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Date: 16 Oct 2007 02:48:51
From: Grolsch
Subject: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his bike into production. Wow. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw
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Date: 20 Oct 2007 19:15:26
From: Tosspot
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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Grolsch wrote: > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > bike into production. Wow. > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw Christ ona bike, I can see me coming out of the pub on that going "Look guys!", <click > <SPLAT!>
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 22:17:07
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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Grolsch wrote: > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > bike into production. Wow. > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw Others have been there, done that, years ago: <http://www.outsideconnection.com/gallant/hpv/joe/ >. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 12:07:15
From: datakoll
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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- show irrelevant text - http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2007/10/18/
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 23:48:19
From: Bob
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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On Oct 15, 9:48 pm, "Grolsch" <nos...@telus.net > wrote: > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > bike into production. Wow. > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw It's an interesting novelty but I'm not sure what niche market the designer thinks it will find. City bike riders aren't going to pay what I'd guess would be the substantial added cost for the "convertibility" and I doubt 'bent riders will beat a path to his door for what looks like could be the world's heaviest recumbent. The drive train alone looks like it could top 20 pounds. Then again, "auto shift" bikes sold. Maybe not well but they *did* sell. Regards, Bob Hunt
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 22:31:03
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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Usenet poster Bob Hunt wrote: > On Oct 15, 9:48 pm, "Grolsch" <nos...@telus.net> wrote: >> The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's >> not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it >> converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. >> Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his >> bike into production. Wow. >> >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw > > It's an interesting novelty but I'm not sure what niche market the > designer thinks it will find. City bike riders aren't going to pay > what I'd guess would be the substantial added cost for the > "convertibility" and I doubt 'bent riders will beat a path to his door > for what looks like could be the world's heaviest recumbent. Not to mention that anything narrow enough to work as an upright saddle is going to make a poor recumbent seat base. Neither fish, not fowl, indeed. > The drive > train alone looks like it could top 20 pounds. Then again, "auto > shift" bikes sold. Maybe not well but they *did* sell. Will not people buy almost anything if it is advertised on late night "infomercials"? -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 04:40:36
From: Chalo
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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DougC wrote: > > Also I don't live in an urban area, and hope I /never/ do. > > What city people call "urban culture" is what country people scrape off > their boots after wandering in the cow pasture. You know, that explains a lot. Most inscrutable, less-than-rational religious movements seem to get much improved traction in the hinterlands. And the reality-based community seems to coalesce around metropolitan areas. The recumbent faithful appear to be almost as resistant to things that should be nakedly obvious as Holy Rollers are. Chalo
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 22:26:17
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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Chalo Colina wrote: > DougC wrote: >> Also I don't live in an urban area, and hope I /never/ do. >> >> What city people call "urban culture" is what country people scrape off >> their boots after wandering in the cow pasture. > > You know, that explains a lot. Most inscrutable, less-than-rational > religious movements seem to get much improved traction in the > hinterlands. And the reality-based community seems to coalesce around > metropolitan areas. Haven't spent much time in the suburbs, have you? Full of people born on second base that think they hit a double, that make rural yokels seem enlightened. > The recumbent faithful appear to be almost as resistant to things that > should be nakedly obvious as Holy Rollers are. Greater speed and comfort - how is that bad? Not all of us want to ride like a juvenile delinquent/bicycle messenger. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 07:48:19
From: DougC
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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Chalo wrote: > > You know, that explains a lot. Most inscrutable, less-than-rational > religious movements seem to get much improved traction in the > hinterlands. You mean like the hinterlands of the Holy See or Mecca? And the reality-based community seems to coalesce around > metropolitan areas. -Yea--also, the street-gang communities, the pollution communities and the overcrowding communities. I guess it's not the /city/ I dislike, it's just all the people who live there. > > The recumbent faithful appear to be almost as resistant to things that > should be nakedly obvious as Holy Rollers are. > > Chalo > If the main criteria that you judge a bicycle is its ability to "see over cars", yours is truly a sad riding environment.... ~
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 04:17:36
From: Chalo
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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Ryan Cousineau wrote: > > datakoll <datak...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2007/10/17/ > > I need a kickstand for my unicycle. How about training wheels? http://www.digitaltutors.com/uploads/gallery/data/513/medium/380Unicycle.gif Chalo
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 06:26:49
From: Ryan Cousineau
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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In article <1192681056.177965.282910@i38g2000prf.googlegroups.com >, Chalo <chalo.colina@gmail.com > wrote: > Ryan Cousineau wrote: > > > > datakoll <datak...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > > > http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2007/10/17/ > > > > I need a kickstand for my unicycle. > > How about training wheels? > > http://www.digitaltutors.com/uploads/gallery/data/513/medium/380Unicycle.gif > > Chalo Ah... -- Ryan Cousineau rcousine@sfu.ca http://www.wiredcola.com/ "My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook. Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 21:25:19
From: datakoll
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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On Oct 17, 4:37 pm, A Muzi <a...@yellowjersey.org > wrote: > > On Oct 16, 9:12 am, datakoll <datak...@yahoo.com> wrote: > >> On Oct 16, 8:00 am, datakoll <datak...@yahoo.com> wrote: > >>> On Oct 16, 7:47 am, datakoll <datak...@yahoo.com> wrote: > >>>>> - DO NOT Show quoted text - > datakoll wrote: > >http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/10/16/world/16iran.ms.html > > Photo shows "The Best of the One-Worlders" which may be different. > -- > Andrew Muziwww.yellowjersey.org > Open every day since 1 April, 1971 the envelope of chumminess may have spawned the switchback, as calvin and Hobbes ( 'In the state of nature profit is the measure of right') cawments. Snot long before we're all carrying cardboard fairings, again, best we should get to it. $110 barrel is around the corner and we're still pissing the stuff into the wind while the ice melts
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 11:26:17
From: datakoll
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2007/10/17/
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 00:48:44
From: Ryan Cousineau
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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In article <1192620377.840622.32850@q3g2000prf.googlegroups.com >, datakoll <datakoll@yahoo.com > wrote: > http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2007/10/17/ I need a kickstand for my unicycle. -- Ryan Cousineau rcousine@sfu.ca http://www.wiredcola.com/ "My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook. Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 18:37:32
From: Ozark Bicycle
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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On Oct 16, 6:23 pm, Ed Pirrero <gcmschem...@gmail.com > wrote: > On Oct 16, 3:32 am, Ozark Bicycle > > > > <bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com> wrote: > > On Oct 16, 12:44 am, JeffWills <jwi...@pacifier.com> wrote: > > > > On Oct 15, 6:56 pm, Ozark Bicycle > > > > <bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com> wrote: > > > > On Oct 15, 9:48 pm, "Grolsch" <nos...@telus.net> wrote: > > > > > > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > > > > > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > > > > > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > > > > > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > > > > > bike into production. Wow. > > > > > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw > > > > > What's the point? > > > > Attracting cool chicks, man! > > > > Jeff > > > Start out upright and wind up recumbent?- Hide quoted text - > > You can do that without a bicycle. > > Tequila. 9-to-1* Martinis work, too. *9 parts Beefeater, 1 part Noilly Prat
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 23:34:35
From: datakoll
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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arrhg snort harheheheh yeah I thought maybe AA in Holland but the mousetrap? serious ludes? where are they? deMoine? maybe the inventor has hemrhoids or shingles.
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 23:23:18
From: Ed Pirrero
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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On Oct 16, 3:32 am, Ozark Bicycle <bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com > wrote: > On Oct 16, 12:44 am, JeffWills <jwi...@pacifier.com> wrote: > > > > > > > On Oct 15, 6:56 pm, Ozark Bicycle > > > <bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com> wrote: > > > On Oct 15, 9:48 pm, "Grolsch" <nos...@telus.net> wrote: > > > > > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > > > > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > > > > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > > > > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > > > > bike into production. Wow. > > > > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw > > > > What's the point? > > > Attracting cool chicks, man! > > > Jeff > > Start out upright and wind up recumbent?- Hide quoted text - > You can do that without a bicycle. Tequila. E.P.
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 22:49:09
From: DennisTheBald
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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I can understand why one would want to switch their bike to a recumbent, I'm a little unclear on why they would ever switch back, tho.
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 22:20:37
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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DennisTheBald wrote: > I can understand why one would want to switch their bike to a > recumbent, I'm a little unclear on why they would ever switch back, > tho. If you want to pass quietly by without being noticed, a tatty upright is excellent. A recumbent is not, particularly a lowracer or tadpole trike. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 13:32:52
From: Ozark Bicycle
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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On Oct 16, 12:12 pm, landotter <landot...@gmail.com > wrote: > On Oct 16, 10:01 am, Ozark Bicycle > > > > <bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com> wrote: > > On Oct 16, 9:22 am, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > On Oct 15, 9:56 pm, Ozark Bicycle > > > > <bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com> wrote: > > > > On Oct 15, 9:48 pm, "Grolsch" <nos...@telus.net> wrote: > > > > > > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > > > > > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > > > > > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > > > > > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > > > > > bike into production. Wow. > > > > > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw > > > > > What's the point? > > > > Recumbent for cruising out of town on country lanes amongst the > > > tulips, and upright for better confidence when riding in from Shithole > > > airport. > > > Sure, but wouldn't you rather have one competent, simple bike good for > > both tasks over a complex, gimmicky POS? > > You don't get the ladies with a putty colored Cavalier. Hey! The color of your cavilier is a personal matter! (some coppertone might help, though ;- > )
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 20:28:59
From: Chalo
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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Ozark Bicycle wrote: > > Grolsch wrote: > > > > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > > bike into production. Wow. > > > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw > > What's the point? Don't you see? It's a floor wax AND a dessert topping! My Seattle friend Joe Kochanowski made a proudly bisexual machine along those general lines, but without any process necessary to convert from one orientation to the other. He just used whichever suited him and the conditions. http://www.outsideconnection.com/gallant/hpv/joe/2position_2.mpg That Dutch bike thinks it can pass for straight, but it can't. Someone should tell it. Chalo
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 20:25:30
From: Chalo
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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datakoll wrote: > > big improvement in that clip if a large safe fell from the ceiling, > crushing the inventor This looks like a job for Life Size Mousetrap! http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=2030828940 Chalo
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 20:24:16
From: Chalo
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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Ozark Bicycle wrote: > > Grolsch wrote: > > > > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > > bike into production. Wow. > > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw > > What's the point? Don't you see? It's a floor wax AND a dessert topping! My Seattle friend Joe Kochanowski made a proudly bisexual machine along those general lines, but without any process necessary to convert from one orientation to the other. He just used whichever suited him and the conditions. http://www.outsideconnection.com/gallant/hpv/joe/2position_2.mpg That Dutch bike thinks it can pass for straight, but it can't. Someone should tell it. Chalo Chalo
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 10:12:47
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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On Oct 16, 10:01 am, Ozark Bicycle <bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com > wrote: > On Oct 16, 9:22 am, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > On Oct 15, 9:56 pm, Ozark Bicycle > > > <bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com> wrote: > > > On Oct 15, 9:48 pm, "Grolsch" <nos...@telus.net> wrote: > > > > > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > > > > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > > > > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > > > > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > > > > bike into production. Wow. > > > > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw > > > > What's the point? > > > Recumbent for cruising out of town on country lanes amongst the > > tulips, and upright for better confidence when riding in from Shithole > > airport. > > Sure, but wouldn't you rather have one competent, simple bike good for > both tasks over a complex, gimmicky POS? You don't get the ladies with a putty colored Cavalier.
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 08:01:40
From: Ozark Bicycle
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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On Oct 16, 9:22 am, landotter <landot...@gmail.com > wrote: > On Oct 15, 9:56 pm, Ozark Bicycle > > <bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com> wrote: > > On Oct 15, 9:48 pm, "Grolsch" <nos...@telus.net> wrote: > > > > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > > > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > > > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > > > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > > > bike into production. Wow. > > > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw > > > What's the point? > > Recumbent for cruising out of town on country lanes amongst the > tulips, and upright for better confidence when riding in from Shithole > airport. Sure, but wouldn't you rather have one competent, simple bike good for both tasks over a complex, gimmicky POS?
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 16:28:30
From: Leo Lichtman
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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It's ingenious and "gimicky." I would love to try one, just as a matter of interest, but... 1.) It's bound to be heavy, just as folding bikes have to be heavy to cope with the moving joints. 2.) The fork goes through a large change in angle in converting upright/recumbent. What does this do to the handling? Increasing the wheelbase and trail both act to decrease maneuverability. 3.) My guess is that the owner would find one configuration more useful than the other, and then stop switching. So, wouldn't it be better to just own the appropriate bike? Did I actually see the rider go from upright to recumbent while actually riding? Wow!
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 07:22:25
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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On Oct 15, 9:56 pm, Ozark Bicycle <bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com > wrote: > On Oct 15, 9:48 pm, "Grolsch" <nos...@telus.net> wrote: > > > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > > bike into production. Wow. > > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw > > What's the point? > Recumbent for cruising out of town on country lanes amongst the tulips, and upright for better confidence when riding in from Shithole airport.
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 01:06:45
From: Ryan Cousineau
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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In article <1192544545.259429.183520@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com >, landotter <landotter@gmail.com > wrote: > On Oct 15, 9:56 pm, Ozark Bicycle > <bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com> wrote: > > On Oct 15, 9:48 pm, "Grolsch" <nos...@telus.net> wrote: > > > > > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > > > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > > > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > > > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > > > bike into production. Wow. > > > > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw > > > > What's the point? > > > > Recumbent for cruising out of town on country lanes amongst the > tulips, and upright for better confidence when riding in from Shithole > airport. Hey, if you know of an airport in the world that has a better art gallery than Schipol's, I invite you to fly there instead. I mean, seriously. 7 years ago, I flew from lovely Schipol to the crappy purgatory that was the old Athens International airport. Then, this August, I took the same routing, only now it was into the brand new Athens "El Vez" airport. Schipol still makes it look like a dump. And also, the Netherlands being an English-speaking country, it's the easiest airport in Europe to land in. -- Ryan Cousineau rcousine@sfu.ca http://www.wiredcola.com/ "My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook. Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 13:24:50
From: datakoll
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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On Oct 16, 9:12 am, datakoll <datak...@yahoo.com > wrote: > On Oct 16, 8:00 am, datakoll <datak...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > On Oct 16, 7:47 am, datakoll <datak...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > > - DO NOT Show quoted text - http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/10/16/world/16iran.ms.html
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 15:37:16
From: A Muzi
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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> On Oct 16, 9:12 am, datakoll <datak...@yahoo.com> wrote: >> On Oct 16, 8:00 am, datakoll <datak...@yahoo.com> wrote: >>> On Oct 16, 7:47 am, datakoll <datak...@yahoo.com> wrote: >>>>> - DO NOT Show quoted text - datakoll wrote: > http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/10/16/world/16iran.ms.html Photo shows "The Best of the One-Worlders" which may be different. -- Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April, 1971
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 13:12:10
From: datakoll
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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On Oct 16, 8:00 am, datakoll <datak...@yahoo.com > wrote: > On Oct 16, 7:47 am, datakoll <datak...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > > - DO NOT Show quoted text - http://news.yahoo.com/comics/arloandjanis;_ylt=Auv2DM_k3Ybeklu9sfadcOgDwLAF http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2007/10/16/
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 12:00:39
From: datakoll
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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On Oct 16, 7:47 am, datakoll <datak...@yahoo.com > wrote: > > - DO NOT Show quoted text - > > big improvement in that clip if a large safe fell from the ceiling, > crushing the inventor sorry. i was out roding my naybor's nomad. here's a relevant clip http://www.bilstein.com JB, where are Bils coming from?
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 11:47:24
From: datakoll
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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> - DO NOT Show quoted text - big improvement in that clip if a large safe fell from the ceiling, crushing the inventor
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Date: 18 Oct 2007 22:09:17
From: Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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datakoll aka gene daniels wrote: >> - DO NOT Show quoted text - > > big improvement in that clip if a large safe fell from the ceiling, > crushing the inventor > no no no! It is supposed to be a weight that is clearly marked "16 Tons". -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia Beer - It's not just for breakfast anymore!
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 03:32:11
From: Ozark Bicycle
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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On Oct 16, 12:44 am, JeffWills <jwi...@pacifier.com > wrote: > On Oct 15, 6:56 pm, Ozark Bicycle > > <bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com> wrote: > > On Oct 15, 9:48 pm, "Grolsch" <nos...@telus.net> wrote: > > > > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > > > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > > > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > > > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > > > bike into production. Wow. > > > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw > > > What's the point? > > Attracting cool chicks, man! > > Jeff Start out upright and wind up recumbent?
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Date: 15 Oct 2007 22:44:06
From: JeffWills
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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On Oct 15, 6:56 pm, Ozark Bicycle <bicycleatel...@ozarkbicycleservice.com > wrote: > On Oct 15, 9:48 pm, "Grolsch" <nos...@telus.net> wrote: > > > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > > bike into production. Wow. > > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw > > What's the point? > Attracting cool chicks, man! Jeff
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Date: 15 Oct 2007 19:56:31
From: Ozark Bicycle
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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On Oct 15, 9:48 pm, "Grolsch" <nos...@telus.net > wrote: > The switchbike was shown at the Holland Innovation show, although it's > not currently in production. By flipping a switch on the handle, it > converts quickly from a regular city bike into a recumbent bicycle. > Ron de Jong, the designer is still looking for a company to take his > bike into production. Wow. > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H39NiWbeOw What's the point? "Just because something can be done doesn't mean it should be done." - W. H. "Bill" Bell
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Date: 16 Oct 2007 04:39:50
From: DougC
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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Ozark Bicycle wrote: > > What's the point? > > "Just because something can be done doesn't mean it > should be done." - W. H. "Bill" Bell > > One problem that recumbents can have for urban users is that many urban buses with bike racks only allow them for use with upright bikes that have conventional-length wheelbases. Also it can be difficult to carry recumbents up and down narrow stairwells, due to their longer overall lengths. ------ I think the seat base might be odd for upright riding, but then, if you didn't use it that way much it might be useful. The whole point of recumbents is greater comfort, the importance of this matter being proportional to the distance of the ride, however--and most Euro city-bike users tend not to ride real far at any one trip. Also, .nl bikes tend to cost a fortune, a basic city bike easily costs $500-$700 USD. You might end up paying a lot more for a bike that is (comparatively) neither a very good recumbent or a very good city bike. ~
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 15:09:34
From: A Muzi
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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> Ozark Bicycle wrote: >> What's the point? >> "Just because something can be done doesn't mean it >> should be done." - W. H. "Bill" Bell DougC wrote: > One problem that recumbents can have for urban users is that many urban > buses with bike racks only allow them for use with upright bikes that > have conventional-length wheelbases. > Also it can be difficult to carry recumbents up and down narrow > stairwells, due to their longer overall lengths. > I think the seat base might be odd for upright riding, but then, if you > didn't use it that way much it might be useful. > The whole point of recumbents is greater comfort, the importance of this > matter being proportional to the distance of the ride, however--and most > Euro city-bike users tend not to ride real far at any one trip. > Also, .nl bikes tend to cost a fortune, a basic city bike easily costs > $500-$700 USD. You might end up paying a lot more for a bike that is > (comparatively) neither a very good recumbent or a very good city bike. You're riding around in traffic with your head just below bumper height and you see bus racks as the problem?? -- Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1 April, 1971
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Date: 17 Oct 2007 21:00:35
From: DougC
Subject: Re: Switchbike - The best of both worlds
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A Muzi wrote: > > You're riding around in traffic with your head just below bumper height > and you see bus racks as the problem?? When /I/ ride around in traffic, /my/ head isn't just below bumper height. Exactly what recumbent were you riding? - Also I don't live in an urban area, and hope I /never/ do. What city people call "urban culture" is what country people scrape off their boots after wandering in the cow pasture. ~
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