[python] Re: Hills?

Hills are more a control issue rather than power issue.  As far as pedalling
effort goes, the python was easier than any bent I've ridden or built (with
the same gear ratio) for going up a hill.  Where the extra effort was
required was for control.  It took a lot of muscles firing in unison to be
able to get as much power as possible to the pedals without heavy weaving
left and right.  Higher cadences were a big help in aleviating the pedal
steer because that is not a good thing when riding slowly on a steep hill
with cars passing you :)  It climbs so well in fact, that I could climb the
hills at 39 gear inches when I had to be around 22 to 25 gear inches on my
trikes.  I ended up taking off the smallest chainring (and only running a
42/34) because I never used it.

As for the downhill, as Jurgen said, they are a bit more effort on the
downhills.  A little while before I sold my python, the fastest I got it up
to was 66kph on a downhill.  With practice and high enough gearing (and
strong enough brakes :)), a python rider could go faster, without a doubt.
Marcel had a 50kph+ wipeout on a downhill so he's been a little skittish on
hills since then.  The python design, more specifically the pivot angle, has
a lot to do with its downhill stability.

As a side note, an interesting crack appeared on Marcel's python and it
wasn't at all where we thought it should be.  The crack appeared on top of
the backbone under the seat, directly behind the pivot.  I think the crack
happened because of a little too much cosmetic weld grinding, but none the
less, we figured that a crack would appear on the bottom somewhere, not the
top.  Apparently, the force of pushing forward on the pedals and pushing
back into the seat applied a strong enough UPWARDS force on the pivot to
crack the weak point.  Steep up-hills and crossing 4 sets of railroad tracks
every day probably didn't help things much either :)  It's since been
repaired with no problems.
http://www.fleettrikes.com/python%20md.htm#26july2006


> > it's very hilly around where I live how does id
> > behave up steep hills?
>
> Climbing uphills is very good, but downhills your
> coasting speed is limited. My personal limit is around
> 50 km/h and some daredevils here say that they could
> reach 60 km/h without panic attacks.
>
> Cheers,
> Jürgen.

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