our products or would like recommendations, give us a call at 678-494-4962.