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Date: 18 Jan 2007 23:01:43
From:
Subject: Anyone seen a bicycle sidecar/trishaw kit?
I would love to have a temporary people mover attachment to fit a bike.
I see photos on the web (overseas) of these great rickshaws that are
just bolted to the side of a sturdy bike. The great benefit of this
design is that the peddler is not left alone up front, like they are
with a trailer/chariot rickshaw. Has anyone every imported sidecars to
the US? A couple hundred could be sold to people going to Burning Man.
I'll buy one!! (I really like the flimsy two passenger "sai kaa" from
Rangoon, but the Singapore Trishaw looks great too. (what I know is
from the great book "chasing rickshaws" by Tony Wheeler (lonely
planet). Maybe someone could make a collapseable version stateside.

Any leads?

Tor Clausen

http://www.torstudios.com





 
Date: 22 Jan 2007 08:00:21
From:
Subject: Re: Anyone seen a bicycle sidecar/trishaw kit?
Why do all the work while your friend sits next to you, merely enjoying
the ride? You could make a Quadribent
(http://www.bikepartsusa.com/product_info.asp?f_c=Bicycle&cp=6&p=01-144002)
and then the 2 of you could both pedal, side by side. And it comes
apart into 2 separate bikes. Perfect for Burning Man.

CC



 
Date: 22 Jan 2007 00:11:37
From:
Subject: Re: Anyone seen a bicycle sidecar/trishaw kit?
> Generally what they do here is take plumbing joints and rivets and
> suchlike to make a removable cargo trailer. You can see some close up
> pictures in http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/flyingpigeon which, as I
> see I'm still at a daily average of over 150 hits a day with no updates
> since mid-June really needs to get moved somewhere else where I can
> keep updating it and get the ad revenue from the hits.
>
> -M

Great shots. Thanks. I really want one of these things.

T



 
Date: 21 Jan 2007 18:59:10
From: marian.rosenberg@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Anyone seen a bicycle sidecar/trishaw kit?

galleywench@musicalfurnishings.com wrote:
> Ben Pfaff wrote:
> > galleywench@musicalfurnishings.com writes:
> >
> > > I see photos on the web (overseas) of these great rickshaws that are
> > > just bolted to the side of a sturdy bike. The great benefit of this
> > > design is that the peddler is not left alone up front, like they are
> > > with a trailer/chariot rickshaw. [...]
> >
> > As another variation, I've seen bike rickshaws where the cyclist
> > is behind the passengers. Such an arrangement would probably
> > make it easier for the cyclist to see and talk to the passengers,
> > and it might be more practical than a sidecar.
> > --
> > "Sanity is not statistical."
> > --George Orwell
>
> Yes those are very cool. I started out looking thinking that I was
> going to make one of them. But when I read that many of them are
> unusual bears to drive, even when they are made from the ground up as a
> rickshaw, I decided to steer clear. My initial plan was to convert a
> standard bike into one of those, but I am betting that it would barely
> work. And, I've never seen it done.

Generally what they do here is take plumbing joints and rivets and
suchlike to make a removable cargo trailer. You can see some close up
pictures in http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/flyingpigeon which, as I
see I'm still at a daily average of over 150 hits a day with no updates
since mid-June really needs to get moved somewhere else where I can
keep updating it and get the ad revenue from the hits.

-M



 
Date: 19 Jan 2007 23:22:27
From:
Subject: Re: Anyone seen a bicycle sidecar/trishaw kit?

Leo Lichtman wrote:
> <galleywench@musicalfurnishings.com> wrpte: (clip) My initial plan was to
> convert a standard bike into one of those, but I am betting that it would
> barely work. And, I've never seen it done.
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> I have seen a guy riding a combination of a bicycle and piano. He plays at
> street fairs and such. If you can stand the shipping cost, that would be
> really cool at Burning Man.

Yes it would. Now if that was only parked outside some restaurant
around here.

Still wished I could come up with the neat, clean, collapsable design.
But they are said to be pretty woobily when welded, my joints would
make it downright un ridable.

Tor



 
Date: 19 Jan 2007 16:20:44
From: Ben Pfaff
Subject: Re: Anyone seen a bicycle sidecar/trishaw kit?
galleywench@musicalfurnishings.com writes:

> Ben Pfaff wrote:
>> I've seen bike rickshaws where the cyclist
>> is behind the passengers. Such an arrangement would probably
>> make it easier for the cyclist to see and talk to the passengers,
>> and it might be more practical than a sidecar.
>
> Yes those are very cool. I started out looking thinking that I was
> going to make one of them. But when I read that many of them are
> unusual bears to drive, even when they are made from the ground up as a
> rickshaw, I decided to steer clear. My initial plan was to convert a
> standard bike into one of those, but I am betting that it would barely
> work. And, I've never seen it done.

The one I've seen is on display at the front of a Thai restaurant
in San Carlos, CA, for what it's worth.
--
Ben Pfaff
blp@cs.stanford.edu
http://benpfaff.org


 
Date: 19 Jan 2007 15:32:33
From:
Subject: Re: Anyone seen a bicycle sidecar/trishaw kit?

Ben Pfaff wrote:
> galleywench@musicalfurnishings.com writes:
>
> > I see photos on the web (overseas) of these great rickshaws that are
> > just bolted to the side of a sturdy bike. The great benefit of this
> > design is that the peddler is not left alone up front, like they are
> > with a trailer/chariot rickshaw. [...]
>
> As another variation, I've seen bike rickshaws where the cyclist
> is behind the passengers. Such an arrangement would probably
> make it easier for the cyclist to see and talk to the passengers,
> and it might be more practical than a sidecar.
> --
> "Sanity is not statistical."
> --George Orwell

Yes those are very cool. I started out looking thinking that I was
going to make one of them. But when I read that many of them are
unusual bears to drive, even when they are made from the ground up as a
rickshaw, I decided to steer clear. My initial plan was to convert a
standard bike into one of those, but I am betting that it would barely
work. And, I've never seen it done.

t



  
Date: 20 Jan 2007 00:58:27
From: Leo Lichtman
Subject: Re: Anyone seen a bicycle sidecar/trishaw kit?

<galleywench@musicalfurnishings.com > wrpte: (clip) My initial plan was to
convert a standard bike into one of those, but I am betting that it would
barely work. And, I've never seen it done.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I have seen a guy riding a combination of a bicycle and piano. He plays at
street fairs and such. If you can stand the shipping cost, that would be
really cool at Burning Man.




 
Date: 19 Jan 2007 10:36:30
From: Ben Pfaff
Subject: Re: Anyone seen a bicycle sidecar/trishaw kit?
galleywench@musicalfurnishings.com writes:

> I see photos on the web (overseas) of these great rickshaws that are
> just bolted to the side of a sturdy bike. The great benefit of this
> design is that the peddler is not left alone up front, like they are
> with a trailer/chariot rickshaw. [...]

As another variation, I've seen bike rickshaws where the cyclist
is behind the passengers. Such an arrangement would probably
make it easier for the cyclist to see and talk to the passengers,
and it might be more practical than a sidecar.
--
"Sanity is not statistical."
--George Orwell


 
Date: 19 Jan 2007 10:25:57
From:
Subject: Re: Anyone seen a bicycle sidecar/trishaw kit?

Yes, you both are right. But my desire for this is not pratical. It is
fun. And there are one or two businesses out there that survive on fun.
I ride people all around town on my foot pegs andd on my handle bars.
we all did this when we were kids and nothing was more fun. Being close
while riding is such a blast.

I admit, I can see next to no reason for such a contraption in daily
life. I have a hard enough time finding a clear path for one track of
rubber to follow. But this burningman event is a week long of bicycing
heaven. Tens of thousands of people, all on bicycles on a flat, hard,
dry lakebed. What fun to ride a relaxing friend around while you pant
and fight your rig from doing circles.

I wonder how much liablility is involved. People sell foot pegs for
bicycles. Can it be that much worse?

Thanks for the comments!

Tor



 
Date: 19 Jan 2007 16:50:20
From: Leo Lichtman
Subject: Re: Anyone seen a bicycle sidecar/trishaw kit?

<galleywench@musicalfurnishings.com > wrote: The great benefit of this design
is that the peddler is not left alone up front, (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sidecars on motorcycles have a great effect on handling characteristics, and
I am afraid the effect on a bicycle would be well nigh intolerable.
Starting up, the extra weight on one side causes the "bike" to want to turn
to that side. On braking, the sidecar tries to keep going, turning the rig
to the opposite side. With large tires and plenty of power, motorcyclists
learn to cope with this, and even use it to advantage while cornering. I
think a bicyclist would just hate it. Picture yourself trying to cope with
this on an incline, steering to correct for the off-center load, AND NOT
BEING ABLE TO LEAN.




 
Date: 19 Jan 2007 09:07:55
From: Curtis L. Russell
Subject: Re: Anyone seen a bicycle sidecar/trishaw kit?
On 18 Jan 2007 23:01:43 -0800, galleywench@musicalfurnishings.com
wrote:

>I would love to have a temporary people mover attachment to fit a bike.
>I see photos on the web (overseas) of these great rickshaws that are
>just bolted to the side of a sturdy bike. The great benefit of this
>design is that the peddler is not left alone up front, like they are
>with a trailer/chariot rickshaw. Has anyone every imported sidecars to
>the US? A couple hundred could be sold to people going to Burning Man.
>I'll buy one!! (I really like the flimsy two passenger "sai kaa" from
>Rangoon, but the Singapore Trishaw looks great too. (what I know is
>from the great book "chasing rickshaws" by Tony Wheeler (lonely
>planet). Maybe someone could make a collapseable version stateside.
>
>Any leads?
>
>Tor Clausen
>
>http://www.torstudios.com

There are a variety of multiple person cycling choices, but what you
describe IMO would have way too small a key to get past the costs
of the liability insurance. A collapsible sidecar to carry passengers?
May as well get footpegs for the rear and tell them to hop aboard.

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...