Towing bicycles

Quoted message said:

Before I go into prototype mode, almost certainly not until well into
the New Year, it would be useful to hear any views or suggestions.

I have a trailer which is redundant and fitted for cycle carriage.
If you can pick it up from Derbyshire it could be free to a good
home.My wife would be delighted. We have no tow bars.
That would be an easier solution.

What I did for tjhis problem was buy a cheap folder from Loot .In fact
there are some very cheap new folders around for cycle training or
short distance use.Then there is no worry about how well they have been
mounted on the car.
TerryJ

Tom Crispin said:

The problem of transporting children's bicycles from one school to
another is one which had vexed me for some time.

One would think

http://www.trail-gator.com/

would work without a passenger.

--
Andy Morris

AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK

Love this:
Put an end to Outlook Express's messy quotes
http://home.in.tum.de/~jain/software/oe-quotefix/

--
Posted via NewsDemon.com - Premium Uncensored Newsgroup Service
------->>>>>>http://www.NewsDemon.com<<<<<<------
Unlimited Access, Anonymous Accounts, Uncensored Broadband Access

Quoted message said:

Before I go into prototype mode, almost certainly not until well into
the New Year, it would be useful to hear any views or suggestions.

Sorry, I just realised that you had been carrying bicycles on your
bicycle, not car.
You're way out of my league.
The offer still stands, though.

TerryJ

Tom Crispin said:

The problem of transporting children's bicycles from one school to
another is one which had vexed me for some time.

I have in the past bungeed bikes to my rear rack, but this has been
unstable and not really satisfactory.

A trailer would be a solution:

http://tinyurl.com/u3l2x from
www.islabikes.co.uk/images/gallery/main_images/bikes-on-trailer_480.jpg

But that has a total of eight wheels, four of which are redundant.

To reduce the redundancy as long as two bikes have the same size of
wheel you could use their front wheels for the trailer. Actually with
a little ingenuity you could use different sized wheels either side.

Quoted message said:

How viable would this low cost solution be?

http://www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/towing

How about fixing a set of QR fork holders for a car roof-rack at the
rear of the towing carrier. Take out the front wheel of the towed bike
and fasten bungee that to the carrier. You could probably tow two
bikes side-by-side behind your tractor with two sets of fork holders.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

In article <[email hidden]>

Tom Crispin said:

The problem of transporting children's bicycles from one school to
another is one which had vexed me for some time.

I have in the past bungeed bikes to my rear rack, but this has been
unstable and not really satisfactory.

A trailer would be a solution:

http://tinyurl.com/u3l2x from
www.islabikes.co.uk/images/gallery/main_images/bikes-on-trailer_480.jpg

But that has a total of eight wheels, four of which are redundant.

What about a solution which utilises at least some of the towed bike's
wheels?

How viable would this low cost solution be?

http://www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/towing

I just had an idea, lashed a couple of bikes together and rode them up
and down the road - it seemed to work quite well, so email[1] me if you
want me to make some sketches and discuss further development. I have a
vague idea how it could be better implemented in a cheap easy-fit sort
of way, but can't concentrate on that right now.

[1] address is valid

In article <[email hidden]>

Phil Cook said:

Tom Crispin said:

The problem of transporting children's bicycles from one school to
another is one which had vexed me for some time.

I have in the past bungeed bikes to my rear rack, but this has been
unstable and not really satisfactory.

A trailer would be a solution:

http://tinyurl.com/u3l2x from
www.islabikes.co.uk/images/gallery/main_images/bikes-on-trailer_480.jpg

But that has a total of eight wheels, four of which are redundant.

To reduce the redundancy as long as two bikes have the same size of
wheel you could use their front wheels for the trailer. Actually with
a little ingenuity you could use different sized wheels either side.

But would require removing the wheels each time to transport the bikes,
and what if he only had one to move?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

How viable would this low cost solution be?

http://www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/towing

How about fixing a set of QR fork holders for a car roof-rack at the
rear of the towing carrier. Take out the front wheel of the towed bike
and fasten bungee that to the carrier. You could probably tow two
bikes side-by-side behind your tractor with two sets of fork holders.

High CofG, tendency to flop.

Phil Cook said:

Tom Crispin said:

The problem of transporting children's bicycles from one school to
another is one which had vexed me for some time.

I have in the past bungeed bikes to my rear rack, but this has been
unstable and not really satisfactory.

A trailer would be a solution:

http://tinyurl.com/u3l2x from
www.islabikes.co.uk/images/gallery/main_images/bikes-on-trailer_480.jpg

But that has a total of eight wheels, four of which are redundant.

To reduce the redundancy as long as two bikes have the same size of
wheel you could use their front wheels for the trailer. Actually with
a little ingenuity you could use different sized wheels either side.

Quoted message said:

How viable would this low cost solution be?

http://www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/towing

How about fixing a set of QR fork holders for a car roof-rack at the
rear of the towing carrier. Take out the front wheel of the towed bike
and fasten bungee that to the carrier. You could probably tow two
bikes side-by-side behind your tractor with two sets of fork holders.

A neat practical idea, Phil.

http://www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/towing2

See amended diagram above: two side by side 24" bikes (shown as one
bike), towed by a 26" bike, and towing two side by side 20" bikes
(shown as one bike). Front wheels to be attached to front pannier
racks (not shown), leaving rear panniers free for hi-vis tabards,
tools and [spit] helmets.

Attaching a QR fork holder to the rear racks of the 24" bikes is
excellent. It will give the whole 'trailer' rigidity to stand on it's
own four wheels so the whole thing won't collapse at traffic lights.

My main concern is that the centre of gravity is so much higher,
especially on the 24" bikes.

Any thoughts, anyone?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Before I go into prototype mode, almost certainly not until well into
the New Year, it would be useful to hear any views or suggestions.

Sorry, I just realised that you had been carrying bicycles on your
bicycle, not car.
You're way out of my league.
The offer still stands, though.

Thanks for the offer, Terry. Derbyshire is a long way from London,
and I expect towing a bike trailer for motor vehicles by bike is not
the easiest thing in the World to do.

Tom Crispin said:

Phil Cook said:

Tom Crispin said:

The problem of transporting children's bicycles from one school to
another is one which had vexed me for some time.

I have in the past bungeed bikes to my rear rack, but this has been
unstable and not really satisfactory.

A trailer would be a solution:

http://tinyurl.com/u3l2x from
www.islabikes.co.uk/images/gallery/main_images/bikes-on-trailer_480.jpg

But that has a total of eight wheels, four of which are redundant.

To reduce the redundancy as long as two bikes have the same size of
wheel you could use their front wheels for the trailer. Actually with
a little ingenuity you could use different sized wheels either side.

Quoted message said:

How viable would this low cost solution be?

http://www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/towing

How about fixing a set of QR fork holders for a car roof-rack at the
rear of the towing carrier. Take out the front wheel of the towed bike
and fasten bungee that to the carrier. You could probably tow two
bikes side-by-side behind your tractor with two sets of fork holders.

A neat practical idea, Phil.

http://www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/towing2

See amended diagram above: two side by side 24" bikes (shown as one
bike), towed by a 26" bike, and towing two side by side 20" bikes
(shown as one bike). Front wheels to be attached to front pannier
racks (not shown), leaving rear panniers free for hi-vis tabards,
tools and [spit] helmets.

Attaching a QR fork holder to the rear racks of the 24" bikes is
excellent. It will give the whole 'trailer' rigidity to stand on it's
own four wheels so the whole thing won't collapse at traffic lights.

My main concern is that the centre of gravity is so much higher,
especially on the 24" bikes.

Any thoughts, anyone?

Take a piece of 1x-.5 in box section. drop this down behind the back
wheel then place a q/r through it at the right height (could do two,
one for 20" and one for 24".) That gets the cog down sufficiently.

Ascii art follows(need a fixed width font.) showing a rear rack with a
towbar attatched. * marks the q/r. Find a friendly metalworker, then
bolt the tow bar under your rack.

-------
=== \
| / \
|/ ) *

...d

On Sat, 9 Dec 2006 13:55:25 -0000, Rob Morley <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

How about fixing a set of QR fork holders for a car roof-rack at the
rear of the towing carrier. Take out the front wheel of the towed bike
and fasten bungee that to the carrier. You could probably tow two
bikes side-by-side behind your tractor with two sets of fork holders.

High CofG, tendency to flop.

Not so sure.

With the towed bikes attached at their rear racks, the whole system
might be very stable. See the aerial sketch below.

http://www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/towing2b

Rob Morley said:

I just had an idea, lashed a couple of bikes together and rode them up
and down the road - it seemed to work quite well, so email[1] me if you
want me to make some sketches and discuss further development. I have a
vague idea how it could be better implemented in a cheap easy-fit sort
of way, but can't concentrate on that right now.

When I needed to tow a bike last year I bungeed the front wheel and fork
to the rear rack, after popping some pipe lagging onto the fork of the
front bike in order to protect the paintwork. It worked fairly well,
but if I was towing bikes regularly I'd want a better solution:
<url:http://www.colyer.plus.com/z-towing1.jpg>
<url:http://www.colyer.plus.com/z-towing2.jpg>

--
Danny Colyer <URL:http://www.colyer.plus.com/danny/>
Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

In article <[email hidden]>

Danny Colyer said:

Rob Morley said:

I just had an idea, lashed a couple of bikes together and rode them up
and down the road - it seemed to work quite well, so email[1] me if you
want me to make some sketches and discuss further development. I have a
vague idea how it could be better implemented in a cheap easy-fit sort
of way, but can't concentrate on that right now.

When I needed to tow a bike last year I bungeed the front wheel and fork
to the rear rack, after popping some pipe lagging onto the fork of the
front bike in order to protect the paintwork. It worked fairly well,
but if I was towing bikes regularly I'd want a better solution:
<url:http://www.colyer.plus.com/z-towing1.jpg>
<url:http://www.colyer.plus.com/z-towing2.jpg>

That's fine on a recumbent because you don't have to worry about heel
clearance.

On Sat, 9 Dec 2006 17:01:06 -0000, Rob Morley <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>

Danny Colyer said:

Rob Morley said:

I just had an idea, lashed a couple of bikes together and rode them up
and down the road - it seemed to work quite well, so email[1] me if you
want me to make some sketches and discuss further development. I have a
vague idea how it could be better implemented in a cheap easy-fit sort
of way, but can't concentrate on that right now.

I'm certainly interested in quick and easy ideas. I'm not really
ready for prototypes yet, probably not until well into the New Year.
I'm away from 20/12/06 - 7/1/07 anyway, using my mountain bike over
the mountains of Hainan.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

When I needed to tow a bike last year I bungeed the front wheel and fork
to the rear rack, after popping some pipe lagging onto the fork of the
front bike in order to protect the paintwork. It worked fairly well,
but if I was towing bikes regularly I'd want a better solution:
<url:http://www.colyer.plus.com/z-towing1.jpg>
<url:http://www.colyer.plus.com/z-towing2.jpg>

That's fine on a recumbent because you don't have to worry about heel
clearance.

They could always be lashed further back, I think. It does, however,
knock out the use of rear panniers, but frees up front panniers.

I went for the trailer option:
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~talizmar/xntrick/photos/biketrail.jpg

But there ought to be a way of turning the two bikes into a sort of
trailer - I'm thinking along the lines of taking the front wheels out,
turning the forks 90 deg and fixing them onto a cross beam on the rack
of the towing bike. You'd probably need some sort of tie rod between
the seatposts to stop the bikes wandering apart or into each other.

in message <[email hidden]>, Rob Morley

(') said:

In article <[email hidden]>

Tom Crispin said:

The problem of transporting children's bicycles from one school to
another is one which had vexed me for some time.

I have in the past bungeed bikes to my rear rack, but this has been
unstable and not really satisfactory.

A trailer would be a solution:

http://tinyurl.com/u3l2x from
www.islabikes.co.uk/images/gallery/main_images/bikes-on-trailer_480.jpg

But that has a total of eight wheels, four of which are redundant.

What about a solution which utilises at least some of the towed bike's
wheels?

How viable would this low cost solution be?

http://www.johnballcycling.org.uk/photos/towing

I just had an idea, lashed a couple of bikes together and rode them up
and down the road - it seemed to work quite well, so email[1] me if you
want me to make some sketches and discuss further development. I have a
vague idea how it could be better implemented in a cheap easy-fit sort
of way, but can't concentrate on that right now.

A BikeHod style flexible seatpost hitch might be better than the rack
hitch.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Error 1109: There is no message for this error

Tom Crispin said:

The problem of transporting children's bicycles from one school to
another is one which had vexed me for some time.

Silly question, but why are you transporting bikes from school to
school? What's the point in training kids without bikes to ride bikes?
Surely if mum and dad want their young sprog to ride a bike and be
trained by you it's up to them to get a bike to school.

Plus if you're providing bikes for training purposes you're liable for
any injurys due to faulty mechanics. You're insured for that (sorry,
married a US lawyer and now I'm overly informed about liability)?

Best of luck with a solution though.

Laters,

Marcus

Marz said:

Tom Crispin said:

The problem of transporting children's bicycles from one school to
another is one which had vexed me for some time.

Silly question, but why are you transporting bikes from school to
school? What's the point in training kids without bikes to ride bikes?
Surely if mum and dad want their young sprog to ride a bike and be
trained by you it's up to them to get a bike to school.

There are several reasons why school children might want cycle
training but not have a bike at school, including:

1. They don't own a bike
2. The bike they have is not suitable
3. They are not yet trained so they are not allowed to ride to school
4. They can't ride a bike

The grant I received for pool bikes is to make cycle training socially
inclusive.

Quoted message said:

Plus if you're providing bikes for training purposes you're liable for
any injurys due to faulty mechanics. You're insured for that (sorry,
married a US lawyer and now I'm overly informed about liability)?

Insurance is fine.

If a child crashes while training - covered
If a child borrows a bike and crashes while practising at home due to
faulty maintenance - covered
If a child borrows a bike and crashes while practising at home due to
cyclist error - not covered, not liable

Quoted message said:

Best of luck with a solution though.

Laters,

Marcus

AndyMorris said:

One would think
http://www.trail-gator.com/
would work without a passenger.

They work fine without a passenger.
I wonder if you could make a train of bikes with several of them?

POHB said:

AndyMorris said:

One would think
http://www.trail-gator.com/
would work without a passenger.

They work fine without a passenger.
I wonder if you could make a train of bikes with several of them?

I expect a train connected by trail-gators would topple over at red
lights.

I think I have a simple cheap solution.

Wooden boom handle bungeed securely across the rear of the 26" bike's
rear rack.

Front wheels removed from 24" bikes and forks 'hooked' over the broom
handle. 24" bikes bungeed either side of the broom handle at the
forks/down tube.

24" bikes bungeed together with a second broom handle at their rear
racks, giving a stable trailer.

Two 20" bikes, front wheels removed, hooked over the second broom
handle and secured in the same way as the two 24" bikes, including at
their rear rack by a third broom handle.

I'll test it out in the playground at school one day after school next
term and take a few shots.