Techniques for braking on steep descents

[Jdsk]

How about steep inclines used regularly by cyclists be provided with a long rope and a sheave, so that a descending cyclists hooks on at the top, and transfers their potential energy to an ascending cyclist who hooks on at the bottom. Given the likely losses in such a system, both cyclists would probably need to pedal a bit, thereby satisfying the need for exercise and giving a sense of achievement?
...

I proposed this for Headley Way in Oxford, something like:



Jonathan

[Jdsk]

...
Or, a strap-on motor/generator and battery pack, a bit like those old strap-on “auto wheel” things that drove on the top of the front tyre? This would be charged by a descending cyclist, then passed at the bottom to an ascender. It might even take the form of a small trailer-tug, rather than actually be strapped to the bike.

Flywheels are wonderful machines. But i don't think that I've ever seen one handed over...

Jonathan

[Nearholmer]

I’m imagining a very small, incredibly high-speed one, packaged in a metal sphere, behaving a bit like those quidditch thingies in HP.

[mattheus]

Katie Kookaburra was hitting some speed

err ... the significance is?

[mattheus]

How about steep inclines used regularly by cyclists be provided with a long rope and a sheave, so that a descending cyclists hooks on at the top, and transfers their potential energy to an ascending cyclist who hooks on at the bottom. Given the likely losses in such a system, both cyclists would probably need to pedal a bit, thereby satisfying the need for exercise and giving a sense of achievement?

LIke it!

You could also pull up fossil-powered vehicles of various kinds, thus extending our planet-saving role even further

[of course you'd need some form of differential/clutch/gearing/wotever, but in theory it's quite doable ... ]

[rareposter]

Katie Kookaburra was hitting some speed

err ... the significance is?

She was using rim brakes and didn't die in a pile of splintered carbon?!

[Cowsham]

Katie Kookaburra was hitting some speed going round the Yorkshire Dales in her latest video. About 8 min in.

https://youtu.be/MY93BXf3P4o?feature=shared

Great Dun Fell is one of those descents where it's easy for your speed to run away with you! The wind on there can make it quite treacherous too.

However it looks/feels quicker than it is because cos the road is so narrow.

Looks quick to me. You wouldn't need to tip off at that speed and you might be up there by yourself badly injured with a wrecked bike or worse than a wrecked bike -- a smashed mobile phone!

[Cowsham]

How about steep inclines used regularly by cyclists be provided with a long rope and a sheave, so that a descending cyclists hooks on at the top, and transfers their potential energy to an ascending cyclist who hooks on at the bottom. Given the likely losses in such a system, both cyclists would probably need to pedal a bit, thereby satisfying the need for exercise and giving a sense of achievement?
...

I proposed this for Headley Way in Oxford, something like:



Jonathan

You have to pay ? -- nope I'll just ride up keeps my rrr's tight.

[freiston]

How about steep inclines used regularly by cyclists be provided with a long rope and a sheave, so that a descending cyclists hooks on at the top, and transfers their potential energy to an ascending cyclist who hooks on at the bottom. Given the likely losses in such a system, both cyclists would probably need to pedal a bit, thereby satisfying the need for exercise and giving a sense of achievement?
...

I proposed this for Headley Way in Oxford, something like:



Jonathan

You have to pay ? -- nope I'll just ride up keeps my rrr's tight.

From the YouTube video:

[plancashire]

I’m imagining a very small, incredibly high-speed one, packaged in a metal sphere, behaving a bit like those quidditch thingies in HP.

The gyroscopic effects would be interesting to observe - from a distance.

[plancashire]

How about steep inclines used regularly by cyclists be provided with a long rope and a sheave, so that a descending cyclists hooks on at the top, and transfers their potential energy to an ascending cyclist who hooks on at the bottom. Given the likely losses in such a system, both cyclists would probably need to pedal a bit, thereby satisfying the need for exercise and giving a sense of achievement?
...

This arrangement was used for shifting canal barges up and down a slope, sometimes with the addition of a tub and Archimedes' principle, i.e. hauling water. There's a famous one near Ironbridge. We have the Schiffshebewerk at Henrichenburg.

[Jdsk]

How about steep inclines used regularly by cyclists be provided with a long rope and a sheave, so that a descending cyclists hooks on at the top, and transfers their potential energy to an ascending cyclist who hooks on at the bottom. Given the likely losses in such a system, both cyclists would probably need to pedal a bit, thereby satisfying the need for exercise and giving a sense of achievement?
...

This arrangement was used for shifting canal barges up and down a slope, sometimes with the addition of a tub and Archimedes' principle, i.e. hauling water. There's a famous one near Ironbridge. We have the Schiffshebewerk at Henrichenburg.

And railways, with water added to taste:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterbalast_railway

Jonathan

[Cowsham]

How about steep inclines used regularly by cyclists be provided with a long rope and a sheave, so that a descending cyclists hooks on at the top, and transfers their potential energy to an ascending cyclist who hooks on at the bottom. Given the likely losses in such a system, both cyclists would probably need to pedal a bit, thereby satisfying the need for exercise and giving a sense of achievement?
...

This arrangement was used for shifting canal barges up and down a slope, sometimes with the addition of a tub and Archimedes' principle, i.e. hauling water. There's a famous one near Ironbridge. We have the Schiffshebewerk at Henrichenburg.

We did the Anderton Boat Lift last year -- great day out on the double width barge and down the Weaver a bit turned around and back up to the Trent and Mersey canal -- great feat of engineering. Afterwards operated by electric.

Foxes afloat do a very good video about it on YouTube

https://youtu.be/pWmrz-rerPc?feature=shared

I remember me da took us on a cliff railway lift in Folkstone that took passengers to and from the promenade to the sea front which operated in the same way and think it's still operating today

[Jdsk]

We did the Anderton Boat Lift last year -- great day out on the double width barge and down the Weaver a bit turned around and back up -- great feat of engineering. Afterwards operated by electric it originally used water ballast but now I think it's got massive hydraulic rams coming up out of the river.

Lovely machine.

The first iteration also used rams:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderton_ ... and_design

Jonathan

[Cowsham]

We did the Anderton Boat Lift last year -- great day out on the double width barge and down the Weaver a bit turned around and back up -- great feat of engineering. Afterwards operated by electric it originally used water ballast but now I think it's got massive hydraulic rams coming up out of the river.

Lovely machine.

The first iteration also used rams:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderton_ ... and_design

Jonathan

Yes just realised that watching the foxes video -- edited to correct and put link to video -- you got there before me again.