| Re: Pedal car (Dino, Berg,Kettler) questions.
Earl Bollinger wrote:
> "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.
Mechanical advantage looms large in my thinking. While a lot of the
other suggestions sound pretty good at first pass, many don't have a
real mechanical torque multiplication advantage. They'll work on an
ideal or light snowfall, or over a "short" distance but will tend to be
difficult or fatigueing to use in heavy or frozen/wet slop or over a
distance of 1~3 miles.
Operating as a schneepflug (*) over distances in this mileage regime,
i'd be more inclined to use something that could grind, slowly but
inexorably, into drifts. I've found that the shock-loading associated
with riding a high speed profile into the snow can really trash my
quadraceps. A 60-speed sounds like it might have a bit of torque
multiplication. :-)
I will look into tadpoles.
..max
*lansgsamer schneepflug.
|