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Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, les

But they all lack the dirigible-like front end of the Trimonet, wherein
lies much of its charm. I want one. A lot. I wonder how hard one would
be to build?

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

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SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (Fallen apart) Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single"
Norton 850 Commando Kawasaki GTR1400

 

well OK but

1) it's a bit practical
2) actually looks like it'd work.
3) It's also rather modern
4) lacks the silliness of the urls posted earlier.

 

Yeah, that was when I was exclaiming, "Oh, it's one of them!"

 

A trike is doable. Then it's just a case of fitting an old-fashioned
sidecar body.

 

message

Wotcha.

Ooer.

I had one of those.
Ran it for a year - didn't like it - went back to 'normal' trikes.

 

You should ask Mike Carley if he knows Dr Geraint Owen of the University of
Bath, who has messed about with various monowheels. In fact, you should see
if you can blag the use of one for an outing at Prescott...

 

Speed Owen to his mates:

http://people.bath.ac.uk/ensgwo/monowheel.htm

 

I looked at that. The fact that there seems to be a working example of a
monowheel in the general area, and Champ's avowed interest in them, gives me
hope that something appallingly stupid could be organised.

Champ - pay attention:

 

Well DFV'd that man.

That's your winter project(ile) sorted.

Now all you need is someone stupid enough to sit in the chair while you
pilot it.

<resumes lurking rapidly>

 

Bags I the front seat...

 

Well, I was just thinking that, if it could be arranged to borrow Speed
Owen's monowheel, it might be possible, with the possible intercession of
Pete Fisher of this parish, to turn a few heads at the next Prescott
free-for-all, even if just as a "demo" run.

You might want to get a but of practice in first, mind:

 

I don't think that's the case - the propulsive effort pushes the centre of
mass ahead of the contact point. To go up, say, a 10deg slope, you might
have to move the CofM another 10deg up the circumference for the same
effect. I haven't worked this out entirely, but my feeling is that it won't
be an issue.

 

Oh I agree - there's no way you'll manage anything more serious than a
gentle increase from Dead Slow to Marginally Faster. Monowheel land speed
record is 57mph FFS.

It should be quite possible to climb an incline at a constant or increasing
speed, depending on gradient, horsepower and the relative weight of the
pendulous section.

It should be possible to achieve a controlled descent by pinching the rim
between one's cheeks.

 

Ike Newton solved this problem many beers ago, and what you're saying is
essentially correct. Going uphill is only restricted by the power
available, but it should outclimb anything else with a proportional
power-plant and fore-and-aft wheels.

Best,
doc

 

One can only hope.

 

Give Petel a call.

 

is that the bloke crashing the V8 one?

mind, the V8 seems more sensible than a 5hp briggs and stratton.

 

I know he can seem a bit intense at times, but I didn't think he was
clinically insane.

 

In what way? The B&S can get the thing up to about 35mph, which is probably
as fast as any sane person would want to go.

 

OK, maybe sensible was the wrong word. Since the whole thing is completely
mad, only a V8 has the right degree of lunacy as an engine choice.