Author Topic: Blue Peter presenter cycles to the South Pole (Read 8595 times)

Rhys W · « **on:** 04 January, 2012, 09:53:55 am »

Polar challenge: How do you cycle to the South Pole?

Interesting design, shame about the Brooks saddle!

Ewan Houzami · « **Reply #1 on:** 04 January, 2012, 10:07:01 am »

That exposed rear derailleur is asking for trouble. You mark my words etc.

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #2 on:** 04 January, 2012, 10:08:13 am »

Quote

The saddle is made of extra-tough organic leather and copper rivets. "A plastic seat would shatter like glass in Antarctica's sub-zero weather," says Fortune.

I can't for the life of me understand why they went with such small diameter wheels. The only claim that makes any sense is saying they were trying to keep the bike as aerodynamic as possible, due to the high winds.

Anyway, if you read Skelton's diary, she's had a test ride and found they couldn't even sustain walking speed.

clarion · « **Reply #3 on:** 04 January, 2012, 10:39:00 am »

Oh that's ridiculous! I thought they would go for something like a Pugsley.

LEE · « **Reply #4 on:** 04 January, 2012, 10:46:13 am »

Quote from: Goldilocks on 04 January, 2012, 10:07:01 am

That exposed rear derailleur is asking for trouble. You mark my words etc.

My thoughts exactly. I can't see it lasting the first day. Riding those huge tyres over snow will limit you to a super-low gear so why not just go for a single-speed and a schlumf drive (to get an even lower "granny" gear)?

Is there a way of getting a hub gear to work at -50? It may require some pretty thin oil but you only need the hub to last a few hundred miles.

I suppose the bike has been designed by specialists in the field, something I'm not, so I'll defer to their design experience and hope she doesn't snag the rear mech on ice.

Good luck to her anyway, she's already a bit of a hero for doing the Kayak trip.

clarion · « **Reply #5 on:** 04 January, 2012, 10:51:45 am »

Wheels like that would be fine for a flat surface. Which it isn't. I expect the thinking was that they needed the largest contact patch possible in order to avoid sinking into the snow, hence wider tyres at low pressure, and large wheels would have been prohibitively heavy. But the 'solution' is pitiful, and I feel sorry for her having to lug that thing. It looks like it's been designed by someone who knows very little about bikes.

I too thought that hub gears might be better, but I can't imagine a lube that would work adequately at those temperatures. I suppose they do have motorised vehicles which must have something, but I guess they are warmed by the engine anyway.

Tewdric · « **Reply #6 on:** 04 January, 2012, 11:06:04 am »

When I ride to the south pole it will be on a Pugsley!

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #7 on:** 04 January, 2012, 11:06:38 am »

Quote from: clarion on 04 January, 2012, 10:51:45 am

and large wheels would have been prohibitively heavy.

The tyres on that thing weigh 8lb - I can't see a surly moonlander being any worse.

Guys race in Alaska on surlys all the time, over snow and ice. I can't see a justification for a 'special' bike for Antarctica at all - the main difference in the conditions is the persistent high winds. Since they expect to kite-surf for much of the time, I'm betting they are choosing a route with a prevailing tailwind.

clarion · « **Reply #8 on:** 04 January, 2012, 11:08:52 am »

I meant large wheels that wide of that sort of design would, naturally, be heavier. They clearly hadn't considered better design

Quote from: Tewdric on 04 January, 2012, 11:06:04 am

When I ride to the south pole it will be on a Pugsley!

Hell yes!

Ewan Houzami · « **Reply #9 on:** 04 January, 2012, 11:43:02 am »

Quote from: mrcharly on 04 January, 2012, 11:06:38 am

The tyres on that thing weigh 8lb...

Never mind the tyres, the wheels are only ~450g each! <weightweenie> Oh! I think I will have to have a lie down or lock myself in the loo! </ww>

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #10 on:** 04 January, 2012, 11:51:16 am »

Quote from: LEE on 04 January, 2012, 10:46:13 am

Quote from: Goldilocks on 04 January, 2012, 10:07:01 am
That exposed rear derailleur is asking for trouble. You mark my words etc.

My thoughts exactly. I can't see it lasting the first day. Riding those huge tyres over snow will limit you to a super-low gear so why not just go for a single-speed and a schlumf drive (to get an even lower "granny" gear)?

Is there a way of getting a hub gear to work at -50? It may require some pretty thin oil but you only need the hub to last a few hundred miles.

And mine too.

bobb · « **Reply #11 on:** 04 January, 2012, 12:04:08 pm »

My first thought on seeing her bike was "What the fuck is that?!" My thoughts haven't changed since.

When I first heard about her attempt, I too immediately thought "Pugsley!"

PaulF · « **Reply #12 on:** 04 January, 2012, 12:15:17 pm »

Not sure why they need tha massive suspension fork with those big tyres either. Agree that a fat bike would be a far better choice

clarion · « **Reply #13 on:** 04 January, 2012, 12:19:55 pm »

Thinking back, in the early days of Iditabike, some of the competitors used to strap two wheels together for a wider grip. Tbf, I don't think that the tyres available then were anything like as wide as can now be found.

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #14 on:** 04 January, 2012, 12:36:40 pm »

I think the bikes she's using are primitive things tbh. Steel belted tyres? Does kevlar crack in the cold or something?

A Moonlander has 4.7"x 26" tyres. I can't see the contact patch being much smaller than the two little tyres on those 'custom' bikes. Two wide tyres side by side are going to have a hell of a rolling resistance as soon as the bike isn't absolutely perpendicular to the surface, or you turn.

Quote

Today Niklas and I tried the ice bike for the first time. Towing our sledges behind the bikes was very hard. We went 1.5 miles in about 1.5 hours.

tom_e · « **Reply #15 on:** 04 January, 2012, 12:45:16 pm »

It just looks like it was designed by somebody who doesn't ride a bike and hasn't seen a Pugsley or similar. I would have thought the only conditions when it would have the advantage of being rideable over the Pugsley, it will be slower than walking anyway?

clarion · « **Reply #16 on:** 04 January, 2012, 01:25:01 pm »

mrcharly, I hadn't seen a Moonlander before.

Just Gewgalled it, and find that a Pugsley is a dainty little thing!

http://surlybikes.com/bikes/moonlander

Tim Hall · « **Reply #17 on:** 04 January, 2012, 01:57:42 pm »

The designers' website suggests they do have previous experience in bike design.

http://www.fortunehanebrink.com/

Still not convinced about the derailleur though.

Wobbly John · « **Reply #18 on:** 04 January, 2012, 01:59:16 pm »

More specifically from the designer abouit the Icebike here: http://www.fortunehanebrink.com/general/about/

clarion · « **Reply #19 on:** 04 January, 2012, 02:25:56 pm »

So it's designed as an electric vehicle, principally, then?

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #20 on:** 04 January, 2012, 02:56:31 pm »

Hanebrink has been making ice and snow bikes around modified ATV tyres since the late 80s or early 90s from memory and has a devoted following. It isn't the option I'd chose for those conditions (and I like small wheels) but others are very happy with them. There must be something to it that isn't obvious from looking at photos. I've never seen one in the flesh.

perpetual dan · « **Reply #21 on:** 04 January, 2012, 03:24:55 pm »

We've got behind with our Blue Peter at home.

I think low centre of gravity and contact area are the key ideas. Would an antarctic side wind just blow a bigger wheeled bike over? The route is usually done with people on skis / dogs / ponies and sleds, so I guess the surface is smooth enough that our usual rolling over lumps concerns are reduced?

I also notice that they're not taking a puncture repair kit. You'd need to pitch a tent to attempt a repair, but claiming not to have some patches is tempting fate in my book.

clarion · « **Reply #22 on:** 04 January, 2012, 03:34:24 pm »

The bike they're using has solid wheels. The Surly has spokes. I don't know which would have most wind resistance, but my money's on the solid ones.

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #23 on:** 04 January, 2012, 03:35:12 pm »

Patches take up no room and a pump is essential - you should be varying the tyre pressure to suit the conditions.

Lots of the Antarctic has very rough broken glaciers and mountains, but I bet they are sidestepping that bit.

Jurek · « **Reply #24 on:** 04 January, 2012, 03:40:18 pm »

Am I alone in having spotted what looks very much like a Schrader valve on the wheel in the link in the OP. It has been described elsewhere as a tubeless tyre.

How do you patch those?