Oct 8, 2009: Iscykel

xoxoxoBruce · 10-08-2009, 12:53 AM

It's October, World Series, Halloween and chilly weather, here abouts.
A reminder that winter is coming, and that means outdoor exercising get curtailed, for those of us that aren't dedicated masochists.

If you don't have chains or spiked tires for your bicycle, you could build an Iscykel.

Quote:

Instead of wheels it had a front skate that you could steer with ordinary steering handles, and at the rear it had also a skate, inside which there was a moving skate that went forwards and backwards as you pedaled it via a chain. It was used for transportation on frozen lakes."

The drive system might be a bit of a challenge though.

Quote:

The rear runner has slot in the center running longitudinally. In this slot there appear to be two independent drive skates or claws that slide fore and aft. These are driven by a linkage system not dissimilar to that found on old railroad steam engines.

The difference is that these linkages are designed to operate at a mechanical disadvantage with regard to power so that they have a Long and fast "stride". The power strokes are opposed so that there is always one skate in the power stroke (moving rearward) while the other is in recovery (moving forward). This, I speculate, provides easier mounting and less friction.

Figuring that out, would give you something to do on long winter nights.
Well, something else to do.

link

Griff · 10-08-2009, 05:25 AM

Sweet!

Griff · 10-08-2009, 05:35 AM

Sweden 2000 years ago?

sweetwater · 10-08-2009, 07:43 AM

No, thank you - I might give it a go if it was a Triscykel and the handlebars had a wind screen and hot cocoa holder, though. Might. But check the thickness of the ice, first - those inline skates would put a lot of pressure in a narrow area, yes?

lupin..the..3rd · 10-08-2009, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetwater

But check the thickness of the ice, first - those inline skates would put a lot of pressure in a narrow area, yes?

It would be less pressure than your standard ice skates.

sweetwater · 10-08-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lupin..the..3rd

It would be less pressure than your standard ice skates.

Not my ice skates because I've never balanced atop a pair of razor blades on ice. Madness! But at least skates are, I think, much faster than the Iscykel so one could escape the danger. Plan B would be to strap on a back fin and be prepared to suddenly become a dolphin/sharkcykel.

monster · 10-08-2009, 09:04 AM

I'd like to see it in action

(as the actress said to the bishop)

newtimer · 10-08-2009, 10:39 AM

Somebody's overthinking the locomotion at the back end. Just leave the wheel off, as the picture shows, and let the length of the chain push you along as it scrapes the ice.

jpc · 10-08-2009, 11:04 AM

Does anyone know how old this is?

The modern one
https://www.ktrakcycle.com/index.html

xoxoxoBruce · 10-08-2009, 11:18 AM

Here's a simpler version from the late 1800s.

link

treehugger · 10-08-2009, 02:27 PM

I live in Arlington WA and boy could I use one of those! last year we got 6 feet of snow!!!!

Warren Peas · 10-08-2009, 05:24 PM

jpc
Ktraks have been on the market for a couple of years now. I know the two guys on Vancouver Island that came up with the concept. Tried one out for the first time last winter, pretty good workout. The guy in the pic is the company president.

Clodfobble · 10-08-2009, 10:35 PM

Do you think it's supposed to rhyme with "sickle," or "cycle?"

Gravdigr · 10-10-2009, 04:45 PM

Let's see now... Umm... Thinking... Thinking... Uh, no. Nope. Do Not Want.

I'm going w/sickle. Icicle?

Coign · 10-12-2009, 10:08 AM

Here in Vail, we like our snowbikes to be terrifying.

http://www.vail.com/activitiesdetail...re%20ridge.axd

http://www.snowbike.us/e-produkte.htm

Even Prince Charles gets down with the snowbike.

10-08-2009, 05:25 AM	#2
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Sweet! __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

10-08-2009, 05:35 AM	#3
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Sweden 2000 years ago? __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

10-08-2009, 07:43 AM	#4
sweetwater lives inside a Mobius strip Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,120	No, thank you - I might give it a go if it was a Triscykel and the handlebars had a wind screen and hot cocoa holder, though. Might. But check the thickness of the ice, first - those inline skates would put a lot of pressure in a narrow area, yes? __________________ I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque! - Bugs Bunny

10-08-2009, 09:04 AM	#7
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	I'd like to see it in action (as the actress said to the bishop) __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

10-08-2009, 11:04 AM	#9
jpc a lurker for years Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado ish Posts: 10	Does anyone know how old this is? The modern one https://www.ktrakcycle.com/index.html __________________ "Then what did Calvin Coolidge say?" Floyd Lawson Last edited by jpc; 10-08-2009 at 11:07 AM. Reason: add link to product

10-08-2009, 10:39 AM	#8
newtimer Operations Operative Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 479	Somebody's overthinking the locomotion at the back end. Just leave the wheel off, as the picture shows, and let the length of the chain push you along as it scrapes the ice.

10-08-2009, 11:18 AM	#10
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Here's a simpler version from the late 1800s. link __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-08-2009, 02:27 PM	#11
treehugger Antagonistic Antagonist Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 22	I live in Arlington WA and boy could I use one of those! last year we got 6 feet of snow!!!!

10-08-2009, 05:24 PM	#12
Warren Peas Dog O'Nine Tails Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 20	jpc Ktraks have been on the market for a couple of years now. I know the two guys on Vancouver Island that came up with the concept. Tried one out for the first time last winter, pretty good workout. The guy in the pic is the company president.

10-08-2009, 10:35 PM	#13
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Do you think it's supposed to rhyme with "sickle," or "cycle?" __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

10-10-2009, 04:45 PM	#14
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	Let's see now... Umm... Thinking... Thinking... Uh, no. Nope. Do Not Want. I'm going w/sickle. Icicle? __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

10-12-2009, 10:08 AM	#15
Coign Wanted Driver Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vail, CO Posts: 279	Here in Vail, we like our snowbikes to be terrifying. http://www.vail.com/activitiesdetail...re%20ridge.axd http://www.snowbike.us/e-produkte.htm Even Prince Charles gets down with the snowbike. __________________ Quoting yourself is the height of hubris. -Coign

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