What could possibly go wrong?
#51
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Mr. Kelly: When you started this thread I looked through my files to find my information on the Legacy 2-wheel-drive bicycle, as I was asked to write a review of it for my club newsletter by its local distributor (back in the early 90s). Thank you for being more organized than I am.
When the distributor asked why the review did not appear promptly after I returned the test bike, I think my response was "If you can't say something nice..."
When the distributor asked why the review did not appear promptly after I returned the test bike, I think my response was "If you can't say something nice..."
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Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
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That looks about as useful as an equalizer hitch for a bicycle trailer.
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Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
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#54
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@Repack Rider thanks for saving all this bicycle foolishness from quietly skulking away. What a collection!
There's a fellow in Woodacre/San Geronimo near the Conifer Fire Road gate with one of those Legacy 2 wheel drive bikes. I've only seen him riding it around his own yard.
Brent
There's a fellow in Woodacre/San Geronimo near the Conifer Fire Road gate with one of those Legacy 2 wheel drive bikes. I've only seen him riding it around his own yard.
Brent
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Does anyone have literature on the Autobike? Friend of a friend had one about 15 years ago, and one just came up on the local CL recently.
#56
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Repack Rider and Wildwood
I didn't see this thread until today... Just last night I was talking about my experience with a Swing Bike... A friend had one- he was magic on that thing. He could do pretty much anything an ordinary person could do with the seat pivot all swingy- he had total control of it. We'd been out riding around- and I asked to ride the Swing Bike on the way back to his place. We're trucking around, I'm riding with one wheel on the curb and one on the road... I'm thinking I'm pretty damn good at this... and then we went downhill... I probably was fine for a quarter of the hill, and then it started wobbling, and once it started wobbling, I couldn't stop it and I face planted. Last damn time I'm ever getting on one of those death traps.
I didn't see this thread until today... Just last night I was talking about my experience with a Swing Bike... A friend had one- he was magic on that thing. He could do pretty much anything an ordinary person could do with the seat pivot all swingy- he had total control of it. We'd been out riding around- and I asked to ride the Swing Bike on the way back to his place. We're trucking around, I'm riding with one wheel on the curb and one on the road... I'm thinking I'm pretty damn good at this... and then we went downhill... I probably was fine for a quarter of the hill, and then it started wobbling, and once it started wobbling, I couldn't stop it and I face planted. Last damn time I'm ever getting on one of those death traps.
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Commence to jigglin huh?!?!
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Commence to jigglin huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#57
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I used to do this a lot. It was the only way we could give my brothers hunting dog a thorough workout. Just walking or running with the dog gave him nothing. He was well trained in "bicycling" and never got distracted by game or anything elese while we were out biking. He just kept on running and pulling. He was such a happy dog and I miss him. The new hunting dog is of a totally different kind and he does not like this at all. His favourite exercise is swimming...and balls.
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#58
Retro on steroids
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Repack Rider and Wildwood
I didn't see this thread until today... Just last night I was talking about my experience with a Swing Bike... A friend had one- he was magic on that thing. He could do pretty much anything an ordinary person could do with the seat pivot all swingy- he had total control of it. We'd been out riding around- and I asked to ride the Swing Bike on the way back to his place. We're trucking around, I'm riding with one wheel on the curb and one on the road... I'm thinking I'm pretty damn good at this... and then we went downhill... I probably was fine for a quarter of the hill, and then it started wobbling, and once it started wobbling, I couldn't stop it and I face planted. Last damn time I'm ever getting on one of those death traps.
I didn't see this thread until today... Just last night I was talking about my experience with a Swing Bike... A friend had one- he was magic on that thing. He could do pretty much anything an ordinary person could do with the seat pivot all swingy- he had total control of it. We'd been out riding around- and I asked to ride the Swing Bike on the way back to his place. We're trucking around, I'm riding with one wheel on the curb and one on the road... I'm thinking I'm pretty damn good at this... and then we went downhill... I probably was fine for a quarter of the hill, and then it started wobbling, and once it started wobbling, I couldn't stop it and I face planted. Last damn time I'm ever getting on one of those death traps.
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#59
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I seem to remember the Swingbike had springs near the frame hinges and a standard drivetrain, both not apparent on the STC. But a similar concept.
Thanks for posting the STC info and the others. Some amazingly, um, "innovative" ideas there...
Thanks for posting the STC info and the others. Some amazingly, um, "innovative" ideas there...
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#60
Retro on steroids
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Why walk when you can Le Run?
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Oh, there were definitely noticeable friction losses...
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Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
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#63
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#64
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Nice collection of product info.
I too attended Interbike many times, as both a vendor and a dealer.
I always made note of the useless products, the money and effort put into them
and the presentations to try and sell them.
There are many, but my all time favorite useless item was the
Inclinometer. Small plastic tube, similar to a carpenters level, mounted next to a scale.
This thing was mounted to the top tube of the bicycle.
As you rode, the small ball in the tube would indicate the slope you were currently riding at.
First, the thing was difficult to read, especially while riding.
Second - who cares!
Sorry, no photo at this time.
rusty
I too attended Interbike many times, as both a vendor and a dealer.
I always made note of the useless products, the money and effort put into them
and the presentations to try and sell them.
There are many, but my all time favorite useless item was the
Inclinometer. Small plastic tube, similar to a carpenters level, mounted next to a scale.
This thing was mounted to the top tube of the bicycle.
As you rode, the small ball in the tube would indicate the slope you were currently riding at.
First, the thing was difficult to read, especially while riding.
Second - who cares!
Sorry, no photo at this time.
rusty
It worked, more or less, but in practice it was not all that great. First, you had to dial in the set-up so that you got an accurate reading from your seated position. (Mine went on the handlebars.) In practice, it had to be set up a tad off level to account for the angle of viewing. Once you took care of that, it proved less than optimal in actual use. If you stood on the pedals, goodbye any semblance of accuracy. It was not particularly easy to read on the go, as the bubble would move forward or backward with any and all accelerations and decelerations, regardless of grade. Only if you were maintaining a constant speed did it give a discernable reading. It was mainly a novelty, not exactly useless but not particularly useful, either. At least it didn't cost much.
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#65
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This thread is a catalog of examples of the old saw: Just because you can do or build something doesn't mean that you should.
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#66
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The Swing Bike I'm referring to was like the one RCMoeur desrcibed- as Wildwood posted in What could possibly go wrong?
Those had springs- the one above... no spring. Wow.
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Commence to jigglin huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#67
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Cant believe no one has brought up a Softride MTB yet.
#68
Retro on steroids
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#69
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Chinese got there first with wind power and cargo bike!
https://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2011...eelbarrow.html
Rear end crashes must have been very common…..
https://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2011...eelbarrow.html
Rear end crashes must have been very common…..
Last edited by awac; 09-01-23 at 02:48 AM.
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The Funniest product that was shown at Interbike (This was back in the 80s) was "Pig In Bottle".) Lead was poured into a Water Bottle-somehow.) to make you work harder on the hills. I wonder if they sold any?
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I have a Lectric cargo bike that tends to develop a death wobble in the steering. Compared to correcting the geometry problem, adding an aftermarket stabilizer seems like an easier/lazier way of solving the problem. So I could imagine a small market for such items.
But, yes, I agree it's a bad idea.
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Mr. Kelly: When you started this thread I looked through my files to find my information on the Legacy 2-wheel-drive bicycle, as I was asked to write a review of it for my club newsletter by its local distributor (back in the early 90s). Thank you for being more organized than I am.
When the distributor asked why the review did not appear promptly after I returned the test bike, I think my response was "If you can't say something nice..."
When the distributor asked why the review did not appear promptly after I returned the test bike, I think my response was "If you can't say something nice..."
#74
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I suppose someone could find a trail on which 2WD might possibly be of benefit, such as a 20+% grade with loose rock and scree (a trail of this type exists less than 2 miles from my house), and in such places it's easy for a standard 2" MTB rear wheel alone to lose traction. When I tested the Legacy, I lived elsewhere, and was not aware of this trail. But this presumes a rider could apply weight/vertical force to the front wheel in a manner that would prevent it from slipping and skidding (which would be a Bad Thing).
A different solution (wider rear tires / "fatbikes") has appeared on the market, which has seen much wider adoption as it offers other benefits in addition to traction.
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#75
Retro on steroids
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No collection of this sort would be complete without the most bogus bicycle product ever to have soaked up millions from investors.
That would be the Alenax, with the "Transbar" drive system, pictured here. As bogus as it looks, I found out from just one ride that it is even more bogus than I had already thought. Yet it appeared at multiple trade shows, with expensive brochures, and foxy models in Spandex riding stationary versions in the enormous booth.
Here is the sales pitch.
That would be the Alenax, with the "Transbar" drive system, pictured here. As bogus as it looks, I found out from just one ride that it is even more bogus than I had already thought. Yet it appeared at multiple trade shows, with expensive brochures, and foxy models in Spandex riding stationary versions in the enormous booth.
Here is the sales pitch.
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