[python] Re: Front wheel traction

On Thu, 2006-06-29 at 00:20, grwilliams@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

<long snip, including comments from Jurgen, with which I agree>

> The point is to get more of the riders CG towards the drive 
> wheel. 

Agreed, though a more general way of putting it is that the 
front wheel will carry most of the weight, if it is nearer 
than the rear wheel to the CoG of the bike+rider. The absolute 
distances don't matter so much, for this purpose. Assume 
a bike 3 metres long, with the rider 1 metre behind the front 
wheel, and 2 metres ahead of the rear wheel.  It will have 
many other problems, but the weight distribution will be 
2:1 front:rear.

> Inclining the seat will move the center forward.

That depends entirely on where the seat pivots for the purpose 
of this design exercise.  If you merely lower the front edge 
of the seat, the rider's CoG may merely move down, or even back.
Unless the seat is moved further from the rear wheel or closer 
to the front wheel, tilting it is unlikely to improve matters.

> but also using a smaller front wheel allows the wheel to be
> closer to the rider 

Yes, and this is critical.

> and inclines the entire bike and shortens the wheel base.

Inclining the bike doesn't contribute anything to resolving
the traction problem.  Wherever the CoG is, the weight will 
act vertically through it.  Shortening the wheel base may be 
desirable for other reasons, but it only affects traction 
via the front:rear weight distribution.

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