|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Towing bicycles
The problem of transporting children's bicycles from one school to
another is one which had vexed me for some time. I have in the past bungeed bikes to my rear rack, but this has been unstable and not really satisfactory. A trailer would be a solution: http://tinyurl.com/u3l2x from http://www.islabikes.co.uk/images/ga...railer_480.jpg But that has a total of eight wheels, four of which are redundant. What about a solution which utilises at least some of the towed bike's wheels? How viable would this low cost solution be? http://www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/towing (Appologies for the poor quality of my sketch - especially the shocking positioning of the bottom bracket of the adult bike.) Would it be possible to tow two bikes side by side in this manner? What about a train, with two bikes being towed in series? Or a combination - four bikes being towed in a 2 x 2 array? Side by side seems the most viable option as the two bikes could be secured together by the rear rack, providing a stable upright position. The diagram is meant to illustrate a 26" bike towing a 20" bike (yes, I know the wheel proportions are wrong). What about other sizes. A 26" bike towing two 24" bikes, or even better, a 26" bike towing two 24" bikes, towing two 20" bikes? The rack extension: Will this be secure enough? Would a couple of broomstick handles secured either side of the crossbar of the lead bike be better? Before I go into prototype mode, almost certainly not until well into the New Year, it would be useful to hear any views or suggestions. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Towing bicycles
Before I go into prototype mode, almost certainly not until well into the New Year, it would be useful to hear any views or suggestions. I have a trailer which is redundant and fitted for cycle carriage. If you can pick it up from Derbyshire it could be free to a good home.My wife would be delighted. We have no tow bars. That would be an easier solution. What I did for tjhis problem was buy a cheap folder from Loot .In fact there are some very cheap new folders around for cycle training or short distance use.Then there is no worry about how well they have been mounted on the car. TerryJ |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Towing bicycles
Tom Crispin wrote:
The problem of transporting children's bicycles from one school to another is one which had vexed me for some time. One would think http://www.trail-gator.com/ would work without a passenger. -- Andy Morris AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK Love this: Put an end to Outlook Express's messy quotes http://home.in.tum.de/~jain/software/oe-quotefix/ -- Posted via NewsDemon.com - Premium Uncensored Newsgroup Service -------http://www.NewsDemon.com------ Unlimited Access, Anonymous Accounts, Uncensored Broadband Access |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Towing bicycles
AndyMorris wrote:
One would think http://www.trail-gator.com/ would work without a passenger. They work fine without a passenger. I wonder if you could make a train of bikes with several of them? |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Towing bicycles
On 11 Dec 2006 01:50:23 -0800, "POHB" wrote:
AndyMorris wrote: One would think http://www.trail-gator.com/ would work without a passenger. They work fine without a passenger. I wonder if you could make a train of bikes with several of them? I expect a train connected by trail-gators would topple over at red lights. I think I have a simple cheap solution. Wooden boom handle bungeed securely across the rear of the 26" bike's rear rack. Front wheels removed from 24" bikes and forks 'hooked' over the broom handle. 24" bikes bungeed either side of the broom handle at the forks/down tube. 24" bikes bungeed together with a second broom handle at their rear racks, giving a stable trailer. Two 20" bikes, front wheels removed, hooked over the second broom handle and secured in the same way as the two 24" bikes, including at their rear rack by a third broom handle. I'll test it out in the playground at school one day after school next term and take a few shots. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Towing bicycles
Before I go into prototype mode, almost certainly not until well into the New Year, it would be useful to hear any views or suggestions. Sorry, I just realised that you had been carrying bicycles on your bicycle, not car. You're way out of my league. The offer still stands, though. TerryJ |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Towing bicycles
|
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Towing bicycles
Tom Crispin wrote:
The problem of transporting children's bicycles from one school to another is one which had vexed me for some time. I have in the past bungeed bikes to my rear rack, but this has been unstable and not really satisfactory. A trailer would be a solution: http://tinyurl.com/u3l2x from http://www.islabikes.co.uk/images/ga...railer_480.jpg But that has a total of eight wheels, four of which are redundant. To reduce the redundancy as long as two bikes have the same size of wheel you could use their front wheels for the trailer. Actually with a little ingenuity you could use different sized wheels either side. How viable would this low cost solution be? http://www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/towing How about fixing a set of QR fork holders for a car roof-rack at the rear of the towing carrier. Take out the front wheel of the towed bike and fasten bungee that to the carrier. You could probably tow two bikes side-by-side behind your tractor with two sets of fork holders. -- Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks" |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Towing bicycles
In article
Phil Cook wrote: Tom Crispin wrote: The problem of transporting children's bicycles from one school to another is one which had vexed me for some time. I have in the past bungeed bikes to my rear rack, but this has been unstable and not really satisfactory. A trailer would be a solution: http://tinyurl.com/u3l2x from http://www.islabikes.co.uk/images/ga...railer_480.jpg But that has a total of eight wheels, four of which are redundant. To reduce the redundancy as long as two bikes have the same size of wheel you could use their front wheels for the trailer. Actually with a little ingenuity you could use different sized wheels either side. But would require removing the wheels each time to transport the bikes, and what if he only had one to move? How viable would this low cost solution be? http://www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/towing How about fixing a set of QR fork holders for a car roof-rack at the rear of the towing carrier. Take out the front wheel of the towed bike and fasten bungee that to the carrier. You could probably tow two bikes side-by-side behind your tractor with two sets of fork holders. High CofG, tendency to flop. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Towing bicycles
On Sat, 9 Dec 2006 13:55:25 -0000, Rob Morley
wrote: How about fixing a set of QR fork holders for a car roof-rack at the rear of the towing carrier. Take out the front wheel of the towed bike and fasten bungee that to the carrier. You could probably tow two bikes side-by-side behind your tractor with two sets of fork holders. High CofG, tendency to flop. Not so sure. With the towed bikes attached at their rear racks, the whole system might be very stable. See the aerial sketch below. http://www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/towing2b |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Towing a bicycle | SMS | General | 8 | July 7th 06 06:06 AM |
BC Wheel Towing | tomtrevor | Unicycling | 33 | May 27th 06 09:30 AM |
OT, but makes me feel better whilst towing ... | Paul - xxx | UK | 8 | January 24th 05 10:01 PM |
rec.bicycles.racing,rec.bicycles.misc,rec.bicycles.tech,rec.bicycles.rides | BW | General | 1 | October 18th 03 04:45 PM |
rec.bicycles.racing,rec.bicycles.misc,rec.bicycles.tech,rec.bicycles.rides | BW | Rides | 1 | October 18th 03 04:45 PM |