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Old 04-10-13 | 09:30 AM
  #125  
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hotbike
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,788
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From: Long Island, New York

Bikes: a lowrider BMX, a mountain bike, a faired recumbent, and a loaded touring bike

Couple of points to ponder:

Carbon frame can be built by a Do-it-Yourselfer without a welding rig.

Ideally, a Carbon Fiber bike should follow the same Design Parameters, or Design Theory, as a Fiberglass Bicycle. Too many builders are trying to execute a traditional Steel design in Carbon Fiber. Carbon Monocoque construction allows for larger tube diameter, any number of curves, tapered diameters, tapered wall-thicknesses, and reinforcing only-where-needed, to save weight.
There should be more experimentation with Fiberglass, before building more Carbon Fiber Bicycles.
Someone should build a Carbon Fiber replica of a Bowden Spacelander.

A few trial-and-error attempts could be made in Glass Fiber, to save money on the mistakes. Label it an "Experimental Vehicle".

You know, I got into this business because I wanted a set of Hard Panniers, made of Fiberglass, and also a matching Fiberglass Fairing. A Fairing is a Protective Shield, and can save me from injury if a car cuts me off, or if a car door gets opened in my path. The story of Benjamin Bowden is inspiring, but his company went belly-up before a Ladies Bicycle could be built. This is the aspect I tackled, with the aid of my Daughter Mellisa. I'm afraid the Bike that resulted is a half breed, part Velomobile, and part Utility Bike, and no one else has followed the path of this Mule.
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