CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Moving big computers by bike?

(10 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by cc
  • Latest reply from fimm
  • This topic is not resolved

  1. cc
    Member

    At work we occasionally need to shift large computers from one computer room to another. The computers can be pretty big and heavy, and some of our computer rooms are a couple of miles apart, so this gets a little tricky.

    Our old van went to the scrappy some years ago and won't be replaced, so we've been wondering how we should shift the computers in future: taxi? hire a van? City Car Club? But I thought, wouldn't it be great if we could hire a cargo bike or a large trailer when needed, and shift the computers by bike!

    Some details: the computer boxes can be pretty big - the latest are roughly 90x60x30cm, with stickers saying "WARNING >30kg". The computers - rack-mounted servers for the most part - are also kind of delicate and they're worth a bit too, so delivery by a third party would get the thumbs down, it'd have to be us doing it ourselves.

    I'm just exploring ideas here, but, for instance, can anyone recommend a trailer that'd be big and strong enough? And Kim, what about your Cargo Bike Club?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. Uberuce
    Member

    The Carry Freedom that Dave(of this parish) and pretty soon Uberuce(of this seat) have is listed as having a 90cmx66cm maximum load area, so you might look there.

    I'd worry about bouncing a computer over cobbles and the like, but since the weight limit on these trailers is around three times what you need to shift one*, you've ample margin to add all the padding you could wish for.

    *I understand the weight limit is usually a fib anyway - a chunky Alu frame and the wee wheels these things sport can almost certainly manage much more, but they'd be sued silly if they didn't keep their recommended limit low enough to stop jack-knifing.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. Arellcat
    Moderator

    I'm pretty sure Nick Carryfreedom once built a trailer with a sprung load bed, using an inflated inner tube between that and the chassis's main platform. Perhaps if the computer rack can be carried lengthways on its side you can keep the centre of mass low enough to try adding some air cushioning.

    Failing that, you just need a handy Uberuce to carry it.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. Baldcyclist
    Member

    Sound like you need a secure lockable, and weather proof method of moving these expensive machines. A van springs to mind.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. cc
    Member

    Thanks everyone, much appreciated.

    Baldcyclist has a point: a van or car is certainly an easy way to move the things - just shove the big box in the back and off you go. And it has good suspension, weatherproofing and some security.
    But they're expensive, awkward to park and we'd have to hire one each time we needed it.

    I just love the idea of moving our computers by pedal power, and I want to see if it would be practical.

    Security isn't really a problem if a member of the team is there - we just don't want our computers to be left lying around when they reach the other end (which isn't permanently staffed by any of us, though others work there).

    And we're not talking supercomputers here, just bog standard kit; I wouldn't expect armed holdups on the way.

    Weather proofing also doesn't seem like much of a problem - we normally have several weeks in which to move a computer, so we could pick a dry day. And they'd generally be in big boxes.

    Padding and suspension are a bit of an issue, yes. The computers come encased in polystyrene in cardboard boxes, much like a large bit of hi-fi or something, but something shock-absorbent between the box and the bumps would be reassuring.

    Thanks Uberuce and Arellcat - I'm now pondering the Carry Freedom Y-frame web pages.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. Uberuce
    Member

    Dave's blogged about his a few times:

    http://mccraw.co.uk/tag/utility

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. cc
    Member

    So he has - thanks!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. Uberuce
    Member

    If I made bikes, I'd have a family of tractor units with a dedicated hitch mounting on the non-drive side of the frame, and a matching family of trailers.

    The handy thing is you can make the tractors with front handbrake and coaster, leaving you with a hand free to brake the trailer, the cables connected via some clever rodwork around the hitch.

    The big win a trailer has over the cargo bikes is that it only takes a few seconds to get your normal bike back, but the big win cargo bikes have is braking.

    I've presumably missed something, or else someone else would surely have thought of this by now.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. cb
    Member

    Latest Cycle (CTC) mag has an article on load carrying bikes. Haven't read it yet though.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. fimm
    Member

    City Car Club also have vans (I'm aware this is a non-bicycle answer...)

    Posted 12 years ago #

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