Proposed Design Change
 

I am thinking about some changes to the design of the Fiberglass Ladies Bicycle.
Here is a watercolor painting:
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...fiberglass.jpg
The changes would include fenderskirts over the wheels, hard panniers on the rear, and the fairing would be replaced with a "dump" bucket, like a wheelbarrow.
Below is a photo of the current bike:
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q...00000024-1.jpg
I know many of you have seen this photo before (it's in my avatar), but maybe there are newcomers who missed it.

I don't want anyone to under-estimate the utilitarian nature of this bike. The fiberglass is heavy duty.

Should the dump bucket be one piece, forcing me to tip the entire bike, or should the dump bucket be on a hinge?

This bike will help maintain local trails, by ferrying in fresh fill.

Hotbike....will the dump bucket be functional...ie hand pumped hydralics or small servo motor (solar powered)

No, no hydraulics or servo motor.

I guess the nearest thing that would compare would be the old Tonka truck.
Just flip it by hand.

I think I would go for a low trailer for that application (or something like my Worksman front-loading trike). Putting a 100 lbs of gravel up that high would make the bike very tippy sideways and frontways (stand up and the bike tips forward!). Maybe put two 5- gallon buckets at the rear like panniers, where they could be tipped by hand.

No, I don't think so. The seat has been moved far enough back that the bike does not tip forwards, I'm my own counterweight. I can keep both feet (heels) on the ground while seated. I have carried 94 # bags of Portland cement before.

I plan to cast fiberglass panniers, no need to recycle old 5 gal. buckets.

If you want some suggestions on your proposal from a wise and analytical head who has also carried bags of cement on utility bikes with front racks, I suggest you sign up with the iBob list (http://search.bikelist.org/) and ask Jan Heine.

He should be able to give you some technical perspectives on the front fork and geometry that may influence how you go about finalising your design.

One of the issue I foresee is how you are going to maintain stability of the front end while you tip the material from the bucket. And for what I'm worth, I'd suggest that it be hinged, but then that will likely create issues either with (a) overhang and subsequent influence on handling or (b) clearance of the bottom of the bucket over the front wheel when tipping.

And while your weight might counterbalance the load when you are on the bike, what happens while you are off the bike and filling up with your load? StephenH's suggestion of a trike overcomes some of this issue.

In fact, while I appreciate your ingenuity, I think Stephen's suggestion of using a trailer might be a better solution. Or a wheelbarrow.

Hotbike have you consulted your cousin on the design?

Hotbike,
In my experience carrying heavy loads, the lower you keep the weight the better.
Handling and loading become squirrelly quickly when you have a high center of gravity.

Rather than a standard diamond frame maybe consider a Worksman trike for your frame.
http://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_s...specialty.html
They are under three hundred dollars.

{edit}
Also since this is going to be a hard working utility vehicle, a stout undercarriage like the Worksman will be highly desirable.
I recommend using the NuVinci as a transmission.

No, I don't think it will be a problem. The fairing or box is mounted to the head-tube, so it is frame mounted. It does not turn with the handlebars.
The existing design has proved very sturdy. The weight of the load *improves* the handling, IMHO. It is easy to ride with no-hands when the box is loaded.

No I have NOT.

My Bomber has a frame mounted front rack.
A high CG bike is difficult to handle, especially when starting.
Hang a 50 pound bag of sand off of your handle bars and give it a try before you start cutting glass cloth.
Good luck with it.

--Allen

The type 9 fairing can already carry 50 pounds of sand, and it does so with ease. It's just that I have to flip the whole bike upside down to dump it.
Oh, I forgot, the painting shows a 20 inch wheel BMX bike, not the 24 inch wheel ladies bike. I want to make the Cg lower.