Rowbike

On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 20:40:58 +1000, Gags <tba@tba> Wrote :

Quoted message said:

Ever seen one of these in Aust???

Many moons ago - like over 30 years - there were a couple of
home made work-alikes getting around on all the rides. There
used to be quite a few organised rides in 'the good old
days' (the '60's and '70's).

Anyhow the old ones were a single speed with the 'gearing'
being changed by the posi of the pulling end of the chain on
the lever (for want of a better word). The other end of the
chain was kept under control by a long spring just strong
enough to take up the chain.

Someone else oughta remember 'em they were both on the ride
over the West Gate the day before it opened. Ray P., Peter
Sig. perhaps ??

Perhaps it's only my memory but there used to be heaps
of rides with heaps of people on 'em. There was that
ride around Packenham, the bike ride into spring and of
course the legendry MAD ride. Surely there were more
than that - anyone ?

Quoted message said:

bike-on.comRowbike726King.htmOpen ↗

Could be fun although steering might be a challenge.

Ride On,

Gags

--

Humbug

"Gags" <tba@tba> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ever seen one of these in Aust???

bike-on.comRowbike726King.htmOpen ↗

Could be fun although steering might be a challenge.

Ride On,

Gags

Oh Man what a contraption!!

Now I don't have a degree in physics, mechanics or any damn
ics, but it's got me intrigued on how you actually get to
move anywhere as the chain that's comming off the rear
cluster seems to be bolted on a bracket of some kind, which
kinda looks to me like a rocking bike/horse type
contraption.Just how does the chain continue around if it
stops at the rowing impliment? mmmm, might get Prof. Hippy
on this one!! hehehe

DJ

D&M Johnston said:

Now I don't have a degree in physics, mechanics or any
damn ics, but it's got me intrigued on how you actually
get to move anywhere as the chain that's comming off the
rear cluster seems to be bolted on a bracket of some kind,
which kinda looks to me like a rocking bike/horse type
contraption.Just how does the chain continue around if it
stops at the rowing impliment?

My guess is that the excess/extra chain and return spring is
actually inside the pulling handle shaft.

Steering by feet pressure on the shoulders of the
front forks?

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by D&M Johnston
Now I don't have a degree in physics, mechanics or any damn
ics, but it's got me intrigued on how you actually get to
move anywhere as the chain that's comming off the rear
cluster seems to be bolted on a bracket of some kind, which
kinda looks to me like a rocking bike/horse type
contraption.Just how does the chain continue around if it
stops at the rowing impliment? mmmm, might get Prof. Hippy
on this one!! hehehe

http://www.rowbike.com/video.shtml

It's a 'forward and back' motion so the chain doesn't actually have to go all the way around methinks.
Pulling the lever pulls the chain forward and rotates the rear wheel and pushing it back just rotates the freewheel back to the start position, repeat.
I don't know if the rear derailer would have enough movement to
properly tension the chain though? Maybe it does get sucked up
the big lever?

Hmm.. different vids confuse the matter.. if it IS fixed then excessive chainwear might be an issue due to the chain angle.

There's lots of vids on the original site that might help...
http://www.rowbike.com/assembly.htm

Steering is via the handlebars like a normal bike except there must be a linkage to let it control the front wheel.

It looks damn silly! 🙂

hippy

D&M Johnston said:

"Gags" <tba@tba> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ever seen one of these in Aust???

bike-on.comRowbike726King.htmOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Now I don't have a degree in physics, mechanics or any
damn ics, but it's got me intrigued on how you actually
get to move anywhere as the chain that's comming off the
rear cluster seems to be bolted on a bracket of some kind,
which kinda looks to me like a rocking bike/horse type
contraption.Just how does the chain continue around if it
stops at the rowing impliment?

Fascinating! The chain doesnt go around, just back and
forth. Its not continuous. I'd like to try one of these!

"HUMBUG" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Anyhow the old ones were a single speed with the 'gearing'
being changed by the posi of the pulling end of the chain
on the lever (for want of a better word). The other end of
the chain was kept under control by a long spring just
strong enough to take up the chain.

There was a similar 'rowbike' about in the late 70s/early
80s, but it was much superior. The pivot point was further
forward on the steering crown so steering was by hands and
feet as you rowed. Both hands and feet provided power, and
there was a control to slide the chain connection point
up/down to give gear range via different leverage.

Quoted message said:

Someone else oughta remember 'em they were both on the
ride over the West Gate the day before it opened. Ray P.,
Peter Sig. perhaps ??

Indeed I was on that ride, but that was a fearfully long
time ago. A gent named Alan Parker sold me a copy of the
first issue of Freewheeling magazine at that Bikeweek Rally.
And the Bicycle Institute of Victoria (now BV) took us up
the West Gate Bridge in defiance of Police instructions. So
BV was the original Critical Mass, using non-violent protest
to assert cyclist' rights.

Quoted message said:

Perhaps it's only my memory but there used to be heaps of
rides with heaps of people on 'em. There was that ride
around Packenham,

Vague memory of this but I can't name it.

Quoted message said:

the bike ride into spring

Spring Bike - conducted by the State Bike Commitee I think.

Quoted message said:

and of course the legendry MAD ride.

Which is still being held every autumn and getting more and
more popular. So much more peaceful than the GMBR.

Quoted message said:

Surely there were more than that - anyone ?

The Geelong Otway Century Ride Knox Hard Hundred (metric or
imperial) Bendigo Double Century (vested interest here, and
there were only ever about 50 or so entrants) For touring
club members, the Combined Clubs Winter BBQ Ride to
Churchill National Park. And don't forget Audax.

But I do think that today we have even more options in
rides, even if they are more commercially oriented.

Cheers Peter

On Sun, 27 Jun 2004 22:09:27 +1000, Peter Signorini
<[email hidden]> Wrote : <snip>

Quoted message said:

There was a similar 'rowbike' about in the late 70s/early
80s, but it was much superior. The pivot point was further
forward on the steering crown so steering was by hands and
feet as you rowed. Both hands and feet provided power, and
there was a control to slide the chain connection point
up/down to give gear range via different leverage.

Yep that's what I was thinking of.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Someone else oughta remember 'em they were both on the
ride over the West Gate the day before it opened. Ray P.,
Peter Sig. perhaps ??

Indeed I was on that ride, but that was a fearfully long
time ago. A gent

It was indeed. On that ride I saw two "mature" gents on
fixies doing amazing track stands without getting off the
seat. They just sort of coasted to a stop and stayed there
with only VERY small movements. [censored]...:-)

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Perhaps it's only my memory but there used to be heaps of
rides with heaps of people on 'em. There was that ride
around Packenham,

Vague memory of this but I can't name it.

I _think_ it was an autumn ride perhaps a precursor to the
MAD ride - IIRC the MAD ride started in the early '80's ? I
was a member of Action Unlimited at the time but I can't
recall what AU had to do with it, if anything.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the bike ride into spring

Spring Bike - conducted by the State Bike Commitee I
think.

Did the SBC do bike week ? So long ago - memory almost
gone...:-)

<snip>

Quoted message said:

And don't forget Audax.

Can't - I've got the first Woody 5000 hanging on the
wall....:-)

I see that the MBTC now meets on Thursdays again - I'll have
to pop along for the first time in yonks and endure the jeers...:-
) I was an early member of Action Unlimited, which became
the MBTC, until other things captured my weekends. I
rejoined for a few years in the late '80's and early '90's
and then went off to do other things again. Maybe it's time
to rejoin again....

Quoted message said:

But I do think that today we have even more options in
rides, even if they are more commercially oriented.

You're right of course - I hadn't considered things like the
GMBR, etc.

Quoted message said:

Cheers Peter

--

Humbug Mark Forsyth

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by Humbug
It was indeed. On that ride I saw two "mature" gents on
fixies doing amazing track stands without getting off the
seat. They just sort of coasted to a stop and stayed there
with only VERY small movements. [censored]...:-)

I posted a question about this on cyclingforums - how to
trackstand on a freewheeled bike on a downhill slope? I didn't
get a reply though 🙁

The way I currently last the longest is to remain seated. I don't
know why this works better but I think if I stand up and rock up
and down the hill, I overbalance too easily? I also need to use
the brakes to stop me rolling forward - more trickyness.. ?:S

hippy

On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 06:15:21 GMT, hippy <[email hidden]> Wrote :

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by Humbug It was indeed. On that ride I
saw two "mature" gents on fixies doing amazing track
stands without getting off the seat. They just sort of
coasted to a stop and stayed there with only VERY small
movements. [censored]...:-)

I posted a question about this on cyclingforums - how to
trackstand on a freewheeled bike on a downhill slope? I
didn't get a reply though 🙁

Trackstands - no problem. If ya can't do 'em and don't try
they don't cause problems. I already know enough ways of
falling over without adding "attempted trackstand" to the
list...:-)

<snip>

--

Humbug