Yet Another Cycling Forum

Random Musings => Gallery => Topic started by: citoyen on 28 July, 2009, 10:12:29 pm

Title: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: citoyen on 28 July, 2009, 10:12:29 pm
The campsite I've been staying at in France for the last week or so had a bike hire facility, with a motley collection of rides in various states of rustiness chained up outside the campsite shop to choose from. There was only one that really caught my eye - I quite fancied having a go but there's no way on earth I could have persuaded my wife to accept the role of stoker...

(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k170/smutchin/P7230379.jpg)

Closer investigation revealed that thanks to some French technical wizardry, the stoker pedals "forwards":
(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k170/smutchin/P7230381.jpg)

(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k170/smutchin/P7230382.jpg)

d.
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: clarion on 28 July, 2009, 10:13:40 pm
I don't think we'd have been able to resist having a go, but I wouldn't want to go far.
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: citoyen on 28 July, 2009, 10:17:03 pm
Quite. I wanted to have a go in spite of thinking it looked positively life-threatening.

Does anyone have Drew Buck's phone number? I couldn't help wondering if he'd be interested in hiring it for the next PBP (the campsite is at Quimper, handily close to Brest, so it would definitely be feasible for the return leg at least).

d.
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: Martin109 on 28 July, 2009, 10:25:55 pm
... even though the chain IS a bit slack!
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: Wobbly John on 28 July, 2009, 10:29:33 pm
Probably  ::-)

However Mrs WJ won't even ride on the back of a conventional tandem (we do have one).

I have riden on the back of a recumbent 'push-me-pull-you' tandem - Great fun!  :D

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pLyp5OaCU70/RxYHoVEtsnI/AAAAAAAAAUM/cLQqMEyg5No/s400/MicWic.jpg)
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: clarion on 28 July, 2009, 10:31:12 pm
That looks....exciting :-\
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: Somnolent on 28 July, 2009, 11:10:49 pm
There's a video on you tube somewhere of a tandem where  riders face each other.  Highly efficient because the stoker's rear aspect acts a fairing for the captain (if you see what i mean)
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: Moloko on 29 July, 2009, 11:41:43 am
Puritans. Once in wedlock you can hire the "conventional" tandem.
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: Hilldodger on 29 July, 2009, 02:11:02 pm
Hire it? We'll be making one ;D
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: TimO on 29 July, 2009, 02:50:42 pm
Quote from: Galaxy4X on 28 July, 2009, 11:10:49 pm
There's a video on you tube somewhere of a tandem where  riders face each other.  Highly efficient because the stoker's rear aspect acts a fairing for the captain (if you see what i mean)

If that's the one I remember from some years back, it won a few TT's until they managed to change the rules and ban it. ;D


I remember seeing some one using a Janus recumbent tandem at a BHPC meet, and the stoker was taking photographs of the other cycles on the velodrome's banking, as they overtook them.  With that sort of bicycle, the stoker is much better positioned for taking photographs of the front of people, rather than the back which is often the case when you take photos from a bike.  I always seem to take lots of photos of my back, the sky, and the road, when trying to take a photo of someone behind me!
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: nutkin on 29 July, 2009, 04:47:15 pm
I saw a father and daughter on one of these, doing the BHF L2B a few years ago!
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: alan on 31 July, 2009, 02:32:52 pm
Quote from: clarion on 28 July, 2009, 10:31:12 pm
That looks....exciting :-\

irresistable  8)
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: Arno on 18 August, 2009, 11:18:09 pm
M5 recumbents's version....

(http://www.m5-ligfietsen.nl/uploads/Itemizer/popups/1336.4.jpg)

(http://www.m5-ligfietsen.nl/uploads/Itemizer/popups/1336.5.jpg)



Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: clarion on 19 August, 2009, 09:58:15 am
Interesting chainlines.
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: gordon taylor on 19 August, 2009, 12:35:41 pm
A couple did a trans-America run on a back to back tandem a few years ago. I think there was an article in Velovision magazine but I can't find it now.

Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: Wobbly John on 19 August, 2009, 12:46:06 pm
Was that the back-to-back Trice?

I think they did PBP as well!
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: frankly frankie on 19 August, 2009, 01:15:11 pm
This did LEL last time around
(http://www.aukweb.net/pix/jx1jbw4j_sun_jul_24_11_00_51_2005.jpg)
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: Wobbly John on 19 August, 2009, 01:17:24 pm
That's them  :D

Mike & Linda I think?

Met them at York rally and other events a few years ago.
Title: Re: Would YOU have hired this bike?
Post by: rogerzilla on 19 August, 2009, 07:42:31 pm
How much wind-up and scrub do you get with independent two-wheel drive?  If one rider is putting in more power than the other, it must be very hard on the tyres.