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Any attachments to make pedaling more difficult?

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Old 03-31-17 | 05:33 AM
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Old 03-31-17 | 07:02 AM
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Originally Posted by bikerbobbbb
Is there anything I could add on my bike that would recreate that, make it harder to pedal?
Of course there is, and you've been given plenty of great idea's here. But I challenge you to think big.

Here's my proposal:

A Pedi-cab trailer. You could charge people for tours of the city, while getting the improved workout you are missing out on by no longer dragging along a broken down wheel!

Pretty up the cab and include snacks and drinks for the whole experience. Imagine the thread possibilities here!
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Old 03-31-17 | 07:08 AM
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Put one of these on each pedal:

Make sure you get the steel one, if it's made of CF it might asplode
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Old 03-31-17 | 07:38 AM
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Thick tacky grease in the wheel bearings helps to add some resistance. Also get some inexpensive kevlar belted tires (no more than $12 each) and run them at the minimum air pressure on the sidewalls, or slightly lower. And finally, wear tight bluejeans and a loose shirt when riding.

ps, I forgot to mention that you can get up to around 6 watts resistance with a bottle dynamo to power headlights. Get a couple, one for each wheel.

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Old 03-31-17 | 07:42 AM
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Has anyone mentioned sand-filled tires yet?
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Old 03-31-17 | 10:14 AM
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Back when indoor trainer stands were first being developed (at least the first time in my life) Racer Mate had an add onto the seat post axial fan (blower wheels) set up that they intended to be used when the bike was clamped to their support stand. This quickly evolved into having the fans mounted onto the stand directly. But this add on unit could also be used outside on the open road. I know a racer guy who did for his training. Andy(who made his own set for roller riding).
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Old 03-31-17 | 11:46 AM
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Dry Sand or how about holding the brakes on ?
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Old 03-31-17 | 12:38 PM
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407 lbs.

Great for doing hill repeats. But, it does also slow a person down on level ground too.
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Old 03-31-17 | 12:59 PM
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Thanks. It's a serious post. I've thought about it other times. The ideas are interesting but they don't all meet the specs, or at least what I'm thinking. I don't want to add extra weight to carry around, if it stresses out the rear wheel/spokes and then even the bike frame.

I actually use thorn inner tubes off and on. I can't tell a huge difference for preventing flats or for weight.

And I see someone actually built something like what I was thinking there.

I wondering if something -- something soft so it doesn't damage rims -- could slip between the brake pads and rim. It might not take much to get the effect I want. If the brakes can do a death grip pinch they'll stop still and probably wouldn't suddenly stop the wheel either. It would make noise though.

Otherwise maybe there's space to attach something beyond the splash guard that pushes on the tire like the wind fan clip on/"vintage" exercise bike idea.

Or even better, more secure, would be a V-shaped clip thing that has rollers. The more pinch (evenly on the rim) the more resistance.... Or replace the front brake with rollers somehow. Same idea, more pinch is more work. That would eliminate the brake pads themselves rubbing and wearing away on the rim. Or if the rollers could tension themselves for being able to spin while in contact with the wheel, then the roller/add-on would get the wear and tear instead of the rim so much.


Or use the splash guard. Stick something in (so it can fall away safely) that will rub against the wheel to add some amount of extra tension.

Last edited by bikerbobbbb; 04-02-17 at 10:08 AM.
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Old 03-31-17 | 01:05 PM
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Originally Posted by bikerbobbbb

I actually use thorn inner tubes off and on. I can't tell a huge difference for preventing flats or for weight.
Do you use the correct ones?

I use these and they are really heavy. They have the 4mm walls.

I just measured the weight. 400 grams. A regular tube weighs about 100 grams.
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...s.php?id=21342

Last edited by Barabaika; 03-31-17 at 01:14 PM.
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Old 03-31-17 | 01:12 PM
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Old 03-31-17 | 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by bikerbobbbb
Thanks. It's a serious post. I've thought about it other times. The ideas are interesting but they don't all meet the specs, or at least what I'm thinking. I don't want to add extra weight to carry around, if it stresses out the rear wheel/spokes and then even the bike frame.
Thanks for the chuckle!
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Old 03-31-17 | 01:50 PM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
[img]

407 lbs.

Great for doing hill repeats. But, it does also slow a person down on level ground too.
That's impossible. I've read it here many times on BF that weight doesn't matter on the flats.
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Old 03-31-17 | 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Sy Reene
That's impossible. I've read it here many times on BF that weight doesn't matter on the flats.
Next time you're in the area, I'll load you up with 1/4 ton, and you can judge for yourself. Even road crowns seem like major hills to go over, but I will say it gives one a workout.
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Old 03-31-17 | 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by bikerbobbbb
Thanks. It's a serious post. I've thought about it other times. The ideas are interesting but they don't all meet the specs, or at least what I'm thinking. I don't want to add extra weight to carry around, if it stresses out the rear wheel/spokes and then even the bike frame.

I actually use thorn inner tubes off and on. I can't tell a huge difference for preventing flats or for weight.

And I see someone actually built something like what I was thinking there.

I wondering if something -- something soft so it doesn't damage rims -- could slip between the brake pads and rim. It might not take much to get the effect I want. If the brakes can do a death grip pinch they'll stop still and probably wouldn't suddenly stop the wheel either. It would make noise though.

Otherwise maybe there's space to attach something beyond the splash guard that pushes on the tire like the wind fan clip on/"vintage" exercise bike idea.

Or even better, more secure, would be a V-shaped clip thing that has rollers. The more pinch (evenly on the rim) the more resistance.... Or replace the front brake with rollers somehow. Same idea, more pinch is more work. That would eliminate the brake pads themselves rubbing and wearing away on the rim. Or if the rollers could tension themselves for being able to spin while in contact with the wheel, then the roller/add-on would get the wear and tear instead of the rim so much.
If you're riding with a slow companion, then that may be one thing. Otherwise, shift to a harder gear, and go faster, or hunt down a good hill.
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Old 03-31-17 | 03:54 PM
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Any Airless foam filled flat proof tires I've seen, are heavy rolling..

Stationary bikes like Tunturi, drag the wheel with a brake pad .. maybe Wool felted brake pads..
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Old 03-31-17 | 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by bikerbobbbb
Thanks. It's a serious post. I've thought about it other times. The ideas are interesting but they don't all meet the specs, or at least what I'm thinking. I don't want to add extra weight to carry around, if it stresses out the rear wheel/spokes and then even the bike frame.

I actually use thorn inner tubes off and on. I can't tell a huge difference for preventing flats or for weight.

And I see someone actually built something like what I was thinking there.

I wondering if something -- something soft so it doesn't damage rims -- could slip between the brake pads and rim. It might not take much to get the effect I want. If the brakes can do a death grip pinch they'll stop still and probably wouldn't suddenly stop the wheel either. It would make noise though.

Otherwise maybe there's space to attach something beyond the splash guard that pushes on the tire like the wind fan clip on/"vintage" exercise bike idea.

Or even better, more secure, would be a V-shaped clip thing that has rollers. The more pinch (evenly on the rim) the more resistance.... Or replace the front brake with rollers somehow. Same idea, more pinch is more work. That would eliminate the brake pads themselves rubbing and wearing away on the rim. Or if the rollers could tension themselves for being able to spin while in contact with the wheel, then the roller/add-on would get the wear and tear instead of the rim so much.
I think everyone has been trying to get the point across with humor.....but I will be direct this is basically a dumb idea.

There are a million other ways to get the desired result, many of which have been suggested seriously to you. Focus on those.

None of them put you at risk of sudden failure with an accompanying sudden stop and injury potential of some jury rigged friction device.

If there was a real need and benefit, someone would have such a product in production.
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Old 03-31-17 | 10:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Andrew R Stewart
Back when indoor trainer stands were first being developed (at least the first time in my life) Racer Mate had an add onto the seat post axial fan (blower wheels) set up that they intended to be used when the bike was clamped to their support stand. This quickly evolved into having the fans mounted onto the stand directly. But this add on unit could also be used outside on the open road. I know a racer guy who did for his training. Andy(who made his own set for roller riding).
I remember them and was thinking about suggesting it, however, I thought it would be difficult to hunt for the picture of it. At the time it was a great addition when using rollers because it added aerodynamic resistance. I don't have any experience with the fan or rollers.
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Old 04-01-17 | 07:25 AM
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Originally Posted by bikerbobbbb
Thanks. It's a serious post. I've thought about it other times. The ideas are interesting but they don't all meet the specs, or at least what I'm thinking. I don't want to add extra weight to carry around, if it stresses out the rear wheel/spokes and then even the bike frame.

I actually use thorn inner tubes off and on. I can't tell a huge difference for preventing flats or for weight.

And I see someone actually built something like what I was thinking there....
Tubes hardly do anything for resistance, don't believe the hype. But you can purchase an extra thorn layer that goes between the tube and tire.

Seriously something like this Forté Gotham ST Road and Mountain Tires - 700x32, 700x35, 26x1.75 or even https://www.amazon.com/Kenda-KWest-K.../dp/B00LQFPNO6 at low pressure will ratchet up your resistance. And I'm not kidding a couple of bottle dynamos on tight will drag you down. You don't have to mess up your bike or buy/make a contraption. The watts from these two things are probably a pretty large fraction of your usual power output (superman legs aside).
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Old 04-01-17 | 09:37 AM
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I toured on a bike with TR tubes, I could feel when the PSI dropped, so I topped them up.

but this was a minor inconvenience, let the PSI drop too far and the tire torque shifts around the rim, on the rear ,

carrying the tube with it, the hole in the rim does not move, shearing the stem from the innertube... un fixable air loss, results.


To run low PSI the company in AK selling ,mountain bikes ridden year around in Fairbanks,

recommends gluing 1 tire bead to the rim, with sew up tire glue.




....
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Old 04-01-17 | 11:45 AM
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Along the lines of the add on Racer Mate fan system and again borrower from thetraining market are fan blades that snapped onto one's wheel spokes. So the wheel became a fan, of sorts. By alternating the angle of the bladed additions the balance of side forces woud be maintained. I've seen this done with taping on plastic sheets. Andy.
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Old 04-01-17 | 11:55 AM
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Let some air out of the tries.
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Old 04-01-17 | 03:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Darth Lefty
The shifter
Yes, always use a harder gearing for a given stretch of road. Of course OP could learn to spin...
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Old 04-01-17 | 04:59 PM
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I think I know the feeling you have. I used to have this old 1950s bike, large heavy, carbon steel frame, large 28" wheels (635 tires), three speed Sturmey hub. I spend quite a bit of time gradually picking it completely appart, cleaning, greasing, oiling, reassembling it, rebuilding the wheels... I loved riding on this bike. After a couple of years with it as my main bike I went for a ride on a new racer, new fancy gears sliding up and down the cassette with impressive ease, narrow wheels, hardly any weight at all. You could get an old heavy bike with less gears, they are very nice to ride on when sorted out, but they are heavy and more work to pedal :- )
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Old 04-02-17 | 09:52 AM
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Fill the tyres up with water.
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