[python] new Python

Hello All,

I would like to forward this new project from Peter Schladt.
Looks great to me, especially the steering pivot.

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----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Schladt"
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 12:09 AM

Hi list,

a new python is born and on the road now. It was a rather long pregnancy with
plenty of complications. And it still suffers some severe child diseases. But
it runs, and not bad, and promising.
I began welding in winter, about begin of '06. Being more of the
trial-and-error type of mechanist, the first front part was for my museum
(tough being nicer, than my present one): the pedals got in heavy conflict
with the frame. The second front-frame was much better with that, but still
it initially did not work. But I could fix it by taking other crank arms.
Generally the idea was to take a much python as necessary to get a low and
fast bike. But to stick to the Airbike as much as possible, for comfort
reasons: suspension, fold-ability (for transport in trains), textile-seat with
good ventilation. So my Airbike stood always in the workshop serving as a
guideline, and watching its little brother grow. Unlike the Airbike, there is
not much reduction of length by folding my Python: from 196 cm to 165 with
wheel and 155 without. I am afraid, that is still too long to take it into the
train.

I seem to have exidentely hit a good design. I was able to ride the thing mo
re or less straight from the spot, and it only took well below an hour for
curves and turns. And it only partly has to do with me being an excessive
Airbiker. Because I compare it with Marc Huebners Python, I rode a year ago.
Also Marc (who helped me with the steering piviot) had this feeling, he also
drove away with my python without major problems (as did his girlfriend). And
he said, his next python will also have a suspension.

I don't have too much time to practise. Have driven something about 200 km
yet. I drive on roads, but try to avoid the big ones as I still don't feel too
save. I feel OK up to about 30 km/h on the plain, downhill it unfortunately
much less yet. I still have to find a good solution for the brake handles and
the gear control. There is not a lot of place below the
seat, I can't reach the stuff fast enough. My seat is fare from being
comfortable now. It is made out of car seat-belts and wood plates. I try to
get one of those, they took for the Airbike (a para-glider-seat).
I first had a chain-gear, but the feet got in conflict with speed-changer.
My frame is too narrow. So I took a 7-speed hub gear I found on the crap. I
dislike chain gears anyway and plan to buy a Rohloff 14-speed hub, once I am
convinced about the python. On my Airbike it serves very well (about 250 km
a week tough bike-messaging in the city).
The luggage-carrier I have now, is too primitive. It won't carry enough for
a holy day trip, I have to think about it. Having a small and movable seat, I
cant attache bags to it.

facts in short:
Piviot Angle: 72B0 (while sitting on it - I seem to lead the field ?!)
Trail: -51,5 cm
Seat height: 30,5 cm (at the moment, maybe less later with an other design)
BB-Seat-Difference: 15 cm
Ground Clearance: 18 cm
Wheelbase: 118 cm
Weight: 15,4 kg (was without luggage carrier)
BB-FWA: 35,5 cm
BB-EOS: 67 cm
Turning-circle: at the moment still something about 9 m
Tubing: center: 30x30x1,5 mm, front: 30x15x1,5 mm to 25x15x1,5 mm
Wheel size: 26", 26"
CG: 59 % on the front wheel
My inseam lenth: 74,5 cm

Hope to get the seat and handle problems fixed some time soon to able to make
some longer trips.

Keep the welding machines running hot

peter schladt

Attachment: pspy0506.jpg
Description: JPEG image

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