[python] Re: Building a cargo style trike

  • From: Patrick van Gompel <patrick_van_gompel@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "python@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <python@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 17:55:48 +0200

Hi,

I want to add just another opinion on the rear brakes of a python trike: 
because I thought it was too much hassle I didn't add them to my trike, but I 
wish I had.
Gerald is right that the front brake is much more effective and if you cycle in 
good road conditions I think you probably won't need them. Though, with a 
trailer behind my trike I did have a few instances that my front wheel was 
slipping and I had to get my feet on the ground to add more breaking power and 
to keep the trike level (I have a leaning one). Since I don't have rear brakes 
I am not 100% sure, but I think rear brakes would have added more breaking 
power and would have helped to keep the trike more stable.
Since you are talking about a 35kg load at the rear of your trike I would 
consider having rear brakes although you would probably hardly ever need them.
In my eyes it's the same as with brakes on a bicycle: you can do without the 
rear, but always breaking with both brakes at the same time makes it safer.
Though, I have no idea what happens with a trike if you accidently break hard 
and both your rear wheels are slipping. Gerald, did you ever try that while 
cornering?

Greets,
Patrick

> Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 23:09:10 +0200
> From: bepb@xxxxxx
> To: python@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [python] Re: Building a cargo style trike
> 
> Hi Paul,
> welcome to the python mailing list!
> 
> Question 1:
> I have rear breaks on my python trike, but actually never use them. They 
> are pretty ineffective compared to the front break and also can't be 
> used to support the steering.
> On a python two wheeler, I find the rear break great to control the 
> speed on fast descents. With the trike this is spoiled by the agitation 
> caused by small differences in the breaking power between the rear wheels.
> 
> The only break I actually use on the trike is a coaster break in the 
> front wheel, which is pretty effective in this configuration.
> Be careful to keep the bike strait with you legs if you break hard with 
> the front break, otherwise it might fold!
> 
> 
> Question 2:
> Why not? Just take care that the spanners are secure! Alternatively you 
> could just have two rear parts or two mounting points for the rear 
> wheels on the frame.
> 
> If the wheelbase is to short you might also have problems with the front 
> wheel slipping on steep climbs.
> Having to put load behind the rear axle makes it even worse.
> 
> BR
> Gerald
> 
> 
> Am 10.09.2013 17:33, schrieb Paul Needham:
> > Hi all
> >
> > Short intro , I am recently retired @ 58 been riding recumbents 2 & 3 
> > wheels for 6+ years live in the UK and do a little TIG welding.
> >
> > I currently ride a Hase Kettweisel a capable trike but with a few 
> > niggling problems and for my needs a few shortcomings ?
> >
> > So I am looking to build myself a replacement that addresses some of 
> > the above.
> >
> > I want to :-
> >
> > Be lower than the Kett it has a seat height of 15" [ 38 cm ] and a BB 
> > height of 19.5" [ 49 cm ] yet it's ground clearance is only 4" [ 10 cm ]
> > Be shorter if possible , certainly when not in load carrying mode.
> > Get rid of all that flapping chain
> > Have the ability to carry camping stuff like the Hipparion Protohippus 2
> >
> > I quite like Ed's RedTrike as can be seen on the Python trikes page it 
> > looks very simple and uncluttered and he has been most helpful in 
> > explaining how and why it was built that way.
> >
> > However carrying lot's of camping gear will require my trike to be 
> > build slightly differently to Ed's so I have some questions that I 
> > want to ask here ?
> >
> > Question 1
> >
> > Would I need rear brakes ? I assume my camping load will be about 35 
> > kg I weight about 70Kg ?
> > By law I need  2 brakes so I will probably put 2 on the front wheel [ 
> > 20" wheels all round ]
> > The Kett only has 2 rear brakes , however weight distribution is 
> > completely different to the Python
> >
> > Question 2
> >
> > Wheel base , Ed admits his would be better a little longer [ but he 
> > needs to get his inside a vehicle and so has to be that short ] the 
> > Hipparion has a WB of 1 metre and I can build Ed's to that length 
> > easily enough. I wondered whether to make the rear length adjustable 
> > with just a couple of spanners like this ?
> >
> > [url=http://postimage.org/][img]http://s20.postimg.org/hm59dl0zx/rear_end_extending_sm.jpg[/img][/url]
> >  
> >
> > [url=http://postimage.org/app.php]screenshot captor[/url]
> >
> > I hope the link works I am new to this image hosting stuff.
> >
> > So in normal use it would be 1 metre but when camping [ maybe only 2 
> > or 3 times a year ] I could lengthen it ?
> > I think my camping gear may be bulkier than Esko's and so could do 
> > with an extra 30 - 40 cm
> >
> > thanks for you help Paul
> >
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