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rbent Forum
https://rbentonline.org/YaBB.pl General Category >> rbent Lobby >> Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... https://rbentonline.org/YaBB.pl?num=1240754200 Message started by FlyingLaZBoy on Apr 26th, 2009, 8:56am |
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Title: Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Apr 26th, 2009, 8:56am I'm a confirmed LWB guy, but recently I've been having thoughts about the transportation advantages of a SWB or folder (sacrilege!) for commute and public transportation purposes... Simply because getting the SXP onto even a DART train is a not simple task, much less a short bus ;) and I definitely have occasions to use DART instead of driving. Lynn Morrow has offered to loan me her extra hiracer, that has 1.25" tires, so I'll probably take her up on it and see how it works with DART and (the ultimate test) if it fits into the back of Terrie's Prius... [smiley=thumbsup.gif] |
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Title: Re: Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... Post by Opus the Poet on Apr 26th, 2009, 5:35pm Find yourself a BMX bike that you like the handling of, pick a seat, and pick a rear hub that has a matching number of spokes for the wheels of the BMX bike. And of course shifters and cranks... And 3 weeks later you have a SWB 'bent. From experience you want to mount the seat so that your pelvis is just in front of the seat post of the BMX frame and either install a sliding boom for X-seam adjustment or just get fitted wearing your bike shoes and clothes. I have made a half-dozen BMX to 'Bent conversions and once I got the ergonomics worked out they were great. You can get a SWB for the price of a discarded BMX bike, the seat, a new rear hub, the shifters and chain, as far as bike parts are concerned. Metals you will need a 1" hunk of tubing to make your extended stem, and a hunk of 1 1/2" tubing for the boom and a hunk of 1 7/8" for the boom mount, plus a bottom bracket shell, drive side dropout to mount the derailler, and bits and pieces of hardware. If you're using a mesh seat you might need something to hold the seat back up, i.e.seat braces. So, how is your welding? |
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Title: Re: Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... Post by Kwijybow on Apr 27th, 2009, 7:25am I've only taken the Corsa on a DART train once, and it was a Saturday morning, but I had no issues. I'm a little reluctant to try that during Rush hour though. Please do tell us about how it goes, cause I'm curious. Take Care, Nelson. |
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Title: Re: Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Apr 27th, 2009, 1:38pm Thanks, Opus, but no thanks... I'm just conceptualizing and testing.... not homebuilding!!! [smiley=grin.gif] |
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Title: Re: Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... Post by evblazer on Apr 27th, 2009, 4:09pm My wife has a folder. I find it alot easier to throw it into one of the big bags on my cargo bike then try and hitch up a full size bike and tow it on 407 [smiley=smiley.gif] She can also put it on the backseat of the on call truck when she goes onto and comes off of call for her turn so it should be really easy to use it on a train or a bus. I hear that a bacchetta will fit those DART busses but I have eyed them for my hurricane and I am pretty sure it is a no go. |
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Title: Re: Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... Post by jman on Apr 27th, 2009, 5:08pm [smiley=chinscratch.gif]Paul, that is a good idea, one I decided to act on myself last week. I love all the things I can do on my trike, but entering a Dart bus or train aren't on that list. Grocery shopping, trips to the laundry work great though. To bad our bus only have a few in the system set up to carry a bike on the front of the bus like a hood ornament and aux. bug catcher [smiley=laugh.gif] Our TRE rail is great for the bents as you can roll right on and there is plenty of space designated to ride. I bought the Cycle Genius CG-24 to allow me to take trips to Dallas and White Rock Lake. When it gets here that is where I intend to log some fun miles and hope I run into a few of the gang. Good luck on your test rides. [smiley=thumbsup.gif] |
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Title: Re: Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Apr 28th, 2009, 4:10pm I went over to Lynn's today, and after adjusting the seat position a bit, we went for a 5-6 mile neighborhood and WRTrail ride... Except for a few heel strike issues, I not surprisingly had no issues with adapting to the hiracer SWB. However, I did notice a definite difference in the overall balance while riding, such that I felt myself correcting every few seconds... Given that the center of gravity is a lot higher, that's probably the reason, but it still came as a surprise. http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g73/flyinglazboy/LynnsHiracer.jpg The bike has 1.3" tires, and a hardshell seat, which I have at the current lowest pin holes, recline maybe at 35 degrees. As far as being able to put it inside a Prius, the back area with seats folded down is essentially 36" x 60" -- but the length from rear wheel to front chainring is 66", and the height from handlebar to bottom of front wheel is about 42", so to get it into the car I'm going to have to remove both wheels, leaving me a couple of inches of room... although I MIGHT be able to get it in without removing the rear wheel, it's worth a shot... The seat comes off by a quick release. (Terrie's got the car right now, so I can't try it... ;) but she's very fond of her Prius, and will not tolerate chain grease, ya know...) I successfully put the bike on my standard rack on my Cruiser for transport home, then rode it the couple miles up to the DART station here in Rowlett -- took about 10 minutes. I'm sure it'll go on the "short bus" without a problem, so if the rain holds off tomorrow, I'm going to try the commute... Ride to Rowlett bus, take train to Mockingbird, ride to choir practice... all for $1.50. Beats driving 20+ miles one way at 6PM! |
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Title: Re: Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... Post by diannalightning on Apr 28th, 2009, 6:52pm Paul, is this the bike that Lynn rode at HHH? If so, what is Lynn riding now? |
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Title: Re: Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Apr 28th, 2009, 8:05pm diannalightning wrote:
I'm not certain, but probably... she up and bought herself a Mango Corsa... SS? [smiley=thumbsup.gif] |
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Title: Re: Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... Post by aikigreg on Apr 28th, 2009, 8:55pm The handing will definitely feel twitchy for a while. It feels the same when I step on a LWB. Lynn's bike might also be a bit more so than others, no one but her could say. |
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Title: Re: Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Apr 29th, 2009, 10:43pm Well, the bike fits on the DART "short bus" if they fold up one of the seats, but if there are more than ~10 people on the bus, there won't be a place for the bike. It also fits into the "disabled" area at the front of the traincar, just about perfectly, one wheel against the seatfront, and one against the forward panel. So I successfully made the non-motorized commute tonight, only getting a little wet when the showers hit about 6:10PM on my way from the Mockingbird Station over to SMU. |
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Title: Re: Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... Post by Opus the Poet on Apr 30th, 2009, 9:03pm FlyingLaZBoy wrote:
Aww, you just lack adventure. [smiley=rolleyes.gif] A converted BMX 'bent is cool, and rides good, too. The big plus is you can throw one on a DART bus rack and still have room to spare. Another good part is the seating position is not too extreme even when you adjust the bottom bracket high enough to avoid heelstrike. Another good part is you can use the bottom bracket shell in the BMX part of the frame to install assist so you can ride longer, or ride faster in traffic. |
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Title: Re: Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... Post by FooRider on May 3rd, 2009, 8:49am Now you understand why those of us on highracers don't dabble in photography. Except John, who's a freak of nature (and balance). |
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Title: Re: Thinkin' 'bout a SWB.... Post by jcsadowski on May 3rd, 2009, 1:29pm My highrqcer isn't that high, it only has 24 inch wheels. |
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