[python] Re: idea

Ok, so you have two pivots.  Put one above the front wheel like a "normal"
front wheel drive recumbent, and put a second one back in the area where the
python normally has one.

You can mount the brakes on the front fork in the normal center mount
position, and that way, in whateveer mode, you can always have braking.

Loop the boom up and over the top of the front wheel, even curve it to match
the wheel if you want to, and the pedals would be out front, but close to
the front wheel and would produce pedal/wheel overlap.

As it's still front wheel drive, the only way would be a twist chain drive,
but that's no big deal because you already built one for your initial cross
canada bent.

The only thing that would be tougher, is pivot selection, and steering once
you are in "low speed" mode and turning using the normal fork/head tube.

The biggest thing I wonder, is, with all the extra complication and, without
a doubt, weight, is it worth it for a little tighter turning radius?

The weather is clearing and warming up enough here so that hopefully in a
week or so my friend and I can get out and start putting some mileage on our
pythons.  Right now, the front ends will turn completely sideways (and maybe
even a little further) on ours, and while it would be impossible to actually
ride it in that position, I have seen my friend make some pretty tight turns
on his while learning to ride it.  We'll have to get the tape measure out
and see how tight we can actually turn on them to be sure, but they don't
look like thay turn any less sharp than my pruple trike, and I can turn
around in the space of a two lane road on it.


> Hey - what do you guys think about this idea:
>
> The best way to combine decent steering radius with a LARGE front wheel
> drive is with a movable bottom bracket (like Python, or other swivel
> nose designs). The draw back is less mechanical efficiency due to peddle
> induced wobble. And of course it's difficulty to learn how to ride in
> the case of the Flevo or Python.
>
> So, what about combining two FWD approaches. You have a large front
> wheel that steers with a conventional headtube and a very, very small
> turn radius due to interference issues between the tire and the chain
> ring, chain, crank, legs, etc. Once the lowracer has achieved 'cruising'
> speed, this small turn radius may be sufficient.
>
> For slow speed maneuvering, the bb boom could be broken - python or
> Flevo style, then locked straight when cruising speed has been achieved.
>
> Greg K

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