Improving cycle safety by re-design

[[XAP]Bob]

With 2 wheels, you are always going to have to learn to balance the thing.....you can "design that out" by adding another wheel.....

Yes, but then "balancing" (or at least not over-balancing) at any speed becomes a challenge

... unless of course you get the CoG down by using a recumbent design.

There's another way?

upwrong is just that - wrong.

[Cunobelin]

With 2 wheels, you are always going to have to learn to balance the thing.....you can "design that out" by adding another wheel.....

Yes, but then "balancing" (or at least not over-balancing) at any speed becomes a challenge

... unless of course you get the CoG down by using a recumbent design.

Why has no-one ever thought of that before

I am sure someone will be along in a Trice, with an aerodynamic element that is a real Windcheetah. Then we can bimble along at an economical and Greenspeed, and watch out in case of any feline activity such as a Big Cat. Of course there is always the problem with weather and in a heat Hase visibility can be reduced

[Punk_shore]

quote=531colin "Teaching adults (with learning difficulties) to ride is a fairly straightforward progression:-
1) scooter"
Most scooters these days have small-diameter wheels, therefore flywheel effects will be negligible. Assuming the pupil has learned to push the scooter on each side, the next stage will be one foot on-board and the other foot pushing. At this point, the wobbles caused by uneven foot pressure will need to be contained by steering.
When both feet come aboard the scooter platform, what is to stop the scooter leaning away from the direction of turn? Surely only the skill of the pupil as s/he learns how to countersteer (sorry Colin).
Now I know countersteering has been covered comprehensively and my only additional comment is, if the scooter were built more safely could we reduce the need for countersteering?

[531colin]

two points, really.
1) Learning to ride can be a fairly safe progression.....if you make a mistake with a scooter, put a foot down, likewise on a bike with no pedals and the seat low.

2) If you want to ride something with 2 wheels, surely you have to learn to get the wheels under your centre of gravity, and lean into turns?
Isn't that a function of something with 2 wheels? I don't see how you can "design it out", without adding another wheel, which brings its own problems.

Or am I being thick (again)

[Punk_shore]

No Colin, you're not thick.
It's just that I can't show you that prototype design without a confidentiality agreement. Sorry.