[python] max downhill speed --lost mail, second try

  • From: Dirk Bonne <dirk_bonne@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: python@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Fri, 06 May 2005 11:16:28 +0200

Hi,

Yesterday I went along a tour around the Øresund, and had the chance to
test the maximum downhill speed.

Well it lies around 55 - 60kmh. After that it gets really scary.

This is a little disappoining as I had hoped that with the smaller trail
the limit would be well beyond the speed range I personally would want
to reach. 60kmh however is at the border of that range.

I have been groping for words to descirbe the feeling at the speed. Mind
you, it doesn't come suddenly. It slowly builds up as speed goes up. But
first at 50kmh it really gets your attention ;-)

Seen from an observer nothing wrong can be noticed. The bike does not
sway. The bike does not schimmer, or vibrate. Nothing of that.

The feeling  on the bike is that the steering is in some way
"activated". At least I get the feeling that when something happens I
won't be able to correct it. And the consequence will have an explosive
effect.

It is like something in the steering is *acting* to fast for me to react
to, and I doubt very much that braking in the rear would help at all
(except bringing the speed down).

On that trip of about 130kms I had the chance to compare the bicycle 5
other "normal" recumbents. And the python -wich I control fully now- is
in no way a lesser bike then the others -apart from my downhill max
speed. At speed or manouvarability or climbing, everything works at
least as good. I the case of manouvarability I sometimes had the
impression I could easier slip and slalom than normal steered bike (my
effective turn circle is 2.5m diameter).

Dirk


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