What could possibly go wrong?
#77
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
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Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
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#79
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
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Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
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#80
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley
Posts: 5,755
Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.
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No collection of this sort would be complete without the most bogus bicycle product ever to have soaked up millions from investors.
That would be the Alenax, with the "Transbar" drive system, pictured here. As bogus as it looks, I found out from just one ride that it is even more bogus than I had already thought. Yet it appeared at multiple trade shows, with expensive brochures, and foxy models in Spandex riding stationary versions in the enormous booth.
That would be the Alenax, with the "Transbar" drive system, pictured here. As bogus as it looks, I found out from just one ride that it is even more bogus than I had already thought. Yet it appeared at multiple trade shows, with expensive brochures, and foxy models in Spandex riding stationary versions in the enormous booth.
The treadle designs died out a long time ago (like somewhere around the 1890s, if memory serves). You don't suppose there was a reason for that, do you?
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"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
#81
Cantilever believer
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Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
#82
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 13,056
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
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I've skate sailed with a somewhat similar sail. But no attachment to the sail besides hands and body lean. And simple skates. (You do have to know how to skate.) Skate sailing can be very fast. My dad, who was very good, was clocked by police radar at 60. I've probably done 45.
Big safety plus - the sail usually aerodynamically eases your falls and falling on ice is road rash free.
Big safety plus - the sail usually aerodynamically eases your falls and falling on ice is road rash free.
#83
Retro on steroids
Thread Starter
So it was basically a treadle-pedal design build with what looks like leftover Erector Set parts? (And yes, I am dating myself.)
The treadle designs died out a long time ago (like somewhere around the 1890s, if memory serves). You don't suppose there was a reason for that, do you?
The treadle designs died out a long time ago (like somewhere around the 1890s, if memory serves). You don't suppose there was a reason for that, do you?
With the power delivered by both feet one crank length in front of the bottom bracket, if you got out of the saddle the front end was so heavy, you couldn't pull the front wheel up over a dime on the street.
#84
Full Member
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 498
Bikes: Two Peter Mooney customs, a 1980 Trek 510 townie, a Marin Stelvio set up for TTs.
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If you stood on the pedals, goodbye any semblance of accuracy. It was not particularly easy to read on the go, as the bubble would move forward or backward with any and all accelerations and decelerations, regardless of grade. Only if you were maintaining a constant speed did it give a discernable reading. It was mainly a novelty, not exactly useless but not particularly useful, either. At least it didn't cost much.
Last edited by MooneyBloke; 09-04-23 at 08:13 AM.
#85
Senior Member
#86
Senior Member
A buddy's dad built a sail-bike attachment when we were kids. His had the sail in front, with a boom you had to lift over the handlebars to come about. Unsafe at any speed!
#87
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Allen, TX
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#88
Senior Member
rear A arms were angled, slap the control to the right and the right rear wheel dipped causing the trike to go right. Pretty ingenious. The problem was the play in the bushings. Go on a descent and near terminal speed wobble.
other problem was it was low slung, drivers crossing a sidewalk did not see the vehicle.
one of those industrial designed concept products that would never be tolerated by the lawyers today. Would never have made series production.
other problem was it was low slung, drivers crossing a sidewalk did not see the vehicle.
one of those industrial designed concept products that would never be tolerated by the lawyers today. Would never have made series production.
#89
Senior Member
Funny, but you know that's not a real product, right? This is a novelty/prank empty gift box. There are many to choose from.
Bicycle Seat Belt Prank Gift Box, Wrap Your Real Present in a Funny Authentic Prank-O Gag Present Box | Novelty Gifting Box for Pranksters
Bicycle Seat Belt Prank Gift Box, Wrap Your Real Present in a Funny Authentic Prank-O Gag Present Box | Novelty Gifting Box for Pranksters
#90
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Murrieta Ca.
Posts: 537
Bikes: Teledyne Titan, Bob Jackson Audax Club, Bob Jackson World Tour, AlAn Record Ergal, 3Rensho Katana.
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That Item is a motorcycle steering damper. Massive overkill on a bicycle but these steering dampers are quite useful on motorcycles in various forms of competition and have been around for a very long time in friction and hydraulic configurations. I run as a guest of Southern California Timing Association at El Mirage dry lake (https://scta-bni.org/el-mirage-general-info) land speed events, 131 miles per hour on a old Harley street bike isn't to bad for an old man. The steering damper in the photo is a more modern configuration then the one shown above, I wouldn't run without one.
Untitled by nemosengineer, on Flickr
: Mike
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Booyah Hubba-Hubba!!!
Booyah Hubba-Hubba!!!
#91
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Whittier
Posts: 896
Bikes: 1973 Colnago Super, Litespeed Classic , Automoto , Pinarello Gavia TSX,Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra,Eddy Merckx EMX-5 , 1982 Moser SL, Concorde TSX, Vitus 979 KAS. Diamant SLX,60's Meteor
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Even Stupid ideas take a lot of Passion , Dedication ,Man Hours and probably some Whiskey .
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