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Rear wheel steering?
I'm probably late to the party on this (video posted in 2016), but:
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I’ve seen this video before. In the long history of bicycle design, this actually isn’t all that strange, and honestly i wouldn’t at all be surprised if this hasn’t been invented before. A lot of things that we think are new in terms of bicycle engineering, is often actually really old. In fact, sometimes over a century old. It’s literally all been done before. Well, short of actually ‘re-inventing’ the wheel. There’s no practical use that I can see, other than maybe a tighter turning radius when needed? Maybe. But it seems like it’s mostly meant for fun, which leads me to believe that it will never catch on at all, with anyone. Like that bike where the frame is literally the lock. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6a67c959af.jpg It’s pointless. But I’m sure there will be a small special group of people that will buy one. An elite club that will be. |
That's just a gentrified swing bike.
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Originally Posted by seau grateau
(Post 20550432)
That's just a gentrified swing bike.
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Originally Posted by TimothyH
(Post 20550494)
*embedded video above*
Also just noticed tho, they are clearly running a freewheel on those... false advertising in the video title? Probably more fun as a single-speed than a fixed-gear anyway. Pretty laughable chain tension on the silver one too. |
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...418c10f22e.png
Originally Posted by SeanBikes
(Post 20550550)
Thanks, that's much more convenient than the link I posted. :thumb:
Also just noticed tho, they are clearly running a freewheel on those... false advertising in the video title? Probably more fun as a single-speed than a fixed-gear anyway. Pretty laughable chain tension on the silver one too. |
I want to see a whole bunch of these in a field sprint.
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Originally Posted by seamuis
(Post 20550664)
It’s a 3! Speed freewheel with short horizontal dropouts, which is why his tension is so bad. It’s clearly an old road frame conversion that they modified the frame. Quite misleading it seems.
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I'd love to see video where they leave the bike somewhere unlocked, and unsuspecting thieves try to steal it.:lol:
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Having operated a forklift, my view is that rear steering would be too unstable. It's easy to tip over by steering at excessive speed when moving forward.
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I'd love to see how would they manage to do a proper mountain road descend with that. I would get killed for sure.
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Originally Posted by SeanBikes
(Post 20550534)
Ah. Never heard of swing bikes... Still don't see the point tho. I guess you my be able to argue something about the turning radius, but other than that it seems like a meaningless novelty.
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The various swing bikes are novelties and are no doubt fun to ride for a while. I once rode a bike that was hinged at the seat tube and the head tube, so you could ride it in a Z shape. However, once you've ridden in a Z shape, and done some tight circles, it's, er... well, that's it, really.
Once you start steering with the back wheel, you may as well do the job properly and get rid of the front wheel. You then have a very capable and versatile machine but have to put up with a lot of silly comments from dog walkers. |
The entirety of recreational cycling is made up of a long series of silly stunts and lack of practical value.
If someone want's to ride a rear wheel steering bike then its cool with me as long as they aren't killing kittens, stealing food from children or drugging themselves into unconsciousness. If everyone started to act, think and behave like me I'd probably kill myself, or everyone around me. Just be nice to the least and lowest - give them some dignity back, and let people live their lives. -Tim- |
Originally Posted by TimothyH
(Post 20563696)
The entirety of recreational cycling is made up of a long series of silly stunts and lack of practical value.
If someone want's to ride a rear wheel steering bike then its cool with me as long as they aren't killing kittens, stealing food from children or drugging themselves into unconsciousness. If everyone started to act, think and behave like me I'd probably kill myself, or everyone around me. Just be nice to the least and lowest - give them some dignity back, and let people live their lives. -Tim- |
Originally Posted by TimothyH
(Post 20563696)
The entirety of recreational cycling is made up of a long series of silly stunts and lack of practical value.
If someone want's to ride a rear wheel steering bike then its cool with me as long as they aren't killing kittens, stealing food from children or drugging themselves into unconsciousness. If everyone started to act, think and behave like me I'd probably kill myself, or everyone around me. Just be nice to the least and lowest - give them some dignity back, and let people live their lives. |
Originally Posted by Broctoon
(Post 20564924)
Well, I agree with the I'll do my thing and let them do theirs philosophy. Just because I think something like a swing bike is silly doesn't mean I'm trying to deny them the right to ride it. (Lots of folks probably think some of my bikes are silly, and I don't mind if they say so.)
The concept of a rear-steer bike is just foreign to me and I find it strange. I like cool/fun bike ideas (there are some pretty odd and interesting designs in the frame-builders forum) -- whatever tickles your pickle -- but I'm not going to run out and buy one... It does seem like they're trying to pass it off as a game-changing practical idea with a title like: "Could this rear-wheel steering single-speed bike be the next big thing?" I think we can safely answer "no", criticize why it won't (and shouldn't) be, acknowledge it as a fun experiment, and move on. |
Originally Posted by TimothyH
(Post 20563696)
The entirety of recreational cycling is made up of a long series of silly stunts and lack of practical value.
If someone want's to ride a rear wheel steering bike then its cool with me as long as they aren't [...] drugging themselves into unconsciousness. If everyone started to act, think and behave like me I'd probably kill myself, or everyone around me. [DISCLAIMER: I understand that you're just joshing] |
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