Outrigger for Rail Road Riding

In article said:

There are a lot of advantages to rigging up a bicycle for the rails -- super smooth ride, easy
grades, different scenery, safer bridges, etc.

It's been done before. Are there any newer better ways to keep the bike on the rail?

Um, trains? Bloody massive trains!!! Better carry a schedule with you.

As for keeping the bike on the rails, any good system is likely to depend on an outrigger large
enough to reach the other rail. That's a big piece of equipment to keep along for intermittent
rides, and you have to be able to get it off the rails fast too.

But to repeat my previous point, Bloody massive trains!

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] sfu.ca~rcousineOpen ↗ President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

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

Quoted message said:

There are a lot of advantages to rigging up a bicycle for the rails --

super

Quoted message said:

smooth ride, easy grades, different scenery, safer bridges, etc.

I would much rather this be a troll than it be a genuine question.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

how about darwin award nominee?

Phil said:

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

Quoted message said:

There are a lot of advantages to rigging up a bicycle for the rails --

super

Quoted message said:

smooth ride, easy grades, different scenery, safer bridges, etc.

I would much rather this be a troll than it be a genuine question.

Phil said:

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

Quoted message said:

There are a lot of advantages to rigging up a bicycle for the rails --

super

Quoted message said:

smooth ride, easy grades, different scenery, safer bridges, etc.

I would much rather this be a troll than it be a genuine question.

Why? There are quite a few railbike enthusiasts using abandoned or private tracks. Here's one site
with some pictures and plans: rrbike.freeservers.comrrbike.freeservers.comOpen ↗ Clearly there are also some
disadvantages to go along with BretCahill's list.

"Phil, Squid-in-Training" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

There are a lot of advantages to rigging up a bicycle for the rails --

super

Quoted message said:

smooth ride, easy grades, different scenery, safer bridges, etc.

I would much rather this be a troll than it be a genuine question.

Dear Phil,

No, the trolls hide under the bridges. This is done out in the open. You can see the outrigger
device here:

railriders.netrailbike wheels.htmOpen ↗

It helps to have lots of abandoned railroad routes.

And no, I have no experience, but I liked the picture.

Carl Fogel

[email hidden] (Carl Fogel) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Phil, Squid-in-Training" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

There are a lot of advantages to rigging up a bicycle for the rails --

super

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

smooth ride, easy grades, different scenery, safer bridges, etc.

I would much rather this be a troll than it be a genuine question.

Dear Phil,

No, the trolls hide under the bridges. This is done out in the open. You can see the outrigger
device here:

railriders.netrailbike wheels.htmOpen ↗

It helps to have lots of abandoned railroad routes.

I just dont know about this one! It's like riding an indoor trainer without th tv.

Quoted message said:

And no, I have no experience, but I liked the picture.

Carl Fogel

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

Quoted message said:

In article said:

There are a lot of advantages to rigging up a bicycle for the rails --

super

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

smooth ride, easy grades, different scenery, safer bridges, etc.

It's been done before. Are there any newer better ways to keep the bike

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the rail?

Um, trains? Bloody massive trains!!! Better carry a schedule with you.

--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] sfu.ca~rcousineOpen ↗ President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

A few years ago I met a mad Frenchman in Zimbabwe - who had come down on his MTB from Europe -
complete with a rail-rider setup. I cant remember the exact details, but it pivoted at the top of
the seat-tube when not in use and was telescopic using hoseclamps. He said he'd had no trouble -
African trains are slow and used to having things, people, animals, bicycles (?) on the tracks.

He was actually planning to ride from France to India, but wasn't allowed to ride across Iran, so
turned around and rode down Africa instead - but that's another story.

Hugh Fenton

Quoted message said:

I just dont know about this one! It's like riding an indoor trainer

without th tv.

Yeah ... but the resolution outside is much better (c:

C.Q.C.

[email hidden] (Evan Evans) wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Carl Fogel) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Phil, Squid-in-Training" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"BretCahill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
> There are a lot of advantages to rigging up a bicycle for the rails --

super

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> smooth ride, easy grades, different scenery, safer bridges, etc.

I would much rather this be a troll than it be a genuine question.

Dear Phil,

No, the trolls hide under the bridges. This is done out in the open. You can see the outrigger
device here:

railriders.netrailbike wheels.htmOpen ↗

It helps to have lots of abandoned railroad routes.

[Evan Evans wrote:]

Quoted message said:

I just don't know about this one! It's like riding an indoor trainer without the tv.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

And no, I have no experience, but I liked the picture.

Carl Fogel

Dear Evan,

I took the liberty of re-formatting and posting your message. It somehow came through on my
newsreader with your witty indoor trainer lines shown as mine and extending off the screen.

Carl Fogel

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

There are a lot of advantages to rigging up a bicycle for the rails --

super

Quoted message said:

smooth ride, easy grades, different scenery, safer bridges, etc.

Phil said:

I would much rather this be a troll than it be a genuine question.

Rail bikes have a colorful hundred-year-plus history. They consist of a small flanged or
double-flanged* wheel for the other rail and usually a telescoping or quickly removeable
outrigger assembly.

*With a double-flanged wheel you don't need a flanged wheel on your rail. I've read about such but
never seen one. Single flanged wheels, one in front of the front wheel and one on the off rail, is
the more common apporoach because single-flange wheels are available.
--
Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

There are a lot of advantages to rigging up a bicycle for the rails --

super

Quoted message said:

smooth ride, easy grades, different scenery, safer bridges, etc.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:

I would much rather this be a troll than it be a genuine question.

jim beam said:

how about darwin award nominee?

It is not unsafe. You can feel a train very far in advance.

--
Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April, 1971

I followed some of the links--sounds like a lively subculture. You can tour in Europe on these
things; for instance:

"It will now possible to reach Warnant, another 4 km beyond Denee-Maredsous in the direction of
Yvoir. There you'll find a former rail yard, with a connection to a former 1 metre gauge track!

"The completely preserved station is now used to breed snails. At the other side of the tracks,
you'll find a restaurant where you can taste these delicious little creatures, prepared according to
the best belgian gastronomical traditions."

I know what I'M doing next summer ...

- Pete

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

There are a lot of advantages to rigging up a bicycle for the rails -- super smooth ride, easy
grades, different scenery, safer bridges, etc.

I can't see how crossing a bridge is safer.
----------------
Alex

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

It is not unsafe. You can feel a train very far in advance.

A long bridge and a fast train would really scare me.
---------------
Alex

A Muzi <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"BretCahill" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
> There are a lot of advantages to rigging up a bicycle for the rails --

super

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> smooth ride, easy grades, different scenery, safer bridges, etc.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:
I would much rather this be a troll than it be a genuine question.

jim beam said:

how about darwin award nominee?

It is not unsafe. You can feel a train very far in advance.

Dear Andrew,

I expect that riding rails is fairly safe (although the sites mention unpleasant "de-railing" onto
the ties), but there is no way that you can get me into the picture below except at gunpoint:

home.aol.comRAILBIKESOpen ↗

Of course, a few of Jobst Brandt's Alpine pictures do the same thing to me. I get ridiculously
uncomfortable just watching a television program with mountain climbing scenes.

Carl Fogel

Alex Rodriguez <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

There are a lot of advantages to rigging up a bicycle for the rails -- super smooth ride, easy
grades, different scenery, safer bridges, etc.

I can't see how crossing a bridge is safer.
----------------
Alex

OH man this is a bright idea! Whats wrong with just riding around the block like normal people do?

Alex Rodriguez <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

There are a lot of advantages to rigging up a bicycle for the rails -- super smooth ride, easy
grades, different scenery, safer bridges, etc.

I can't see how crossing a bridge is safer.
----------------
Alex

Dear Alex,

It struck me as odd, too, but perhaps the point is that you have the railroad bridge all to yourself
instead of the common problem of losing the shoulder of the road on an ordinary bridge while traffic
roars by you and you admire the "No Stopping on the Bridge" signs?

On the other hand, here's that horrible bridge picture that keeps haunting my acrophobic dreams:

home.aol.comRAILBIKESOpen ↗

This is a safer bridge?

Carl Fogel

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

It struck me as odd, too, but perhaps the point is that you have the railroad bridge all to
yourself instead of the common problem of losing the shoulder of the road on an ordinary bridge
while traffic roars by you and you admire the "No Stopping on the Bridge" signs?

Maybe, but crossing a rail bridge I'd be worried about a train wanting to use the same set
of tracks.

Quoted message said:

On the other hand, here's that horrible bridge picture that keeps haunting my acrophobic dreams:

home.aol.comRAILBIKESOpen ↗

This is a safer bridge?

The problem is that something is missing from the picture. That is the bridge part is missing. All
that is left are rails and ties. It must be a short span, which is why the picture is so cropped.
---------------
Alex

and now a word from swampman answering desert dude. thimk!!! soft ground absorbs all bad
vibes. quack!!!

trestles are cool. been over many trestles. up 150." think of the coal cars wait or the lumbercars
wait. stone=100lbs sq foot wait. wt hardwood maybe 50lbs square foot in conservative estimates.

track walking is dangerous. the idea is fanatstic. the book has a fantastic trip story thru B.C. ???
unfortunately B.C. B.C. there are indian web-sites for the area.