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2018/04/20 07:45:58
Subject: Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Stubborn Hammerer
Sweden
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Old age gets to even the most youthful of people. My maternal grandfather, 89 years old, is having trouble bicycling uphill because his balance has worsened. Ever the tinkerer, he cannibalized his stored bicycles, welded and built a double front wheel bike (last year it was a simpler attempt at just fastening a spare bike wheel on the side of the back wheel, which sent him toppling into the trench). Note the upward-shooting little rods that prevent the wheels suddenly twisting about 360 degrees if one was to turn too sharply.
Apparently, having two front wheels is much different to riding a normal bike. You cannot turn as sharply, and any bumps in the road jerks about the bike more forcefully. The most obvious difference is that the instinct to turn your body over to one side to prevent the bike going where you don't want it to go, is null and void for a double front wheel assemblage. Instead, trust in steering alone to take you in the right direction. On first tries, the bike will tend to move toward the trench forcing you to stop and jump off, but handling the double front-wheeler correctly is quickly learnt.
This is Mark II. Mark I was a red bike, and welded fast steel-to-steel. Grandpa switched to the purple bike for its more numerous gears, yet was surprised to find that the purple bike was made all out of aluminium, which do now weld with steel. This was a hurdle for swearing, but not an overly large problem to overcome for an old farmer who knows his trusty workshop (the anvil is a short piece of railway rail).
There isn't much stopping some people:
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2018/04/20 07:57:44
Subject: Re:Bike With Double Front Wheels
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[MOD]
Anti-piracy Officer
Somewhere in south-central England.
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I applaud the mechanical ingenuity that has gone into this creation. It's like the Piaggio MP3, although that one has leaning front wheels.
However, wouldn't it be easier to buy a tricycle?
http://www.pashley.co.uk/bikes/tricycles.php
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2018/04/20 11:48:21
Subject: Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Regular Dakkanaut
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I wouldn't want to presume to speak for Karak Norn Clansmen but in my experience in the UK at least many of that generation are far more inclined to repair and repurpose where they can rather than replace and if you've got the skills, time, interest and inclination, why not?
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2018/04/20 12:25:22
Subject: Re:Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Lone Wolf Sentinel Pilot
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This option seems to me more practical. It's easier to steer and better stability.
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Mordant 92nd 'Acid Dogs'
The Lost and Damned
Inquisition
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2018/04/20 13:45:33
Subject: Re:Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Willing Inquisitorial Excruciator
Ephrata, PA
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Id imagine the two wheels in front rather than in back would be both to be able to keep an eye on your profile alongside the road, as it would be more difficult for an older person to constantly be turning around to make sure he wasn't in a ditch. It would probably be easier to get uphill as well.
I think it was ingenious, and I applaud him. My father-in-law is always trying to re-purpose things, as does my wife. I might have to see what we have at home that would be as cool as that.
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2018/04/20 15:01:37
Subject: Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Stubborn Hammerer
Sweden
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@simonr1978: Indeed! That is very much how it is. Also, it give you some fun hobby building to occupy itching fingers with.
@KTG17: I wouldn't know about that, I don't do blogging. Blogs tend to be isolated sites, better share inspirational, educational or downright hilarious stuff on forums instead.
@Inquisitor Lord Bane: Astute observation! That is a very good reason to go with double front wheels instead of back wheels.
Do any of your family members, neighbours or friends sport some funky bicycle modifications? Would like to see them.
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2018/04/20 15:55:24
Subject: Re:Bike With Double Front Wheels
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[MOD]
Anti-piracy Officer
Somewhere in south-central England.
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I used to have a problem of wobbling all over the road when riding home from the pub, so I made a modification to my front wheel and now I go straight.
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2018/04/20 15:59:58
Subject: Re:Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Kid_Kyoto
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What a fantastic idea!
How much extra drag does the additional wheel cause?
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2018/04/20 18:15:20
Subject: Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Stubborn Hammerer
Sweden
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@Kilkrazy: Makes perfect sense when one is drunk, I bet!
@daedalus: Surprisingly little drag, surprisingly little weight. The weight on modern bicycled is concentrated on the back wheel. The front wheel weighs little, and it would seem that the spreading-out of the bike's weight over three wheels help in some way.
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2018/04/20 18:30:32
Subject: Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Stubborn Prosecutor
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Why stop at bicycles? In California you don't even need a motorcycle license for this beauty:
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/04/20 18:30:50
Bender wrote:* Realise that despite the way people talk, this is not a professional sport played by demi gods, but rather a game of toy soldiers played by tired, inebriated human beings.
https://www.victorwardbooks.com/ Home of Dark Days series |
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2018/04/20 19:58:37
Subject: Re:Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Regular Dakkanaut
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Kilkrazy wrote:I used to have a problem of wobbling all over the road when riding home from the pub, so I made a modification to my front wheel and now I go straight.
Still got a pair of shorts (They were a normal pair of jeans until a collision with barbed wire cut several holes in them) and scars that were the result of a cycle ride home from the pub in 1995, the most painful thing was that they were literally brand new. Most painful apart from the wounds that is. Levis have great longevity, assuming you don't criminally abuse them.
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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/04/20 19:59:53
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2018/04/20 21:08:56
Subject: Re:Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Mekboy Hammerin' Somethin'
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Excellent to see someone tinkering around and creating.
Reminds me of an ice cream bike/trike:
He should try his hand at one of these next, I've always wanted to make my own version for years.
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Be Pure!
Be Vigilant!
BEHAVE!
Show me your god and I'll send you a warhead because my god's bigger than your god. |
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2018/04/20 23:29:40
Subject: Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Hangin' with Gork & Mork
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Two wheels at the front? This is an abomination before the Emperor and has been reported to the Inquisition.
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Amidst the mists and coldest frosts he thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts.
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2018/04/21 05:25:05
Subject: Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Lone Wolf Sentinel Pilot
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Simple solution:
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Mordant 92nd 'Acid Dogs'
The Lost and Damned
Inquisition
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2018/04/21 10:56:43
Subject: Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Xeno-Hating Inquisitorial Excruciator
London
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@OP: Your Grandpa is fething cool!
@Charger: That Can-Am is a thing of beauty!
Me? I have the worst sense of balance known to mankind. Every bike I've had, including my first - a Honda SS50 at 14 - has been trashed, along with various limbs, multiple times...
And don't get me started on skiing ...
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2018/04/21 12:44:10
Subject: Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Anti-Armour Swiss Guard
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Can-Am trikes are a thing of beauty, they're also the motorcycle that leans itself into corners for you.
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I'm OVER 50 (and so far over everyone's BS, too).
Old enough to know better, young enough to not give a ****.
That is not dead which can eternal lie ...
... and yet, with strange aeons, even death may die.
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2018/04/22 22:03:12
Subject: Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Longtime Dakkanaut
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I was reading an article a while back about inherent stability problems with three wheeled motorized vehicles.
Long story short, if your power is in the rear there are unavoidable cornering problems, and it doesn't matter if you have two wheels in the front, or two in the back.
Oddly enough, a front-wheel drive three wheeler with two wheels up front does not have those problems.
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2018/04/22 22:07:49
Subject: Re:Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Decrepit Dakkanaut
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Freakazoitt wrote:
This option seems to me more practical. It's easier to steer and better stability.
I wouldnt agree more stable. Ive owned 2 trikes and I can tell you from actual experience the problem with traditional tricycles is turning is NOT very stable. Going really slow is fine, if you bump the speed up to a jog or faster and you'll flip over pretty easy. Ive done it several times and because of that I became rather good at riding on 2 wheels.
Think that Reliant car video that TopGear did. Just with far less laughs
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2018/04/23 14:43:17
Subject: Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Stubborn Prosecutor
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War Drone wrote:@ OP: Your Grandpa is fething cool!
@Charger: That Can-Am is a thing of beauty!
Me? I have the worst sense of balance known to mankind. Every bike I've had, including my first - a Honda SS50 at 14 - has been trashed, along with various limbs, multiple times...
And don't get me started on skiing ...
The best thing about Spyders is I see them all the time leading the rear of some Motorcycle chapter convoy carrying a trailer. You just know that thing is full of beer and other forms of alcohol. I've never been more tempted to reenact a Fast and Furious stunt in my life.
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Bender wrote:* Realise that despite the way people talk, this is not a professional sport played by demi gods, but rather a game of toy soldiers played by tired, inebriated human beings.
https://www.victorwardbooks.com/ Home of Dark Days series |
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2018/04/23 20:02:05
Subject: Re:Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Longtime Dakkanaut
Building a blood in water scent
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Maybe your grandpa and his mates could get around on one of these beauties?
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We were once so close to heaven, St. Peter came out and gave us medals; declaring us "The nicest of the damned".
“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'” |
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2018/04/24 19:44:45
Subject: Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Battlefield Tourist
MN (Currently in WY)
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It needs a basket in front so you can pop over to the shop and pick up a few items.
Then, I would buy that instead of the Trike.
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Support Blood and Spectacles Publishing:
https://www.patreon.com/Bloodandspectaclespublishing |
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2018/07/31 03:56:16
Subject: Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Stubborn Hammerer
Sweden
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Cheers! That big beer bike wagon is a thing of weird beauty. Trikes are indeed difficult when steering.
Some days ago, grandpa turned 90... twice. Does that make him 180 years old? When his family fled from Finland during the second world war, the Swedish authorities misregistered him, and the error has stuck. Apparently when he turned 50, he and grandma travelled away so as to not be attended with a big party on his actual birthday, but the problem was that they still were home and unprepared when guests began turning up at his second birthday date.
During his actual 90 years day he joked about setting up three long planks against the oak tree out front, to see which of the guests dared ride the homemade tricycle up highest. (Yes the craziness runs in the family.)
This got to be his birthday present from me:
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This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/07/31 04:06:30
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2018/07/31 11:23:17
Subject: Re:Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Ferocious Black Templar Castellan
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I'm getting a very Pettson & Findus-y vibe from that image.
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For thirteen years I had a dog with fur the darkest black. For thirteen years he was my friend, oh how I want him back. |
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2018/07/31 18:35:01
Subject: Re:Bike With Double Front Wheels
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Longtime Dakkanaut
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Your grandfather is clearly a legend
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