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Interesting bikes roundup
Lever continuously-variable drive, very long ones, three-wheeled tented ones, wooden ones...
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First, Michel Schinz sends me a link (which he saw on the Futurebike.ch website) to an interesting lever-powered machine with continuously-variable 'gearing': there are plenty of videos on The Sittler-bike website:
Amongst other things, the systems claims to allow you to remove the rear wheel 'as easily as the front one' for puncture fixes etc. It all looks rather more neat and 'finished' than most such ones I've seen, though I'm not so sure that moving the bars fore-and-aft to change the ratios is the best possible arrangement - then again, you don't know until you try, so good luck to them.
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I think I spotted this next link on a mailing list somewhere, sorry not to credit properly. It's a maker of some remarkable wooden cycles: in fact Singular Cycles:
They're for sale or hire...
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I'm afraid I can't remember at all where I found the link to the F'lowroller:
There's not a lot of info on the webpage about why the makers Rohorn 'Mind Expanding Cycles' have landed on this particular design. It does have a certain visual symmetry...
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Italian loadbike manufacturer Tasso Italia emailed me to announce their remarkable Basecamp, the nearest thing I've seen yet to a human-powered caravan. The Basecamp web page has a neat animation of the tent-like sleeping area being set up:
I'm afraid though, at 77kg weight, most cycle tourists will find a lightweight tent and a rather more lightweight bike a more effective combination.
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All images taken from the respective websites.
Posted on 31 July 2003
Your comments ...| From: Simon Ward ([email protected]) on 01 August 2003 |
| What on *earth* is that wooden monstrosity? Looks like the bastard offspring of a Dutch roadster and a cuckoo-clock ... |
| From: John J ([email protected]) on 01 August 2003 |
Have you seen the list of accessories on the wooden bike? - Accessories : compass (on the handlebars), lighter holder with space for flint, cachous box, secret drawer (in the saddle) to keep the padlock key, flask, pump holder, first aid kit, roll of string, saddle bags with quadruple locking, horn, a small bottle Anti-theft device with padlock and chain.
Folding crutch.
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| From: Seamus (etc) on 01 August 2003 |
Wobbly John sounds jealous.
What do you suppose a folding crutch is? Did I read that wrong.
Who's going to Spokesfest Belvoir Castle thing at the end of the month? As well as me. |
| From: Steven Brandist (email) on 01 August 2003 |
| Its a strong possiblity. I'd really like to, but might just be a day visit due to kiddies. We'll have to see. |
| From: Steven Brandist (email) on 01 August 2003 |
I know what that Wooden bicycle reminds me of...
The wooden toy maker (the late Benny Hill) in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Looks like the kind of thing he'd make. Theres a few bicycles and tricycles in that... see Seamus' film webpage.
I can smell ch-ch-children... !!! |
| From: Seamus (etc) on 01 August 2003 |
off topic but the holiday song....
I'm on holiday and you are not, doo-dar, doo dar.
I'm on holiday you are not, oh doo=dar day.
Fracking equals sign. Opps almost out of 'net time. 5 minutes to go.
I'll try to have a lovely time in holland but I'm sure Spokesfest Well done Roger and Simon.
Hip-hip, hooray etc. |
| From: S (etc) on 01 August 2003 |
Hope to see you at Rutland's place Steve.
That wooden bike'd burn even better than Wobbly John's recumbent. 2 minutes |
| From: Ben - Kinetics ([email protected]) on 01 August 2003 |
| Crutch is a common mistranslation of propstand... |
| From: RtH (formely@spokesfest) on 02 August 2003 |
| but it sounds funnier |
| From: andy scaife ([email protected]) on 05 August 2003 |
That camper-van-bike thingy has given me an idea for a Maximus trike. My 4-wheeled BikeRescue transporter trailer has potential there too...hmm...
as for the wooden bike guy, wel he's happy so lets leave him alone. Guess who else is off for three weeks of cycling in France? Not that we need a holiday, playing with bikes all day.
As a group of working cyclists (loadbike riders, police, paramedic etc.) were gathered at our usual outdoor cafe in York one day in spring, one of the police riders stood up and gave a toast "To all those suckers in offices". |
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