LazyBird redux - SWB-USS homebuilt

Some of you may have seen pics of my machine here last spring... I designed and welded up this
home-built SWB/USS bike from old ten-speed frames one chilly winter week three years ago. The
cogs-and-spokes steering linkage is my own (see nifty blowup) and is adjustable/dampable. The bike
has a bit more than 6,000 km and is a GAS to ride - I love blasting past the local roadies in my
boots and jeans... - ƒ

http://album3596.fotopic.net/show_collection.php?id=12934

 

looks like fun. But are those cables running the steering? Probably plenty strong, but I bet lots of
folks would be too spooked to ride something where the steering depends on cables.

sj

 

I believe Lewis Campbell (limeylew) did a LWB with USS using aircraft cables instead of tie rods. I
cannot remember his site address beyond the limeylew part, but there is a pic of him sitting on the
bent in (what appear to be Black PJs) ----------spmeone here should have his website
address----------------- "Seth Jayson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> looks like fun. But are those cables running the steering? Probably plenty strong, but I bet lots
> of folks would be too spooked to ride something where the steering depends on cables.
>
> sj

 

On Tue, 18 Feb 2003 15:45:00 -0500, "Joshua Goldberg" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I believe Lewis Campbell (limeylew) did a LWB with USS using aircraft cables instead of tie rods. I
>cannot remember his site address beyond the limeylew part, but there is a pic of him sitting on the
>bent in (what appear to be Black PJs) ----------spmeone here should have his website
>address----------------- "Seth Jayson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> looks like fun. But are those cables running the steering? Probably plenty strong, but I bet lots
>> of folks would be too spooked to ride something where the steering depends on cables.
>>
>> sj

actually, the steering linkage is thru two spokes a side - the close-up shows the nipples in the
retaining collars (two small nuts a side welded to the chain-link). The cables are life-insurance.
In an earlier design I tried to use just cables, but there was too much elasticity in the system.
There actually isn't much stress on the steering-system in ANY design, but solidity contributes to
one's peace of mind... the linkage feels firm and I ride it off-road (!) from time to time - Ðª× Th