http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Obree's Beastie Design... en Tue, 19 May 2026 00:57:41 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-125046 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 18:55:39 +0000 jss 125046@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>it occurs to me that the prone position might make rather a good recumbent for extreme gradient climbing </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124936 Sun, 15 Sep 2013 15:15:34 +0000 LaidBack 124936@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes.... Graeme did his ride with real view of road rather than a video link. They should have a category for that!</p> <p>Team Delft though are now the record holders at 133.78kmph . VeloX3 has video.</p> <p>New thread...<br /> <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11137" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11137</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124932 Sun, 15 Sep 2013 13:43:37 +0000 Uberuce 124932@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Am I right in guessing the periscope there houses a camera? Doesn't seem to be a front window. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124930 Sun, 15 Sep 2013 13:14:39 +0000 Min 124930@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's true. I can't really see them catching on as leisure bikes right enough.. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124929 Sun, 15 Sep 2013 13:14:39 +0000 Min 124929@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's true. I can't really see them catching on as leisure bikes right enough.. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124926 Sun, 15 Sep 2013 12:52:40 +0000 LaidBack 124926@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm a bit too lazy to do this. Not good for sightseeing either as window is a bit small and scenery goes blurry!</p> <p><em>I did try to contact Graeme to see if he wanted to borrow a bike for training. Then of course it turned out he was going head first. </em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124923 Sun, 15 Sep 2013 12:35:13 +0000 Min 124923@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ever fancied giving this sort of thing a go LB? :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124920 Sun, 15 Sep 2013 12:14:08 +0000 LaidBack 124920@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Obree did really well if you consider his effort was self contained without collaboration. This was what he wanted and the fact he cooked up the whole thing himself and 'just did it'. Of course when he originally set a target of 100mph this did cause some amazement amongst the veterans of this event.<br /> Since then he seems to have accepted that a 'step change' in human powered speed is going to take a bit longer.<br /> I'm sure he'll keep going at it for 2014.<br /> Well done to him for entering the world of HPVs. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124778 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 16:23:15 +0000 gembo 124778@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>liked his quote about the fish and chip papers still blowing about saltcoats </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124753 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 10:49:29 +0000 chdot 124753@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I think he's been slightly humbled"</p> <p>And honest/modest -</p> <p>"<br /> And these are the people I am competing against! I think ‘oh my goodness’! What I have realised is actually how little I know. You can only know so much from first principles and what you think is right. When I built the Beastie I thought, ‘that’s a great bit of engineering, it must be quick.’ But in the real world there are other issues, and these guys have garnered 5 years of knowledge some of them, so it is a bit of a head start. If I’m being honest I could have done with more testing, but really you don’t get to the bottom line until you speak to these guys and actually come out here. They are proper enthusiasts, and they really want to help you get the best out of your machine. It’s more of a club, a collaborative approach to engineering! And you cannot access that body of knowledge anywhere else in the world apart from here.</p> <p>" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124751 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 10:21:45 +0000 Arellcat 124751@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There's <a href="http://www.humansinvent.com/#!/13470/out-here-in-the-quantum-world-of-cycling-its-really-different/">a new interview with Obree</a> on Humans Invent.</p> <p>I think he's been slightly humbled by the breadth and detail of knowledge of more seasoned Battle Mountaineers, but at the same time, everyone wants everyone else to do well. The odds on Obree going back next year are probably about 1 in 1. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124749 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 09:34:22 +0000 Min 124749@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Love him!</p> <p><em>yes, headwinds are illegal in HPV racing.<br /> </em></p> <p>They need to be made illegal full stop! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124748 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 09:07:12 +0000 Darkerside 124748@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Bad crash for the Glowworm tandem apparently. Skidded into some crash barriers protecting a bridge. Both riders seem to be OK according to Dave Larrington.</p> <p>More on the bike:</p> <p><a href="http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/lem/glowworm/default.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/lem/glowworm/default.htm</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124746 Fri, 13 Sep 2013 08:47:00 +0000 Baldcyclist 124746@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/540361/beastie-blog-5-graeme-obree-sets-new-prone-position-hpv-world-record.html">http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/540361/beastie-blog-5-graeme-obree-sets-new-prone-position-hpv-world-record.html</a></p> <p>New prone world record, but Obree seems to be more realistic in his expectations now.</p> <p>Can imagine him being in his element though, wouldn't be surprised if he was there next year with Beastie2... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124479 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 07:14:07 +0000 gembo 124479@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The beastie is much higher than the other vehicles. I fear the side winds out on the highway may be a significant factor? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124456 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 15:20:18 +0000 EddieD 124456@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My word, Mr Larrington! His musings, about a decade ago, were part* of what prompted me to turn to the dark side.</p> <p>I still find, even after all these years, that getting started on the SMGT, especially uphill, can give me some issues. With USS, I can sit up and use body English at low speed, but starting can be problematical, and I have an 19ish" granny gear - those enclosed faired creations must need exquisite balance at (relatively) low speed</p> <p>I'll keep my fingers crossed for Graeme (the weather in the general area is not bad,but at 4500' anything can happen) - a complete legend in my book.</p> <p>*...and Brainstorm </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124455 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 14:17:51 +0000 LaidBack 124455@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Fascinating variety of designs. Mr Larrington reckons that many were on limit of getting launched legally as help to get balanced can only go so far (well once they're moving at over 20mph it's not possible and some wipe out at this point). </p> <p>The Beastie is getting fitted with a bigger chainring* according to Graeme Obree. Let's hope for low sidewinds and some good times. The Vortex and Bluenose look a smooth act and one of these did a warm up at 65mph.</p> <p><em>*We have a 70T here courtesy of Dave!</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124450 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 12:06:37 +0000 Darkerside 124450@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>And the aforementioned Larrington blog.</p> <p><a href="http://automatic-diary.blogspot.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">http://automatic-diary.blogspot.co.uk/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124449 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 12:03:03 +0000 Darkerside 124449@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Source website for the above, including some pictures:</p> <p><a href="http://jnyyz.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">http://jnyyz.wordpress.com/</a></p> <p>Beastie looks...low tech. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124445 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 11:45:17 +0000 Roibeard 124445@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Arellcat - Graeme Obree is listed as <em>DNS</em> on that sheet, however he did record a speed later of &gt;45mph.</p> <p>Robert</p> <p><img src="http://jnyyz.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/monpmresults.png"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124443 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 11:21:43 +0000 kaputnik 124443@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Obree referred to it variously as the "pregnant dolphin" and "pregnant guppy" when asked about it at his talk. I think marine animals are where he may have drawn quite a bit of inspiration. It's a bit like a fin-less Skipjack or Albacore. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124440 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 11:18:55 +0000 Arellcat 124440@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The local rednecks have already learned to stay away because they can't understand Mr Larrington's remarkable turns of phrase. :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124435 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 10:31:46 +0000 Uberuce 124435@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I wonder how many of the local rednecks will be reporting abduction by aliens. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124430 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 10:00:56 +0000 Arellcat 124430@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think the issue with using arm power as well is that since well developed legs are already capable of using all of the energy that the body can supply, including the arms in the system won't result in the body generating more power. Muscle recovery might be aided, but has a trade-off in mechanical complexity. The closest is probably Derk Thijs and his lowracer rowbike.</p> <p>Meanwhile in Nevada:</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ohpv/9713436544/"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3741/9713436544_48fc1d87cf.jpg"></a><br /> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ohpv/9713436544/">.</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/ohpv/">Jeff Wills Wheels</a>, on Flickr</p> <p>and Obree has qualified too:</p> <p><a href="http://jnyyz.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/screen-shot-2013-09-09-at-11-56-41-am.png"><img src="http://jnyyz.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/screen-shot-2013-09-09-at-11-56-41-am.png"></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124427 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 09:50:09 +0000 wingpig 124427@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In one of the interview segments on Humans Invent I'm sure he briefly mentioned something about briefly considering body heat capture when talking about harnessing all available body power, but when there's plenty of room to accelerate and the legs can be worked sufficiently hard to exhaust the body it might be worth investigating would be the concurrent use of the arms in order to help out or slightly relieve the legs.</p> <p>Having the body sideways and entirely behind the front wheel (with a bilaterally asymmetric shell) to reduce the frontal cross-section a little further would probably result in balance problems. Wonder if the potential reduction in drag would be cancelled by having an additional third stabilising wheel. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124426 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 09:41:46 +0000 Darkerside 124426@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think the HPV speed record stuff is fascinating partly <em>because</em> it neatly mixes human perfomance and technical wizardry. I'm amazed that anyone can put out a consistently huge amount of power whilst encased in a tiny, stifling carbon fibre torpedo. I also love the staggering efficiency of the designs. Seems to be a nice 50/50 mix of the two facets, whilst also managing to be a sport where someone can knock up something that is globally competitive in their shed. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124425 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 09:35:06 +0000 gibbo 124425@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>Is there a point where it becomes about mechanical innovation over human powered achievement?</blockquote></p> <p>What Obree is doing with "Beastie" is all about innovation.</p> <p>My feeling is that, as long as it's human powered and everyone is using similar kit, then it's about human performance. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124424 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 09:24:05 +0000 Dave 124424@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The point when they invented gears is an obvious one (there's that famous quote about "the artifice of the derailleur) although IMO as soon as you put pneumatic tyres on something it's not really about human power any more.</p> <p>Running is the only thing which is biologically honest, if you're a purist (waits for the shoe argument to begin) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11103#post-124422 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 09:09:36 +0000 TractorFactory 124422@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Graeme Obree's record attempt is coming up. There's a rather interesting article on BBC that goes into the design process he went through...<br /> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24015622" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24015622</a></p> <p>Is there a point where it becomes about mechanical innovation over human powered achievement? </p>