SplinterBike.co.uk Run 7 - 100% Wooden Bicycle Speed Record...attempt!

[G58]

!00% better vids than the so-called pro job done by TopBox Media. That was truly awful. As for the bike design. I can see you really need to think more engineering than 'toy bike' when it comes to building something designed for speed. As has been pointed out by others, the gearing is also a major issue. Unaided it's very difficult to get up to the desired speed using only one ratio. So what is the current record? Might have a go at this one myself.

[smallblueclouds]

Balsa wood tyres please - thin, 2-3mm deep, disposable.

[G58]

@smallblueclouds Balsa wood? It would disintegrate in seconds.

[smallblueclouds]

@G58

2mm of balsa wood bonded to the wheel should work fine - give the wheel's contact patch some slight give.

[G58]

@smallblueclouds They're running on a hard grainy surface. Balsa is soft. Even pine would wear out after a couple of runs. Balsa is so soft it wouldn't last more than a few yards. The best solution would be to laminate something hard.

[smallblueclouds]

@G58

> "They're running on a hard grainy surface. Balsa is soft"

Yep, that's exactly why I suggested it, Balsa (like a rubber tyre) is, as you say, soft and would conform the contact patch to the grainy surface, giving the wheel grip and taking the edge off what I suspect is a bone jarring ride.

> "Even pine would wear out after a couple of runs. Balsa is so soft it wouldn't last more than a few yards"

If it's a record attempt it wouldn't need to have longevity.

[G58]

@smallblueclouds I'm reluctant to rip into you because I don't know how old you are. But I can assure you 2mm of balsa wood would disintegrate in a few revolutions of the wheel, and wouldn't afford it ANY "give" whatsoever. Have you ever used it? I'm 53 and built models from the stuff when I was a kid. It's fibrous and has less impact integrity and resistance to wear than cork! even 2mm if rubber would wear out on a run.

[G58]

@G58 Okay you fucking retard. I always check commenters are not children who might not be expected to know better - the only reason for checking, & declaring my age. I used to work in the experimental aircraft design & my experience of materials exceeds anyone else I've ever met. Balsa is so fast growing it totally lacks density & therefore structural integrity. It is only useful for compression resistance as a core material in wind turbines & surf boards etc, but NEVER as a surface solution.

[Drafty01]

I've been following your progress with this project for a few months, & it looks like you've got a great peice of work!

It doesn't look like James was working very hard though, but not sure if the limitations were him or the bike.

I think that if the gearing were a little lower, & that if he pedalled faster, the record might be a little higher than it is - hind-sight is 20/20.

Looks like the plicog was starting to unmesh & jump teeth. Is that what the clunking sound was as he pedalled?

[Thomoco]

@Drafty01 Yes, you're right especially about the 20/20 bit! ;-)

We learnt an awful lot on Thursday and now we can add it to all the other stuff we learnt whilst creating and testing SplinterBikeOne and building SplinterBikeTwo. SplinterBikeThree will be a quicker animal altogether.

Lots of options coming to light which bring their own challengers to the all wooden build process. Gearing is one of them but many other possible improvements too.

Glad you have enjoyed our little shed project!

[Drafty01]

@Thomoco - So you're keeping going then. Great!

I'm a bit of a tinker myself, and an engineering draughtsman (hence the alias Drafty01), so I'm quite interested in your project (hardly little - I'm sure you'll agree). I design all manner of things in my job, from parts of buildings to brackets & consumer products using mainly AutoCAD but lately a little (autodesk) Inventor as well.

Been doing this for the last 20 years or so in various different companies.

[Drafty01]

Respond to this video... ... continued - I think the concept - particularly the Plicog - is pretty damn good, but I think it could do with a bit more "engineering" input. That bottom bracket's a curse too - I would go with a square or even hex drive crank - specifically not a cotter pin (or anything else) through the shaft. you should be able to stand on the pedal when it's horizontal - maybe shortening the crank radius is one way to accomplish this - James just needs to pedal faster!