Gartenmeister

So here is one you don't see everyday. Out of a local estate. I know this thing is a bit off topic for this forum, but any ideas what it might be? Obviously Spacelander influenced. No identifiers other than whatever is around the crank. Constructed of fiberglass over steel bar stock and pipe frame. Very, very heavy. Somebody's homemade project maybe? Or not?

dweenk

Beats me. It looks too good to a garage hack, unles the builder was very talented. I like the streamlined pedals. Have you figured out how to remove the rear wheel?

Scooper

It's a late 1980s Sherrell Classic.

Drillium Dude 

Interesting. Can anyone make out what the area around the chainwheel says? I suppose it could easily have been made in somebody's garage.

Edit: belay my last - @Scooper's solved the riddle.

DD

Lascauxcaveman 

Very cool! Though I don't suppose it'd be much fun to ride, except for on a very flat parade route. Too bad it doesn't have the handlebar fairing like the red one in Stan's post.

I'd put it up on eBay, with the appropriate oversize shipping warning.

Gartenmeister

That it is. If only I were not so lazy, I could have turned the 100 pound thing over and found this:


It seems these can be worth a bit of coin. If I put it on e-Bay I wonder if anyone would drive to Idaho to get it?

Scooper

Several Google hits state they were made from 1984-1986, and there were only around 35 made. There's not a lot of info out there, probably because they're so rare. A pair of these sold in December on ebay for $3,650. A number of comments popped up remarking how heavy they are.

David Sherrell Classic Bicycle Lot of 2 Bikes | eBay

Gartenmeister

Here are a few more photos for anyone who may be interested.

Scooper

What a tank! The spoke lacing on the rear wheel doesn't have any crossings, but the spokes' tangents on the driveside go in the opposite direction from the spokes on the non-driveside. I've never seen anything like that before.

CliffordK

Is it a 1 speed? You could install a rear wheel with a modern 7/8/11/14 speed rear hub. Just keep the original.

That sub-frame looks like it is made with mild steel, and very much oversized.

The rear wheel does look odd. I'm surprised the lacing pattern is even stable. I would have expected the rear hub to twist, but maybe not, once everthing is tightened down. Unique indeed.

If you got a good deal on it, maybe find some place to display it. On long-term loan?

There are a few bike shops around that have essentially a bike museum hanging from their rafters.

thinktubes 

Cool sled!!!!

Chombi

A bike that only Zoolander dare ride......

schwinnderella

Yep, Sherrell.

smontanaro 

I wonder why he bothered with inch-pitch chainring/cog/chain? I imagine in the mid-80s they wouldn't have been all that easy to find. Since the transmission is completely covered up, it's not like most people would even notice.

Salamandrine 

Probably thought it was cool and retro at the time. Obviously this thing was an exercise in fashion, with little consideration paid to function. It seemed to me that the original Spacelander was more earnestly trying to make the next generation of bicycle.

It would be interesting to do a new Spacelander tribute bike, but in carbon fiber. It could be a nice 25lb city cruiser bike if more carefully made.

Darth Lefty 

I think I've seen it mentioned as something someone wanted to try... it seems like it wouldn't be a great idea for lightweight racy hubs to put a torsion through the shell, but for this bike who knows? The shell might not notice it.

CliffordK

Does anybody run a radial right, crossed left rear lacing? It might have similar cross-hub torque.

The difference, of course, between the old hubs and new hubs is the diameter of the middle part. The larger diameter should make it sturdier (if not too thin of material.

One could, of course, cut custom hubs on a lathe.

lacofd@73

I used to own, and modified your now semi custom sherrell. The original parts on it looked like hell. The ugly modern slotted front sprocket was replaced with a 1930's solid skip tooth sprocket. The plain hubs were replaced with Elgin finned hubs, with stainless steel spokes laced in a one directional pattern. it's not the strongest way to build a wheel, but it looks good, and as long as you don't go bmxing with it, it'll hold. The plain Jane pedals were offed for a pair of streamlined ones. The plain grips used to be bullet shaped Elgin grips. I guess the ones I had on there musta rotted out. I think I added the kickstand to it. I remember I had a hard time getting it to line up, or be hidden. I had a really cool streamlined seat on it, but I sold it to another collector before I sold the bike. I think it came off a Silver King. My wife liked to ride it when we biked here in So Cal. Call me if you want more info on it. Larry at 661-965-8632

thinktubes 

Thanks for checking in! I was wondering about the older parts on a 1980s bike.

Gartenmeister

Wow, neat history. Thanks for checking in! The additional info is much appreciated.

John E

Wow -- yet another bike I never heard of, and this is far rarer than most. Thank you for the thread and the original owner's response.