Cycling Mob Cycling Forums - View Single Post - Pedal car (Dino, Berg,Kettler) questions.

12-25-2006, 05:39 PM

"Earl Bollinger" <earlwbollinger@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:A6Wdndg6idpPyA3YnZ2dnUVZ_oKnnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> "what does THIS button do?" <betatron@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1167049807.639057.267510@79g2000cws.googlegro ups.com...
>> Depending on where you are reading this, you may know that one of my
>> coworkers developed bicycle towed snow plow which he uses to help keep
>> a MUP open in our car-clogged suburb of Chicago.
>> (<http://www.google.com/search?q=bicycle+snow+plow> [first link] on the
>> off chance this is news to anyone). No, the local governmental units
>> won't remove the snow and yes we've tried to get them to move it. If
>> we don't do it, it won't get done, period.
>>
>> The main drawback of the bikeplow system is that the bike needs to be
>> in front of the plow, towing. Not pushing. In the snow. And the bike
>> has to be above a certain critical speed for balancing yadda yadda
>> yadda, the plow has trouble with heavy, wet, or icy underlayers. The
>> plow is 10^6 better than nothing, but there is a bit of room for
>> improvement.
>>
>> It would be better, for instance, if the motivator were on something
>> more stable than two-wheels, and it might be good if the plow pushed
>> the snow out of the way, before the wheels ...
>>
>> Tautological thoughts like this lead me to imagine a sort of
>> pedal-powered bulldozer or tractor thing, which lead me eventually to
>> discover these things called pedal cars
>>
>> <http://www.autoculture.co.uk/Dino%202007.pdf>
>> <http://www.kettler.net/articles/20050216194000001126/index.html>
>> <http://www.bergtoys.com/skelters.php?categorie=10>
>>
>> They seem to be popular(?) in europe, but basically non-existant in the
>> US. The Dino seems to be the bee's knees (very nice), with a 5-speed +
>> reverse gear, 200+ kg payload .... very burly, and quite what i'd
>> imagine i'd like to have to push a little V-plow along the trail.
>>
>> The only real problems i see are (a) i'd have to import most of them
>> because of the limited availability in the states (Kettler seems sort
>> of available, i.e. special order at Dick's Sports) and (b) they cost a
>> lot of money -- 900 Pounds Sterling for the top of the line Dino car!
>>
>> so i'm seeking information and pointers. I'd like to know of club
>> websites etc. for pedal-car entheusiasts, hear of people's
>> experiences/opinions etc.
>>
>
> I think one of the trikes (tricycles) would work well for this purpose.
> You could use an upright trike like you see at a lot of retirement
> communities, or a recumbent trike.
> The regular upright trikes cost less than the recumbent trikes do.
> Many of these trikes can be had with a three speed. i don't know about 5
> speed or 7 speed models.
> But one could probably put in a Shimano 7 or 8 speed hub in lieu of the
> three speed hub.
>

I forgot to mention that the recumbent trikes are reversed with the two
front wheels steerable and the single rear wheel for power.
Usually they run from 21 speeds on up to 60 speeds. Thus one could use it to
push a snow plow more effectively.

12-25-2006, 05:39 PM	#23 (permalink)
Earl Bollinger Posts: n/a	Re: Pedal car (Dino, Berg,Kettler) questions. "Earl Bollinger" <earlwbollinger@comcast.net> wrote in message news:A6Wdndg6idpPyA3YnZ2dnUVZ_oKnnZ2d@comcast.com. .. > "what does THIS button do?" <betatron@gmail.com> wrote in message > news:1167049807.639057.267510@79g2000cws.googlegro ups.com... >> Depending on where you are reading this, you may know that one of my >> coworkers developed bicycle towed snow plow which he uses to help keep >> a MUP open in our car-clogged suburb of Chicago. >> (<http://www.google.com/search?q=bicycle+snow+plow> [first link] on the >> off chance this is news to anyone). No, the local governmental units >> won't remove the snow and yes we've tried to get them to move it. If >> we don't do it, it won't get done, period. >> >> The main drawback of the bikeplow system is that the bike needs to be >> in front of the plow, towing. Not pushing. In the snow. And the bike >> has to be above a certain critical speed for balancing yadda yadda >> yadda, the plow has trouble with heavy, wet, or icy underlayers. The >> plow is 10^6 better than nothing, but there is a bit of room for >> improvement. >> >> It would be better, for instance, if the motivator were on something >> more stable than two-wheels, and it might be good if the plow pushed >> the snow out of the way, before the wheels ... >> >> Tautological thoughts like this lead me to imagine a sort of >> pedal-powered bulldozer or tractor thing, which lead me eventually to >> discover these things called pedal cars >> >> <http://www.autoculture.co.uk/Dino%202007.pdf> >> <http://www.kettler.net/articles/20050216194000001126/index.html> >> <http://www.bergtoys.com/skelters.php?categorie=10> >> >> They seem to be popular(?) in europe, but basically non-existant in the >> US. The Dino seems to be the bee's knees (very nice), with a 5-speed + >> reverse gear, 200+ kg payload .... very burly, and quite what i'd >> imagine i'd like to have to push a little V-plow along the trail. >> >> The only real problems i see are (a) i'd have to import most of them >> because of the limited availability in the states (Kettler seems sort >> of available, i.e. special order at Dick's Sports) and (b) they cost a >> lot of money -- 900 Pounds Sterling for the top of the line Dino car! >> >> so i'm seeking information and pointers. I'd like to know of club >> websites etc. for pedal-car entheusiasts, hear of people's >> experiences/opinions etc. >> > > I think one of the trikes (tricycles) would work well for this purpose. > You could use an upright trike like you see at a lot of retirement > communities, or a recumbent trike. > The regular upright trikes cost less than the recumbent trikes do. > Many of these trikes can be had with a three speed. i don't know about 5 > speed or 7 speed models. > But one could probably put in a Shimano 7 or 8 speed hub in lieu of the > three speed hub. > I forgot to mention that the recumbent trikes are reversed with the two front wheels steerable and the single rear wheel for power. Usually they run from 21 speeds on up to 60 speeds. Thus one could use it to push a snow plow more effectively.