Shrink Wrapped Bikes

[plissaman]

In the 80s we did a lotta work on that, designed, built and tested them.  Didn't talk, did!  The shrinkwrap is actually a shape like a vertical streamlined fin, narrow and tall, on a light stringer airframe covered with Monokote, that encloses the frame and rider.  Huge benefits obtain from this.  In the course of our road test work at the old Ontario Race Track we achieved human powered speeds in excess of 55 mph, and, as a delightful touch, prevailed upon a CA Highway Patrol officer to come pace us officially, and give the rider a ticket for exceeding the freeway speed limit; in those energy confused days it was 55 mph!

Streamlined bikes are not much use.  You need a few warm bodies to drop the fairing on you and set you up.  And, of course, crosswinds are the very bugger!  We had some very effective ideas for the Olympics (I worked for that committee) but, predictably they were so good that they were all banned!
Peter Lissaman, Da Vinci Ventures

Expertise is not knowing everything, but knowing what to look for.

1454 Miracerros Loop South, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505,USA
tel:[phone]

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Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
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[Hugh Trenchard]



55mph!  Good, yes. 

But mediocre compared to current landspeed record held by friend, Sam Whittingham of Quadra Island, British Columbia. Current human powered vehicle landspeed record is 82mph, on the Varna Diablo, designed by Georgi Georgiev of Gabriola Island, not far from Quadra, and Vancouver Island where I live.

Cycling the bike, not walking the walk, or talking the talk:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Whittingham

----- Original Message -----

From: [hidden email]

To: [hidden email]

Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 9:49 PM

Subject: [FRIAM] Shrink Wrapped Bikes

In the 80s we did a lotta work on that, designed, built and tested them.  Didn't talk, did!  The shrinkwrap is actually a shape like a vertical streamlined fin, narrow and tall, on a light stringer airframe covered with Monokote, that encloses the frame and rider.  Huge benefits obtain from this.  In the course of our road test work at the old Ontario Race Track we achieved human powered speeds in excess of 55 mph, and, as a delightful touch, prevailed upon a CA Highway Patrol officer to come pace us officially, and give the rider a ticket for exceeding the freeway speed limit; in those energy confused days it was 55 mph!

Streamlined bikes are not much use.  You need a few warm bodies to drop the fairing on you and set you up.  And, of course, crosswinds are the very bugger!  We had some very effective ideas for the Olympics (I worked for that committee) but, predictably they were so good that they were all banned!
Peter Lissaman, Da Vinci Ventures

Expertise is not knowing everything, but knowing what to look for.

1454 Miracerros Loop South, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505,USA
tel:[phone]

---

============================================================
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org

============================================================
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org