Front wheel drive bent

[Canuck1]

Have any of you ever seen or heard of a front wheel drive bent? It seems to me that I heard of a guy who built a SWB that articulated in the middle so the drive was on the front part driving the front wheel. I think he could stear with his legs. Is this true or just a bad dream.

[bentrox!]

Have any of you ever seen or heard of a front wheel drive bent? It seems to me that I heard of a guy who built a SWB that articulated in the middle so the drive was on the front part driving the front wheel. I think he could stear with his legs. Is this true or just a bad dream.

Read this for reasons why there aren't more front-wheel drive bents:
http://www.ihpva.org/pipermail/trikes/2003-October/027635.html
Note the website for Zoxbikes.

Also, I think this "divisible low racer" front-wheel drive design is elegant:
http://www.fastfwd.nl/eng/index.php
Check out his kid trikes - also front drive.

[lowracer1]

Have any of you ever seen or heard of a front wheel drive bent? It seems to me that I heard of a guy who built a SWB that articulated in the middle so the drive was on the front part driving the front wheel. I think he could stear with his legs. Is this true or just a bad dream.

I can't believe you haven't seen the carbon fiber cobra.........

I rode this bike around the track at Northbrook....... very fast and I was able to get used to it pretty quick........ nothing wrong with front wheel drive that I could feel....... just different. Edd Ginn pilots this bike to 32mph very easily and holds it there.

http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/misc/EdGinCobra1.jpg

[Canuck1]

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking of building one but I want something that is practical for the street. I don't think the Cobra would have much turning ability the way the chain is run.

[lowracer1]

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking of building one but I want something that is practical for the street. I don't think the Cobra would have much turning ability the way the chain is run.

It actually turns pretty sharp. You can turn it around on your own side of the street.

[meb]

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking of building one but I want something that is practical for the street. I don't think the Cobra would have much turning ability the way the chain is run.

Cobra steers in front not middle.
Python is fwd with middle articulated steering: http://www.python.tieflieger.net/

The objections you raised to fwd lowracer appear more characteristic of lowracer than fwd.

Fwd rear steer: http://www.rowvelo.com/

Rear steer bike page: http://www.wannee.nl/hpv/abt/e-index.htm

Fwd construction links: http://www.gaerlan.com/bikeparts/frame/links/links.htm

Tom Traylorfrd sells fwd recumbent plans:
http://traylorf wd.home.mindspring.com

fwd with gear hub http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/psychology/bok/fwd.html



http://www.stitesdesign.com/wrap_hpv.html


http://www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/~bkwillia/fwd.html

[Canuck1]

So, with the Cobra, there is enough flex in the chain to allow the front wheel to be turned quite a bit? It looks line the wheel would hit the chain on right handers. Does the chain every jump gears on sharp turns?

I see on some designs where the chain has been routed down the axis of the fork and then relies on the twisting flexibility of the chain. This seems to be the simplest and most practical approach.

Thanks for all the info!

[lowracer1]

So, with the Cobra, there is enough flex in the chain to allow the front wheel to be turned quite a bit? It looks line the wheel would hit the chain on right handers. Does the chain every jump gears on sharp turns?

I see on some designs where the chain has been routed down the axis of the fork and then relies on the twisting flexibility of the chain. This seems to be the simplest and most practical approach.

Thanks for all the info!

If I remember right, the cobra uses a special chain which flexes more than normal chains.

[meb]

Many lowracer’s have two chain configurations- lower race trim and a higher street configuration which provides less interference with a turning wheel.

I don’t know if the Cobra has only one configuration or if this might be a street or a race configuration. Ed Gin uses his Cobra for both, so it’s hard to be sure from this photo what configuration may be at shown if the cobra has multiple configurations.

I don’t know why in a street configuration you wouldn’t route the low tension chain up the fork with a second return side idler to give more chain-wheel clearance. Losses with the drive side idler shown would be several times any loss due an idler on the low tension chain return.

[lowracer1]

Many lowracer’s have two chain configurations- lower race trim and a higher street configuration which provides less interference with a turning wheel.

I don’t know if the Cobra has only one configuration or if this might be a street or a race configuration. Ed Gin uses his Cobra for both, so it’s hard to be sure from this photo what configuration may be at shown if the cobra has multiple configurations.

I don’t know why in a street configuration you wouldn’t route the low tension chain up the fork with a second return side idler to give more chain-wheel clearance. Losses with the drive side idler shown would be several times any loss due an idler on the low tension chain return.

If interested more in this stuff...... check out http://www.recumbents.com/monkeyisland/

This site is dedicated to lowracers and obtaining more speed plus just general bashing and bs mixed in.

[cycletourist]

Front wheel drive recumbent? Isn't that a BigWheel? They have those at K-mart.

[lowracer1]

Front wheel drive recumbent? Isn't that a BigWheel? They have those at K-mart.

hmm........just wait till you get passed by one of those so called big wheels.......
You may change your mind about them being distributed at K-mart.

[bentrox!]

hmm........just wait till you get passed by one of those so called big wheels.......
You may change your mind about them being distributed at K-mart.

Don't let cycletourist yank your chain. Nice enough guy I'm sure, but he will never get it.

[cycletourist]

I was trying to be funny but you guys missed it. You do know what a BigWheel is? Surely you had one as a kid.

[lowracer1]

I was trying to be funny but you guys missed it. You do know what a BigWheel is? Surely you had one as a kid.


yup..... I remember......had one....... I got the joke. just had to post back something. Have fun!

[Barry]

Barcroft cycles in Church Falls Virginia has a new Oregon that costs about 3000 and weighs about 29-30 LBs. Bill Cook is the owner and he has a website: www.barcroftcycles.com

[bentrider]

I have a friend who recently built his SWB, FWD and it has an articulated frame. The design is based on a flevobike racer that we saw when touring Holland in 2000. It has two small wheels (20" I think) and the stays are single front and back with a rubber bung that sort of acts as a shock.It also is under seat steering. I've tried riding it myself but am totally inept. When we saw the Dutch cyclist ride it he could steer without his hands just by leaning one way or the other.One can get the plans off the web somewhere which is where my friend got his but he ordered all the components from Flevobike in Droten Holland.

He lives in Nova Scotia and can be reached at scooter.baker@ns.sympatico.ca

[lowracer1]

http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/trainingsetuppics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=5544

Another carbon wonder. This bike reportably weighs in at only 16.5 lbs.

[Canuck1]

That is very cool. The FWD really simplifies the design allowing the lower weight. Looks like a second bottom bracket right above the fork for the drive chain and an idler for the low-tension return chain. This would not be that hard to build.

[dchristensen]

Have any of you ever seen or heard of a front wheel drive bent? It seems to me that I heard of a guy who built a SWB that articulated in the middle so the drive was on the front part driving the front wheel. I think he could stear with his legs. Is this true or just a bad dream.


Try the president of the Minnesota HPVA he knows the guy who built one of the most kick ass bents you will ever want to ride.

[meb]

That is very cool. The FWD really simplifies the design allowing the lower weight. Looks like a second bottom bracket right above the fork for the drive chain and an idler for the low-tension return chain. This would not be that hard to build.

Here is an unusual and very simply lwb fwd bent:

home.mho.net/rohorn/pics/...er/08.html

[Canuck1]

Meb, I couldn't get that link to work.

[meb]

Meb, I couldn't get that link to work.

http://home.mho.net/rohorn/pics/flowroller/08.html

[Canuck1]

Meb, now that is an interesting design. I can't even image what it would be like to ride. Is it a 3 speed? Do you know any more about it?

[meb]

Meb, now that is an interesting design. I can't even image what it would be like to ride. Is it a 3 speed? Do you know any more about it?

36 lbs, 69" WHEELBASE. HE SAYS THERE IS A LOT OF WHEEL FLOP, BUT ONE EVENTUALLY GETS USED TO IT.

CERTAINLY A VERY NICE LOOKING FWD BIKE. IT HAS ME RECONSIDERING THE SWB FWD HIGHRACER I WAS INTENTED TO BUILD.

[Canuck1]

I wonder if the wheel flop could be fixed by increasing the head tube angle so that the head tube points at the front wheel contact patch or slightly behind it. Those look like pretty heavy/fat tires...you could put some light 700c wheels with skinny tires and get a pretty fast machine maybe.

[meb]

I wonder if the wheel flop could be fixed by increasing the head tube angle so that the head tube points at the front wheel contact patch or slightly behind it. Those look like pretty heavy/fat tires...you could put some light 700c wheels with skinny tires and get a pretty fast machine maybe.

He tried more upright head tube angles but preferred that shown for stability.
With the yaw induced on the steering from the pedals, the steep angle and wider tires help keep the wheels straight.

Unless you make the head tube axis more level, if you move the head tube axis more to the contact patch and away from the pedals, you'll need more arm strength to keep the wheel straight, and need sacrifice either height or wheelbase for leg room. Steepening the head tube away from the contact patch would reduce flop without the wheelbase or height sacrifice, but you'd have less stability and more pedal induced steering.

If you make the head tube more level keeping the pedals proximate the axis, the wheelflop will increase, and you'll have higher pedals. If you do the same by taking the pedals away from the axis, you'll increase pedal induced yaw.

But some thinner fronts could reduce rolling resistance, so I'd try that, it's easy to try a road bike's tire. 26" tires are readily available in thin and wide size, so building to that rim may give a nice oportunity to change in case one needs wider tires. Or brakes capable of working on all of 27/700/650/26 might give some flexibility.

A choice of tradeoffs :p .