Wierdest bike I've ever seen!
Surely not...;-) ? LB must need to try harder!
As Smudge says Russians can get things working - maybe not always neat. They do have the only working manned space launchers at moment!
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Sport
Cycling to the South Pole
(49 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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People often scoff at the Russian technology
As indeed the Germans did during WW2. Until the Russian winter struck, and suddenly their finely engineered panzers and artillery no longer functioned. Soviet tanks may have been cruder, but worked just fine, as they were designed for the temperature extremes.
Similarly I think the Ladas, though not exactly refined motoring, are fairly solid and can survive sometimes atrocious road conditions. The engines can be hand cranked too if need be with the lever provided with each car.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Those of a nervous disposition, look away now!
Hub gears may be fine, but only for men, and only if you are prepared to risk frostbite to places that shouldn't be bitten...
"The pawls can freeze in your bike’s freehub too, so they won’t engage; you’ll pedal only air. Again, heat is the answer. If you’re stuck and don’t have anything else available, men can – discreetly! - use a bladder full of their body’s own water on the hub to free it."
http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/community/how-to/cycling-in-winter
You were warned...
Robert
Posted 12 years ago # -
I particularly enjoyed this snippet from the Siberian expedition:
Tell us about a moment where you thought ‘This is ridiculous. I’m not doing this anymore.’
Taking 2 hours to fix every puncture because we had to heat the wheel in the fire of our stove to warm the tyre enough to get it off! Nightmare!Posted 12 years ago # -
Anyone else thinking that perhaps skis and dogs and sleighs are more suited to antarctic transport than bikes? :O
Posted 12 years ago # -
It depends whether the gritters get there first.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Sorry, it's not a priority route, no cooncilors living there ;-)
Posted 12 years ago # -
That's why the antarctic needs trams...
Posted 12 years ago # -
But, but, it's an iconic 'destination'.
Posted 12 years ago # -
How do you grit tramlines anyway?
In Edinburgh Corporation Tramways days, they had old trams that were converted for plowing / gritting duties.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Hub gears may be fine, but only for men,"
Never hear of a she-wee?
Actually I'd be worried that I'd end up with, not only a frozen hub, but a frozen hub encased in a layer of frozen urine. Lovely.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Urea also works as a melting agent by itself, though only down to -10°C.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Arctic televisual celebrities like to do the trick where you throw a pan of boiling water into the air and it instantly turns to ice crystals. Peeing on your hub to defrost it in those conditions, well, there's a phrase involving a four letter word starting with P and ending in S that springs to mind...
Posted 12 years ago # -
BBC 1 Breakfast this morning is trailing an interview with Helen Skelton - no idea yet if it will be interesting, but perhaps worth looking out for, either live or on iPlayer.
Robert
Posted 12 years ago # -
Apparently the bike isn't working out - too slow!
They've lost a lot of time, so need to make it up, and the kite (when the wind is favourable) or simply skiing with a pulk is quicker.
I'm surprised that cycling should be fundamentally slower than cross country skiing, so perhaps our armchair designers were correct!
Robert
Posted 12 years ago # -
How do you cycle to the South Pole?
Article from the BBC.
Posted 12 years ago # -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/uk-16670463
"Blue Peter's Helen Skelton reaches South Pole"
Posted 12 years ago # -
*applause*
Posted 12 years ago # -
BBC2 / CBBC are showing a nine part series on this event, probably combining some bits that were broadcast prior to the attempt as some are marked as a repeat in the schedules.
The kids are watching it just now, but I'd expect it to appear on iPlayer too.
Robert
Posted 12 years ago #
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