Getting bent......

[Roos Eisma]

Peter Clinch <[email protected]> writes:

>underestimate. Let's face it, it says you're doomed if you ride down kerbs...

You could have told me that earlier!

Roos (doomed to RTFM...?)

 

[Peter Clinch]

Roos Eisma wrote:

> You could have told me that earlier!
>
> Roos (doomed to RTFM...?)

Only if you fancy a larf. Everything that isn't Caution! is *DANGER!*. I only refer to it to check
the annual maintenance of the suspension shocks (grease bushes on rear coil and that's about it...).
If you'd read it first, you'd never of got on for fear of being attacked by officious German lawyers
and bureaucrats nagging you to death...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email protected]
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

 

[Dave Larrington]

Peter Clinch wrote:

> Danny Colyer wrote:
>
>> The manual for the Street Machine (which didn't exist when I bought mine) specifies a maximum
>> trailer weight of 30kg. I don't think I've ever had my BoB loaded up quite that much anyway.
>
> According to a pal with a BoB, wondering about what the 8 Freight would do, a BoB is only rated to
> 30 Kg in any case. But the SMGT manual is *sooooooo* conservative I'd be inclined (with
> disclaimers, of course) to take what it says as being a major underestimate. Let's face it, it
> says you're doomed if you ride down kerbs...

It wasn't that long ago that the Street Machine manual absolutely forbade the use of single wheel
trailers, but they've changed their minds. Trailers are still /streng verboten/ with the
Speedmachine, though.

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
===========================================================

 

[Simon Brooke]

Peter Clinch <[email protected]> writes:

> Roos Eisma wrote:
>
> > You could have told me that earlier! Roos (doomed to RTFM...?)
>
>
> Only if you fancy a larf. Everything that isn't Caution! is *DANGER!*.

Cannondale manuals are like that. Pretty much anything you can do to your bike involves '*DANGER* of
*DEATH* or *SERIOUS* *INJURY*'. If you read the manual before you bought the bike, you'd never buy
the bike. Presumably the lawyers make them do it.

But it strikes me that there is a real danger of crying wolf in this. If there is something you can
do in maintaining your Cannondale which really involves real danger, I shall miss it, because I
won't be able to distinguish it from all the over-the-top silly ass warnings.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/ "This young man has not the
faintest idea how socialists think and does not begin to understand the mentality of the party he
has been elected to lead. He is quite simply a liberal" -- Ken Coates MEP (Lab) of Tony Blair

 

[Graeme]

Simon Brooke <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Cannondale manuals are like that. Pretty much anything you can do to your bike involves '*DANGER*
> of *DEATH* or *SERIOUS* *INJURY*'.

Don't you just love American instruction manuals? We've just bought a BOB Stroller for our son (same
company that make the BOB Yak). The first step in the "folding the stroller" section is "Remove
child from stroller." Duh!

Or there's the mountain bikes that our friends' kids have (admittedly the half ton full-sus
supermarket jobs) that are plastered with stickers saying "Not for off road use!"

Graeme

 

[Simon Galgut]

"Simon Brooke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Peter Clinch <[email protected]> writes:
>
> > Roos Eisma wrote:
> >
> > > You could have told me that earlier! Roos (doomed to RTFM...?)
> >
> >
> > Only if you fancy a larf. Everything that isn't Caution! is *DANGER!*.
>
> Cannondale manuals are like that. Pretty much anything you can do to your bike involves '*DANGER*
> of *DEATH* or *SERIOUS* *INJURY*'. If you read the manual before you bought the bike, you'd never
> buy the bike. Presumably the lawyers make them do it.

You would think that. But read their bit on the website about rear flashing lights. Something like
'yes, we know they're illegal in some places but use them anyway 'cos they might save your life'

Regards Simon

 

[Danny Colyer]

Peter Clinch wrote:
> According to a pal with a BoB, wondering about what the 8 Freight would do, a BoB is only rated to
> 30 Kg in any case.

ISTR 35kg, but ICBW and I can't be bothered to get the manual out to check. When considering the
towed weight you also need to bear in mind the weight of the trailer, though, about 28lbs IIRC.

> But the SMGT manual is *sooooooo* conservative I'd be inclined (with disclaimers, of course) to
> take what it says as being a major underestimate.

I agree. I'm pretty confident I'll have no problem towing 2 munchkins, or towing a trailerbike (rack
mounted) when they're a bit older.

> Let's face it, it says you're doomed if you ride down kerbs...

But that's such fun.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

 

[Danny Colyer]

Peter Clinch wrote:
> Only if you fancy a larf. Everything that isn't Caution! is *DANGER!*.

Or "You must not..." or "You are not allowed to...". I was quite surprised not to find the word
"forbidden" anywhere.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

 

[Danny Colyer]

Simon Brooke wrote:
> Cannondale manuals are like that. Pretty much anything you can do to your bike involves '*DANGER*
> of *DEATH* or *SERIOUS* *INJURY*'. If you read the manual before you bought the bike, you'd never
> buy the bike. Presumably the lawyers make them do it.

I love the manual that came with my Coker (36" wheel unicycle).

"WARNING: Riding a unicycle is a hazardous activity and can cause serious injury or death."

"Should the seat post slip, you could lose control and fall which may result in serious injury
or death."

"Excessive air pressure my burst the tire [sic] and could cause serious injury or death."

"Rider assumes all responsibility and liability for accidents that occur while riding the unicycle."

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

 

[Martin Family]

On 11/2/04 9:34 pm, in article [email protected], "Danny
Colyer" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I agree. I'm pretty confident I'll have no problem towing 2 munchkins, or towing a trailerbike
> (rack mounted) when they're a bit older.

On the MTB (and the really nasty white machine) I happily towed my oldest two in the Winther Dolphin
up a 1/10 hill on sheet ice. OK, I wasn't breaking any speed records and I did have studded tyres
but it was quite doable. Thats what all the really low gears are for, teaching you to get the
balance right so you keep both wheels on the ground.

The nasty thing was the cheapo chainset on the MTB bending the chainring in half..

The Winther Dolphin is rated to carry loads of up to 60kg and does a very good job of it. Second
most expensive bit of bike related stuff I have ever bought. Two munchkins and lots of shopping up
some very steep hills (over 70kmh going down without the trailer). I tend to be overtaken by joggers
and learning balance and patience.

..d

 

[Dave Larrington]

Danny Colyer wrote:

> ISTR 35kg, but ICBW and I can't be bothered to get the manual out to check. When considering the
> towed weight you also need to bear in mind the weight of the trailer, though, about 28lbs IIRC.

Being 'melicans, they Do It in Pounds - 70 lbs (32 kg). Trailer itself weighs 13.5 lbs (6,1 kg)

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
===========================================================

 

[Chris French]

In message <[email protected]>, Danny Colyer <[email protected]> writes
>
>I agree. I'm pretty confident I'll have no problem towing 2 munchkins, or towing a trailerbike
>(rack mounted) when they're a bit older.
>
>
A 'bent trailerbike I hope
--
Chris French, Leeds

 

[Danny Colyer]

Dave Larrington wrote of the BoB:
> Being 'melicans, they Do It in Pounds - 70 lbs (32 kg). Trailer itself weighs 13.5 lbs (6,1 kg)

Thanks Dave, 70lbs sounds more right than any kg measure. 13.5lbs sounds right, too. It must just be
the munchkin trailer that weighs 28lbs.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

 

[Danny Colyer]

I wrote:
> > I'm pretty confident I'll have no problem towing 2 munchkins, or towing a trailerbike (rack
> > mounted) when they're a bit older.

and chris French responded:
> A 'bent trailerbike I hope

I rather like this one, seen at the CTC Birthday Rides last year: http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/z-
trailerbent1.jpg http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/z-trailerbent2.jpg

Homemade. All the bent trailerbike's I've come across (only 3 or 4) have been either homemade or
custom built. It'd be nice, though.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

 

[Chris French]

In message <[email protected]>, Danny Colyer <[email protected]> writes
>I wrote:
>> > I'm pretty confident I'll have no problem towing 2 munchkins, or towing a trailerbike (rack
>> > mounted) when they're a bit older.
>
>and chris French responded:
>> A 'bent trailerbike I hope
>
>I rather like this one, seen at the CTC Birthday Rides last year: http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/z-
>trailerbent1.jpg http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/z-trailerbent2.jpg
>
Looks very neat.

I get enough interest in just the kiddie trailer behind an upright, I bet that really get's
some looks

>Homemade. All the bent trailerbike's I've come across (only 3 or 4) have been either homemade or
>custom built. It'd be nice, though.
>
Indeed, though I'd really need a bent of my own to go with it.........

There was an article in Velovision sometime last year about someone who built one to go with their
Kingcycle.
--
Chris French, Leeds

 

[Dave Larrington]

chris French wrote:

> There was an article in Velovision sometime last year about someone who built one to go with their
> Kingcycle.

'twas James Murphy, aka Murph. The bike was actually built by Darth Ben tho.

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
===========================================================

 

[\ Dave]

Sorry to hijack this particular bit of the thread but...... earlier in this thread (I think),
someone mentioned that they'd been given some useful advice about pushing on the handlebars of
their 'bent, rather than pulling when struggling up hills.....BRILLIANT!!!! I went out on mine on
Wednesday, then again on Thursday, having not touched it since last October due to weather and
convenience. Wednesday hurt as I went on a 30 mile round trip that had several very looooong
hills. Not massively steep, but definitley looooong ;-)....anyway, tried pushing rather than
pulling and what a difference. All of a sudden instead of it being something I'm constantly
struggling with, it becomes a pleasure. It also works on the flat if things are getting a little
tiresome...just a little push on the handlebars goes a long way. Whoever it was that posted this
gem, thanks!! probably the single most useful piece of advice I've been given since starting to
ride a 'bent. Dave.

 

[Mark Van Gorkom]

>>> A 'bent trailerbike I hope
>>
>>I rather like this one, seen at the CTC Birthday Rides last year: http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/z-
>>trailerbent1.jpg http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/z-trailerbent2.jpg
>>
No pics unfortunately, but a few years back I saw a rear-facing-low-racer-single-wheel trailerbike
at Cycle Vision, coupled behind a regular lowracer, raced by a father and son team.

Mark van Gorkom.

 

[Danny Colyer]

chris French wrote of recumbent trailerbikes:
> There was an article in Velovision sometime last year about someone who built one to go with their
> Kingcycle.

That'll be this one: http://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/html/framebuilding_gallery.html

I was wrong about only having found custom built ones, because I've seen this one before:
http://www.kinetics.org.uk/html/trets.shtml

It's horrendously expensive, though, at GBP755.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine