Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Rear Wheel Steering

Well I finally got my new video made that I have been putting together for the last year. I think this video shows how stable this bike is at higher speeds as well as slow speeds.

8 comments:

  1. Hi Dennis,

    Many thanks for this! The FWDRWS vid in particular is most inspiring. I particularly like that last few seconds where you stand behind the bike and demonstrate how it moves as it leans into a curve. Really sweet action, and obviously from the video very easy and comfortable to ride. Very comfortable posture on the seat too, for men of our age.

    I think you deserve congratulation Dennis from the entire worldwide cycling community currently alive, and from the ghosts of all those who've gone before. You appear to have done what many have tried, but no-one previously has achieved. That's to say you've invented the geometry which allows a bike that's at least arguably a true FWDRWS to be ridden easily and without constant struggling effort. Wonderful. Be assured that I shall be copying a bike of my own from your kindly-given pictures and videos.

    I have to say that I'm still unclear whether to call the design a true FWDRWS, or whether I should think of it as a centre-steer, with the hinge right at the back end of the centre section, but -- crucial condition -- with the rider carried on the front part of the bike, just in front of the steering hinge, though with his back leaning backwards over it. I notice that the hinge is only just behind your hip-line. Jurgen Mages always reckons that the closer to the hip-line the bike's articulation is, the easier it is to ride without PSI.

    I imagine from watching the last few seconds of the vid that there must be a good deal of hip-swinging and shoulder-leaning involved in steering, once you're fluent at riding the bike, even if they're only subtly-done movements. Is that so?

    Another question which I can't quite answer from looking at the pics/vids: I presume that the linkage from the handle-bars to the steering-hinge goes diagonally across to the opposite side, and is linked to an arm on the rear part of the bike, to reverse the effect of the bars' movement, and thus to make the steering reflex feel very like it is on an ordinary bike. And I presume that the steering bar has its own hinge on the front part of the bike, so that it can move relative to the front part. It isn't just fastened down tight on the front part is it, in the way that quite a few of the Pythons have fixed bars just fastened onto the rear part, to carry the controI- levers, but with no steering effect?

    But really when all's said, who cares about such technicalities. This is the design that people have been dreaming about for over a hundred years, and a very sweet, easy ride too, by all appearances. Bloody well done Den! Thanks again, and I'll join you on my own home-built ASAP.

    Cheers, RhG

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  2. Hi Dennis,

    http://velorizontal.bbfr.net/le-coin-du-constructeur-amateur-f10/traction-directe-roue-arriere-directrice-t10407.htm#184392

    A link which introduces you to our French do it yourself recumbent community where front drive recumbent is getting quite popular.
    Looking forward to reading from you, if you don't mind, more datas, generals and technicals : Can you ride it no hands, how does it perform uphill, how fast downhill do you dare to go, angle of pivot, trail values. These are only a few points wich are of great interest for all of us.
    Thanks in advance.
    Ghislain

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  3. This looks to steer in a manner similar to that of the Tricumbent Raven by Bill Mason.

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  4. Hello

    Congratulation for doing this
    You got the graal: recumbent advantages: relax position, without disavantages: complicated chain travel, heavy front wheel, poor agility!.

    I like your video, especially the part when you stand up and move the steering, it shows well how but not understand all
    I will try to understand more about the geometry of your bicycle, and then try to home buit one!.

    Yes you deserves congratulations.

    Philippe

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  5. Dennis,
    I believe that you have developed what is truly the ideal recumbent design. Before I saw your bike, I would have given the nod to the Cruzebike Vendetta. Do you intend to make the plans available?
    Thanks,
    Angus Fox

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  6. Hello Mr. renner!

    I am a passionate handyman in various fields and I was very happy to finally find that someone other than me was interested in the science that explains the balance of bikes!

    I saw your rws recumbent bike video on youtube and I would like to build one for myself. I've seen that the pivot seems to point on the ground on a spot somewhere in front of the rear wheel.

    Would it be possible for you to send me the plans illustrating the main dimensions of your creation?

    A photo showing the longitudinal section on the bike taken from a good distance would also be greatly appreciated (to eliminate paralaxial errors in measurements.

    Long live renewable energy!

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