This bike started when I joked that if I built a strange bike I might get more sponsorship for the London to Brighton (which raises money for the British Heart Foundation). I said "a bike with a car back wheel" They said "oh yeah"? I said I could build it from bits i found laying around an a few weeks later I rode it to work. I also rode it around London and completed the L2B on it, where everyone Ipassed asked "what the hell is that" According to my speedo it reached 42mph down the hill into brighton which was due to the rear wheel acting as a flywheel and collecting energy all the way down and I was not about to brake. No Way! Fingers crossed, the un-balanced car wheel did not rip the dropouts off the frame. Car wheels are very very very hard to get on/off the rim even with long levers and WD40. The frame started life as two MTB frames cut, bent and shut together. The hub is from a moped with drum brake and freewheel mount welded to a cut-up moped sprocket. The rim and tyre are Fiat Panda drilled and shaped to suit spokes. The spokes are custom made motorcycle items assembled by me. The forks are extended MTB with a BMX front wheel. I have said that was the last mad project but I doubt it. RENATORAB@aol.com |
Renato Rab: Renegade |
This bike started when I joked that if I built a strange bike I might get more sponsorship for the London to Brighton (which raises money for the British Heart Foundation). I said "a bike with a car back wheel" They said "oh yeah"? I said I could build it from bits i found laying around an a few weeks later I rode it to work. I also rode it around London and completed the L2B on it, where everyone Ipassed asked "what the hell is that" According to my speedo it reached 42mph down the hill into brighton which was due to the rear wheel acting as a flywheel and collecting energy all the way down and I was not about to brake. No Way! Fingers crossed, the un-balanced car wheel did not rip the dropouts off the frame. Car wheels are very very very hard to get on/off the rim even with long levers and WD40. The frame started life as two MTB frames cut, bent and shut together. The hub is from a moped with drum brake and freewheel mount welded to a cut-up moped sprocket. The rim and tyre are Fiat Panda drilled and shaped to suit spokes. The spokes are custom made motorcycle items assembled by me. The forks are extended MTB with a BMX front wheel. I have said that was the last mad project but I doubt it. RENATORAB@aol.com |
