CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure

Is that a bike?

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  1. Min
    Member

    I thought it might be interesting to hear about strange cycling contraptions that people have seen.

    Last weekend I saw a recumbant tricycle on the Forth Road bridge, recumbants are rare enough but that is the first three wheeler I have seen in real life.

    In Leith Street a few days ago I was coming up behind a man towing a kid which I initially thought was one of those back wheel things which you bolt on your bike and the kid sits on and pedals (don't know what they are called). When I passed it I realised that the kid was actually on his own bike and the front wheel was lashed to a device which was then lashed on to Dads bike. Pretty neat I thought and flexible too.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  2. Kim
    Member

    You mean a Trail Gator Bicycle Tow Bar or something similar...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  3. wee folding bike
    Member

    As I remember you really want the attachment above the back axle of the big bike otherwise you have an accelerating couple. Having said that I connect a trailer to my nearside chainstay and the attachment point is forward of the axle. The main odd behaviour seems to be down to the springiness of the connection.

    I've been on a Speedy trike 'bent. It's a lot easier to ride than an upright delta.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  4. Min
    Member

    Kim-Yes that sort of idea except the childs front wheel was slotted in to a U-shaped piece of metal. I didn't see where it was attached though.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  5. Kim
    Member

    I ken the one you mean, but I can't remember what it is called and therefore can't find it online.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  6. Min
    Member

    I saw a pretty nifty recumbent today. It had a huge back wheel which held the chap up in a really high position, he was also sitting almost bolt upright too and would have easily been able to look round without mirrors. It looked like a superb steed to ride about town on. All of the advantages of a recumbent with none of the disadvantages.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  7. LaidBack
    Member

    All of the advantages of a recumbent with none of the disadvantages.

    That could start a debate ;-)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  8. Min
    Member

    Mehehe. ;-)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  9. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Min, one of mine has a huge back wheel and a a bolt-upright riding position, but it also has mirrors. Plus I haven't ridden it since last Tuesday's roundabout excitement. Notwithstanding slippy tarmac, it's a brilliant bike for riding around town.

    LaidBack and I have enough recumbents between us to make a fair stab at the advantages and disadvantages. :-) I've been meaning to ride my Speedy across the Forth Road Bridge for ages, too.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  10. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Sorry, this post doesn't really exist.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  11. Dave
    Member

    I saw a bakfiets going down Leith walk the other day, kids loaded up....

    The only real disadvantage that I've found to the recumbent is that you are right at bus exhaust level, which can be most unpleasant (and makes me realise how much I'd rather have had electric buses all over the place, than a single tram line and loads of old diesels!)

    Depending on how you like to ride, the other "problem" is that you can't work traffic as aggressively so you can get bogged down - it's more like being on a motorbike (you can still filter but not the same way!)

    Oh, and it's very frustrating to be at the next red light 30 seconds before the commuters who keep on catching you up ;-)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  12. Min
    Member

    Arellcat, I am reasonably certain it wasn't you anyway since I am guessing you do not have a long luxuriant beard!

    I haven't mentioned the cycling window cleaner yet. Has anyone else seen him? I often spot him on South Bridge and reckon it is a brilliant idea since he doesn't have to worry about where to park. He has a utility bike with a big bucket on the back for water.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  13. LaidBack
    Member

    I haven't mentioned the cycling window cleaner yet. Has anyone else seen him?

    Yes... makes a lot of sense. When I had joiner in at house he only used his van to get everything on site then cycled in for the next few weeks leaving his van a couple of miles away (yes it was a big job).

    On recumbent front...

      one advantage is being 'heads up' but not having to fight headwinds by going head down.
      The fact that your rear view mirror is in line of forward sight makes you feel very safe from traffic behind.
      Being able to cycle through puddles with your feet clear of any spray.
      Being able to cycle beside high kerbs and keep pedalling through corners without risk of pedal strike.
      Dave's point about being stuck in traffic is true to a degree. Although in some ways by not making you want to rush into 'danger zones' recumbents are safer - plus vehicles give you room.
      One thing I found was that when I cycled up Leith Walk and Street on a recumbent trike (which can't really squeeze through gaps as much) I was still faster than powered vehicles by the time I got to North Bridge.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  14. SRD
    Moderator

    "I haven't mentioned the cycling window cleaner yet. Has anyone else seen him?"

    I think there's more than one actually. Definitely a clever idea, especially since they are out and about early in the day.

    There was a story somewhere recently (sustrans?) about house-cleaners who work by bike in Bristol.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  15. LaidBack
    Member

    about house-cleaners

    Not housebreakers? ;-)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  16. chdot
    Admin

    "Not housebreakers? ;-)"

    Think you mean handbag snatchers and drug couriers.

    Must update this page - http://cyclingedinburgh.info/jobs

    Posted 14 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    "I haven't mentioned the cycling window cleaner yet. Has anyone else seen him?"

    Presume this is one.


    Posted 14 years ago #

  18. SRD
    Moderator

    There's a lot of different ones around of late. this isn't one i've seen before. usually guys with buckets but no ladders on quite well-designed trailers.

    Saw a guy today with a jury-rigged contraption, and let him across traffic on George IV - he was turning down victoria terrace, and I had bus on other side of yellow-hatching, only to have annoying taxi-driver take advantage, cut out half-way over yellow-hatching and block my forward path. bah! That intersection (george IV & Royal mile) is as bad as everyone has been saying!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  19. chdot
    Admin

    "That intersection (george IV & Royal mile) is as bad as everyone has been saying!"

    You doubted us??

    You may care to add something on other thread.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  20. chdot
    Admin

    "Presume this is one."

    Maybe not.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  21. SRD
    Moderator

    I saw another home-made looking trailer the other day (sorry I never have camera with me). It looked good and sturdy, and made me wonder if it came from that workshop at Gorgie Farm - did anyone go in the end?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  22. Kim
    Member

    That is a different one to the one I used to see in Gorgie.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  23. SRD
    Moderator

    The window cleaners use very slim-line trailers that run quite close to the bikes - effect is more courier than cargo. I used to see them a lot early mornings around north bridge.

    Posted 14 years ago #

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