Well, I have to agree with Nathan on this one. It is a very clever design
with a lot of Wow factor visually, but I have a problem with the rollers
and how they interact with the rim and tires, particularly the front tire.
I tried zooming in on one of the web images, and while the resolution isn't
good enough to get a good look, it appears on the front wheel to have a
single roller on the inside track of the metallic rim and two rollers on
the outside track that press against the tire. Now I'm no engineer, but it
would seem to take a lot of pressure by these three rollers to maintain the
stability of the front wheel/tire. Is it enough pressure to seriously
deform the tire; how does it compare to the weight born by similar tires on
a conventional bike (~75 lbs./tire)? Or are the tires solid rubber, which
would work but would be a return to the bone shakers of yesteryear. It
would be nice to have a closer look and a short test ride.
Charlie
On Fri, May 9, 2014 at 1:29 PM, Nathan Wajsman <photo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> To me this contraption seems a solution in search of a problem.
>
> Cheers,
> Nathan
>
> Nathan Wajsman
> Alicante, Spain
> http://www.frozenlight.eu
> http://www.greatpix.eu
> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
> Blog: http://nathansmusings.wordpress.com/
>
> YNWA
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On May 9, 2014, at 5:53 PM, Ken Norton wrote:
>
> >> At the same time, why should a design such as this continue to rely
> on the long chain? Why not, instead, have a much shorter chain where the
> drive to the rim just behind the seat post? That would satisfy the need to
> get the chain away from the ground, plus take a pound or more off the
> weight, and there is no derailleur that would require the long chain
> length. It would also provide the third support point to make the rear
> wheel more stable.
> >
> >
> > That might screw up the folding part of the plan.
> >
> > But it is a bit of brilliant engineering. I'd love to be the first kid
> > on the block with one of those.
> >
> > --
> > Ken Norton
> > ken@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > http://www.zone-10.com
> > --
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