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Bike With Double Front Wheels

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by Karak Norn Clansman, Apr 20, 2018.

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  1. Karak Norn Clansman
    Troglodon

    Karak Norn Clansman Well-Known Member

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    Old age gets to even the most youthful of people. My maternal grandfather, 89 years old, is having trouble bicycling uphill because his balance has worsened. Ever the tinkerer, he cannibalized his stored bicycles, welded and built a double front wheel bike (last year it was a simpler attempt at just fastening a spare bike wheel on the side of the back wheel, which sent him toppling into the trench). Note the upward-shooting little rods that prevent the wheels suddenly twisting about 360 degrees if one was to turn too sharply.

    Apparently, having two front wheels is much different to riding a normal bike. You cannot turn as sharply, and any bumps in the road jerks about the bike more forcefully. The most obvious difference is that the instinct to turn your body over to one side to prevent the bike going where you don't want it to go, is null and void for a double front wheel assemblage. Instead, trust in steering alone to take you in the right direction. On first tries, the bike will tend to move toward the trench forcing you to stop and jump off, but handling the double front-wheeler correctly is quickly learnt.

    This is Mark II. Mark I was a red bike, and welded fast steel-to-steel. Grandpa switched to the purple bike for its more numerous gears, yet was surprised to find that the purple bike was made all out of aluminium, which do now weld with steel. This was a hurdle for swearing, but not an overly large problem to overcome for an old farmer who knows his trusty workshop (the anvil is a short piece of railway rail).

    There isn't much stopping some people:

    [​IMG]
     
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  2. Crowsfoot
    Slann

    Crowsfoot Guardian of Paints Staff Member

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    Stabilisers come to mind
     
  3. Lord-Marcus
    Slann

    Lord-Marcus Sixth Spawning

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    I don't care what anybody says about what that bike looks like or who uses it. That is a cool bike.
     
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  4. Karak Norn Clansman
    Troglodon

    Karak Norn Clansman Well-Known Member

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    Stabilizers? He started with a little trike as a kid, so better end on a big trike. :)

    Cheers!

    Some days ago, grandpa turned 90... twice. Does that make him 180 years old? When his family fled from Finland during the second world war, the Swedish authorities misregistered him, and the error has stuck. Apparently when he turned 50, he and grandma travelled away so as to not be attended with a big party on his actual birthday, but the problem was that they still were home and unprepared when guests began turning up at his second birthday date.

    During his actual 90 years day he joked about setting up three long planks against the oak tree out front, to see which of the guests dared ride the homemade tricycle up highest. (Yes the craziness runs in the family.)

    This got to be his birthday present from me:

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Crowsfoot
    Slann

    Crowsfoot Guardian of Paints Staff Member

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    I'd have ago at that
     
  6. Karak Norn Clansman
    Troglodon

    Karak Norn Clansman Well-Known Member

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    That's the spirit!
     
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  7. Crowsfoot
    Slann

    Crowsfoot Guardian of Paints Staff Member

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    Up to about 5 years ago I rode Downhill MTB and dislocated my shoulder trying a 360 at the good old age of 43, never too old to try something stupid on a bike ;)
     
  8. Aginor
    Slann

    Aginor Fifth Spawning Staff Member

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    Yeah it sounds like that wasn't exactly the brightest thing to do. :D
     
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  9. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    It's at least more epic than the tale of a friend of mine (42 years old) that thought it was a nice idea to go and play football in a 5 men team, and ended with snapped ligaments... :p
     
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  10. Crowsfoot
    Slann

    Crowsfoot Guardian of Paints Staff Member

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    I feel the pain, I coach Under 12 and ended up playing 11 a side coaches game a few months ago, I played the full 90 minutes my knee still hurts, but off that I now play 6 a side twice a week.
     
  11. Killer Angel
    Slann

    Killer Angel Prophet of the Stars Staff Member

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    Indeed, regular training and playing is vital.
    But if you live a sedentary life, then it's a dangerous thing to do... :p
     
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