Mushroom pickers, fishermen and tourists have seen many times on the narrow paths of the forests of the Moscow region a strange structure that appeared as silently and as noiselessly disappeared with a flash of shiny rims of Bicycle wheels. And over these wheels stood a pile of backpacks, bags and baskets. Told that unusual bike has three wheels, but they are located — in contrast to the well-known tricycles — not a triangle, and to each other in one line! We’ve been looking for an unusual bike and its Creator.
The case has helped: once I saw the machine, quietly standing near a suburban front garden. And soon appeared and the owner — Valeriy Mayorov, the mechanic of the Department of aircraft at the Moscow aviation Institute. “My wife and for two years traveled on this unusual tricycle-tandem the entire Moscow region, — he told. But we have a road Bicycle to which was attached a three-speed switch from sports. For leisure thing!” Having tested both machines V. Mayorova, we decided to publish these descriptions at the same time. Build!
So we called his car. It was assembled from many parts from different bikes. The main goal that we Postovni in front of him, lay in maximizing the payload of Sputnik. We also wanted to the conversion of the tandem single-handedly took a few minutes. Scheme of the tandem was not chosen by chance. Riding together is not only fun: the second pedal can significantly increase the installed power of the machine. Side trailer this possibility does not, and the classic tandem too bulky.
The layout of the elements of three-wheeled tandem:
1 — the pen back plug, 2 — pin of fastening of a hinged frame, 3 — head console, 4 — bottom bracket hinged frame. Right — hinged frame.
“Sputnik” has a long awkward frame used on conventional tandems, convenient in transportation and storage. Using components and parts from old bikes significantly reduces the cost of its construction. But the most important advantage is its ability to adapt to the road, because the back has two degrees of freedom relative to the front: paporot around an inclined steering shaft 2 (see figure) and swing in the range of 20-30° around the horizontal axis of the hinge 4. Thanks to this device tandem acquired extraordinarily high maneuverability. It easily fits in tight turns on a narrow forest path, excellent road holding and on the go much softer tandem bike with a solid frame. Disassembled, it is removed from the console, “Satellite” is placed at the site of commuter trains in the ship cabin, etc., and this fact has for tourists is of paramount importance. On the side view (see tab) shows the machine Assembly, and figure — top box and fittings. Vertical skinoren that is worn on the head frame of the attachment, might:be made either from the tube of the front fork similar bike, any of the right diameter cut steel pipe.
As the main bike on the console you can install the soft seat of the so-called divan type.
Three-wheeled tandem — a godsend for tourists
Their specific shape allows you to carry on a tandem two extra children up to 8 years (kids are put in front of him or behind). In addition, the long saddle seat is very comfortable backpack. When carrying a heavy load (about 30–50 kg) it can be placed on the frame of the consoles in the form of saddlebags sum — instead of the second cyclist. For attaching small Luggage pad provided on the front fork of the main Bicycle and on the rear fork of the consoles.
Suitable installation “Sputnik” sport shifter, sometimes called “supercampeones”. Equipping such devices both bikes get the opportunity very precisely to find the right gear ratio when riding together and alone.