[CR][Re]Foyle's War (racing trikes)

(Example: Humor:John Pergolizzi)

Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:45:33 -0400
From: "Harvey Sachs" <hmsachs@verizon.net>
Subject: [CR][Re]Foyle's War (racing trikes)
To: wheelman@nac.net, Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>


Ray Homiski wrote:

If you ever get back east and visit some CR members, you will be able to see a Jackson trike at Via Bikes Philadelphia. A few years ago on a CR ride, Curtis of Via Bikes brought his along and Steve Masland brought one out also (Steve sponsored the ride) and we not only got to try one we learned they ride nothing like a normal bicycle. Real counter intuitive but both Curtis and Steve were masters and we were all treated to a scene right out of Ben Hur. A memorable ride to be sure. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I spent a year or more with a Jack Taylor trike, a wonderfully-crafted machine. I learned to corner pretty well, and could ride long distances on the front wheel and the rear drive wheel. I think I darn near mastered it before selling it for my friend, for whom it had been built.

However - and this is implicit in Ray's note - the classic British trike is an utterly stupid machine, akin to swimming with weights. The trike can be ridden, ridden fast. It can be fun, but it is just plain nuts as a replacement for the bike for sport.

--> consider the steering, taken straight from bike geometry. On a crowned road, it will always head for the downhill side, and must be continuously fought. By design, eh? --> Consider the drive. The classic British design drives but one wheel (although a few do have differentials). They classically drive the left rear wheel, which is more-or-less ok when you ride on the left side of the road. In the US, the weight transfer on a crowned road is to the coasting rear wheel, and away from the drive wheel. Can you spell wheel "s-p-i-n"? --> The center of gravity is way up, as it is on a bike, but you can't use lean the same way. Falling is sort of like an ordinary. --> They are almost as easily stored as tandems, eh?

If you want to feel a revelation, ride your favorite bike a bit. Then move over to a JT or similar trike and try it. Then finish with a ride on a modern "tadpole" recumbent trike, with automotive steering. It almost can't be tipped, and goes like a bat out of Hades.

To me, the classic "sport" trike has all the charm of that famous novelty, the talking dog. Can be done, but why bother? :-)

End of rant!

harvey sachs
mcLean va USA