Author Topic: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle  (Read 2278 times)

Redlight

  • Enjoying life in the slow lane
Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« on: 18 September, 2010, 01:49:17 pm »
Someone might have posted this elsewhere. If so, sorry for duplication.  But it is rather intriguing.

BBC - Norfolk man to set land speed record on wooden bicycle

Why should anybody steal a watch when they can steal a bicycle?

Re: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« Reply #1 on: 18 September, 2010, 02:02:53 pm »
Six weeks to design and build the bike and have a go at the record?

That's ambitious. At work it sometimes takes me that long to get around to fabricating my timesheets. A simple project might take several years.

Re: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« Reply #2 on: 18 September, 2010, 08:21:38 pm »
Quote
Michael will be designing and building the bike in his eco-shed made of soil

What is the land speed record for a bicycle made entirely from wood?

Biggsy

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Re: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« Reply #3 on: 18 September, 2010, 08:41:47 pm »
"We're going to be throwing down the gauntlet on this one" - which might imply there's no official record yet (?)

"Anything between 25 and 30mph is going to be good for us" - seems quite modest and doable, if six weeks is enough.

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Karla

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Re: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« Reply #4 on: 21 September, 2010, 11:49:15 am »
Are they allowed to grease the bearings, or would that count as non-wood content?

Salvatore

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Re: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« Reply #5 on: 21 September, 2010, 11:53:55 am »
Are they allowed to grease the bearings, or would that count as non-wood content?

I'm sure there must be a tree with a suitable sap.
Quote
et avec John, excellent lecteur de road-book, on s'en est sortis sans erreur

clarion

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Re: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« Reply #6 on: 21 September, 2010, 11:57:44 am »
If there isn't, it wooden go.
Getting there...

Zipperhead

  • The cyclist formerly known as Big Helga
Re: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« Reply #7 on: 21 September, 2010, 02:32:32 pm »
leaf it out, your taking the pith now.
Won't somebody think of the hamsters!

Zoidburg

Re: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« Reply #8 on: 21 September, 2010, 02:37:12 pm »
Are they allowed to grease the bearings, or would that count as non-wood content?
The bearings will be self lubricating.

They used wooden bearings in the space shuttle arm as well.

Re: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« Reply #9 on: 21 September, 2010, 02:40:45 pm »
Lignum Vitae works.

Harrison, he who made the first decent clock for calculating longitude, made a very accurate wooden clock.

I reckon a wooden penny would be fairly easy to do.
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Re: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« Reply #10 on: 21 September, 2010, 03:46:59 pm »
You're going to want a nice really very flat road, since you'll be using solid, wooden edged wheels (I suspect wooden spokes wouldn't help the ride much, and would significantly add to the complexity).

Assuming that a direct drive to the wheel isn't attempted (eg a wooden ordinary), then they're going to have to either use a series of wooden cogs, or a wooden chain and pair of gears.  That could be fiddly to produce, and probably needs quite large links to ensure that they're strong enough.
Actually, it is rocket science.
 

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« Reply #11 on: 21 September, 2010, 03:49:11 pm »
I think it'd be gears rather than chains.  Wooden chains would have too many pieces to go wrong, and your tolerances are small.  Efficiency won't be very high, though, if you use hard enough woods (heavy), machining can be very accurate.
Getting there...

Zoidburg

Re: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« Reply #12 on: 21 September, 2010, 03:53:21 pm »
You could edge the wheels with hemp rope.

It's a wood-ish product.

To get a usable direct drive like a penny I would be thinking about a prone HPV layout with rear wheel drive.

Re: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« Reply #13 on: 21 September, 2010, 04:05:14 pm »
To get a usable direct drive like a penny I would be thinking about a prone HPV layout with rear wheel drive.

Direct drive would require a penny sized wheel, and hence a penny layout, otherwise you probably couldn't get that sort of speed.
Actually, it is rocket science.
 

Zoidburg

Re: Attempt to set speed record on wooden bicycle
« Reply #14 on: 21 September, 2010, 04:13:41 pm »
You can get a spin bike with a 16" wheel upto about 15mph, they are only quoting 25mph.

A 26" and someone with the brute force to push it, you might do it.

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