Comments on: Bicycle Design on Facebook http://bicycledesign.net/2009/01/bicycle-design-on-facebook/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bicycle-design-on-facebook The blog about industrial design in the bike industry Thu, 23 May 2013 20:33:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: James http://bicycledesign.net/2009/01/bicycle-design-on-facebook/comment-page-1/#comment-2611 James Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:05:00 +0000 http://bicycledesign.net/2009/01/bicycle-design-on-facebook/#comment-2611 Nick, good points about rear wheel steering designs in general. If you read the section on rear wheel steering recumbents in “Bicycling Science” by Whitt and Wilson, the authors basically conclude that the only way to realize the theoretical benefits of rear wheel steering (simpler drivetrain, etc) is with a design that positions the rider backward to the direction of travel. Certainly possible as you point out, but obviously that idea provides its own set of problems in any practical application.

Also, I want to say thanks to everyone who became a fan of the blog on Facebook. Over 150 fans in just a couple of days- that is more than I expected.

]]> By: Anonymous http://bicycledesign.net/2009/01/bicycle-design-on-facebook/comment-page-1/#comment-2606 Anonymous Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:48:00 +0000 http://bicycledesign.net/2009/01/bicycle-design-on-facebook/#comment-2606 Erik
There is rear wheel steering (you can see the hinge in front of the rear wheel. Having said this I don’t know of anyone who has made rear wheel steering work. I know lots of very smart people who have tried. I know of one design (Flevo) that has an articulating frame which effectively gives you the same benefits. I also know that you shouldn’t pedal it at speeds over 25mph – it tends to induce a crash.

The benefits of rear wheel steering are a short drivetrain and short steering linkage – at least those are the benefits that attracted me to the idea before giving it up for more productive pursuits. Recently, someone has built a bike that gets the same benefits by turning the rider around backward, viewing the road behind/ahead through a mirror. This bike currently holds the unlimited (non-UCI) hour record of 55 miles.

Nick Hein
Morgantown, WV

]]> By: erik k http://bicycledesign.net/2009/01/bicycle-design-on-facebook/comment-page-1/#comment-2605 erik k Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:09:00 +0000 http://bicycledesign.net/2009/01/bicycle-design-on-facebook/#comment-2605 how would you turn? With the crank affixed directly to the wheel like that, and based off the pivot point of the wheel, turning it would change the distance you distance from the pedals. Simultaneously, stretching and compressing your legs every time the wheel turns one way or the other.

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