W
what does THIS button do?
Guest
Depending on where you are reading this, you may know that one of my
coworkers developed bicycle towed snow plow which he uses to help keep
a MUP open in our car-clogged suburb of Chicago.
(<http://www.google.com/search?q=bicycle+snow+plow> [first link] on the
off chance this is news to anyone). No, the local governmental units
won't remove the snow and yes we've tried to get them to move it. If
we don't do it, it won't get done, period.
The main drawback of the bikeplow system is that the bike needs to be
in front of the plow, towing. Not pushing. In the snow. And the bike
has to be above a certain critical speed for balancing yadda yadda
yadda, the plow has trouble with heavy, wet, or icy underlayers. The
plow is 10^6 better than nothing, but there is a bit of room for
improvement.
It would be better, for instance, if the motivator were on something
more stable than two-wheels, and it might be good if the plow pushed
the snow out of the way, before the wheels ...
Tautological thoughts like this lead me to imagine a sort of
pedal-powered bulldozer or tractor thing, which lead me eventually to
discover these things called pedal cars
<http://www.autoculture.co.uk/Dino%202007.pdf>
<http://www.kettler.net/articles/20050216194000001126/index.html>
<http://www.bergtoys.com/skelters.php?categorie=10>
They seem to be popular(?) in europe, but basically non-existant in the
US. The Dino seems to be the bee's knees (very nice), with a 5-speed +
reverse gear, 200+ kg payload .... very burly, and quite what i'd
imagine i'd like to have to push a little V-plow along the trail.
The only real problems i see are (a) i'd have to import most of them
because of the limited availability in the states (Kettler seems sort
of available, i.e. special order at ****'s Sports) and (b) they cost a
lot of money -- 900 Pounds Sterling for the top of the line Dino car!
so i'm seeking information and pointers. I'd like to know of club
websites etc. for pedal-car entheusiasts, hear of people's
experiences/opinions etc.
coworkers developed bicycle towed snow plow which he uses to help keep
a MUP open in our car-clogged suburb of Chicago.
(<http://www.google.com/search?q=bicycle+snow+plow> [first link] on the
off chance this is news to anyone). No, the local governmental units
won't remove the snow and yes we've tried to get them to move it. If
we don't do it, it won't get done, period.
The main drawback of the bikeplow system is that the bike needs to be
in front of the plow, towing. Not pushing. In the snow. And the bike
has to be above a certain critical speed for balancing yadda yadda
yadda, the plow has trouble with heavy, wet, or icy underlayers. The
plow is 10^6 better than nothing, but there is a bit of room for
improvement.
It would be better, for instance, if the motivator were on something
more stable than two-wheels, and it might be good if the plow pushed
the snow out of the way, before the wheels ...
Tautological thoughts like this lead me to imagine a sort of
pedal-powered bulldozer or tractor thing, which lead me eventually to
discover these things called pedal cars
<http://www.autoculture.co.uk/Dino%202007.pdf>
<http://www.kettler.net/articles/20050216194000001126/index.html>
<http://www.bergtoys.com/skelters.php?categorie=10>
They seem to be popular(?) in europe, but basically non-existant in the
US. The Dino seems to be the bee's knees (very nice), with a 5-speed +
reverse gear, 200+ kg payload .... very burly, and quite what i'd
imagine i'd like to have to push a little V-plow along the trail.
The only real problems i see are (a) i'd have to import most of them
because of the limited availability in the states (Kettler seems sort
of available, i.e. special order at ****'s Sports) and (b) they cost a
lot of money -- 900 Pounds Sterling for the top of the line Dino car!
so i'm seeking information and pointers. I'd like to know of club
websites etc. for pedal-car entheusiasts, hear of people's
experiences/opinions etc.
