Unusual use for a bicycle

Post by **Mick F** » 25 Apr 2007, 11:50am

There's a light railway starting up round here, and they built a hand operated truck.

It works quite well, and good fun, you can get quite a speed up!

Mrs Tortoise · Post by **Mrs Tortoise** » 25 Apr 2007, 11:34pm

mick, it can't be a bicycle, it has five wheels! :roll:

Mike Rodgers · Post by **Mike Rodgers** » 26 Apr 2007, 9:53am

I'm sure I've seen pics of "rail riders" in the US where the bike sits directly on one rail with an outrigger to the other rail. I suspect it would be a lot simpler (and lighter!) than this, er, machine.

Mike Rodgers · Post by **Mike Rodgers** » 26 Apr 2007, 9:57am

[img][img]http://forum.ctc.org.uk/userpix/1023_railrider_2.jpg[/img]

And here (I hope) it is![/img]

robbo · Post by **robbo** » 26 Apr 2007, 11:28am

The Romney Hythe and Dymnchurch Railway has one on its 15" track. I have also seen one in Switzerland, on a metre gauge line in Chur, the locals occasionally had time trials where the rialway goes through the streets on it.

Post by **Mick F** » 26 Apr 2007, 11:48am

Mike,

The machine the railway built is a fun thing, but a "proper machine" is actually for track maintenance and hauling light loads. The handles are worked up and down with two people, one at either end, and the handles are connected to the bike crank turning the wheel to turn the railway wheel.

I think the idea of modifying a bike to run on a rail has merit. No hills! But only ride when it's a bank holiday or a Sunday!

Mike Rodgers · Post by **Mike Rodgers** » 26 Apr 2007, 2:12pm

It's hard enough booking a bike on a train...

speedsixdave · Post by **speedsixdave** » 30 Apr 2007, 5:37pm

Does the man's sweatshirt indicate a market for his contraption? Will this be the preferred mode of transport during the next great depression?