The Switchblade Bicycle

17/09/2015

The mould is just chipboard but it's important to get the headtube accurately aligned. I lined up the centre drill to my mark, indicating the internal headtube centre line. And then drilled. I drilled both ends: for the second end, the centre line has to coincide with the drill axis, so I lined up the first end with the lathe tailstock.

http://cyclingfuture.com/mould-making/

The mould is just chipboard but it’s important to get the headtube accurately aligned. I lined up the centre drill to my mark, indicating the internal headtube centre line. And then drilled. …

17/09/2015

I’ve settled on a new design, after much toing and froing. I’m trying to get the advantage of bigger wheels, a lower seat and bottom bracket, as well as lighter weight, squeezed into the new prototype. To fit a low seat and rider around the larger wheels requires curvaceous framework which itself justifies the efforts of using composite construction, over my usual ali tubes, which are difficult to bend. [ 94 more words. ]

http://cyclingfuture.com/composite-manufacture/

I’ve settled on a new design, after much toing and froing. I’m trying to get the advantage of bigger wheels, a lower seat and bottom bracket, as well as lighter weight, squeezed into the new protot…

04/08/2015

I'm calling it the low profile prototype. We're definitely getting there but it's two steps forward and one back. always

http://cyclingfuture.com/new-row-power-new-everything/

I'm calling it the low profile prototype. We're definitely getting there but it's two steps forward and one back.   always

31/07/2015

The carbon prototype and a rethink of the Switch function has meant the prototype is going to be quite different. I've also moved to a new workshop.

http://cyclingfuture.com/new-start/

The carbon prototype and a rethink of the Switch function has meant the prototype is going to be quite different. I've also moved to a new workshop.

27/05/2015

I'm writing a lengthy article for the BHPC magazine, Issue 120. ( about the long road to a viable Switchblade. To be published in July or August.Preview

http://cyclingfuture.com/article-for-bhpc-magazine/

I'm writing a lengthy article for the BHPC magazine, Issue 120. ( about the long road to a viable Switchblade. To be published in July or August.Preview

21/05/2015

New Ideas http://wp.me/p3lkx6-7G

I've a new design proposed for the row power (arm propulsion) system. I think I can essentially package most of it below the top of the headtube. That would make things look a bit sleeker. But it is not straightforward to do and will take a bit of development. In the meantime, here's some pics of an earlier prototype - perhaps the nicest looking one I made but iIt had a few major flaws - looks aren't everything.

14/02/2014

Is Lying Down Uncomfortable? http://wp.me/p3lkx6-6X

There is a big difference in adaptability of individuals and much of the effect can be eliminated by training or conditioning but it seems that the recumbent position makes cycling harder work for some: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16222538.

26/01/2014

Handlebar Propulsion - does it help? http://wp.me/p3lkx6-6S

Sports scientists have compared combined hand and leg cranking with legs alone and some of this work suggests there is a performance benefit although it is not conclusive (e.g. see Wilson, Bicycling Science, MIT Press, P.83.) But the Swithcblade arm…

10/11/2013

I’ve developed a new system for the front suspension mount - http://cyclingfuture.com/issues/

I've developed a new system for the front suspension mount; it helps the seat to become more reclined and it improves the function of the Row-Power system. Its taken a long time to work out and but...

12/09/2013

John Kerr

Photos by John Kerr (http://on.fb.me/1atJflm)

12/09/2013

Some problems with my gas strut.

28/08/2013

Some racing success: http://cyclingfuture.com/racing-at-the-bhpc/ (Its not a racing bike!)

I managed to get to the Hog Hill meeting of the British Human Power Club yesterday (http://www.bhpc.org.uk/rules-and-classes.aspx). I went to a couple of meetings in 2009 but basically went back to...