awesome concept and great idea. there is only one problem. finding a rail system that's abandoned and is safe to ride. here in Cincinnati. its hard telling, there was a rail system with good 1 inch+ trees on it in my back yard and still had a train occasionally go though
Very interesting idea. :) I've been slowly creating a design or three for a recumbent cycle for a while now, though not for tracks, and I like what you guys have done. One possibility for your dirt encounters, and even some of the sage and other plant life - half plows. From the various designs of snow plows here (in MN), I was pondering a miniaturized version to add below the rail guides. My thought, and you can vary it as you see fit, would be to take the general design of the V-shaped snow plow blades, cut it where the two halves meet - \ / - and mount one on each side of the rail. My guess is, especially with reasonable speed, the leading edge would trim undergrowth and the plow design would clear the dirt and other debris. I don't know if the track(s) you use are still train-active, but it might actually benefit them, as well. Keep up the great work. :)
Hello Hal - thanks for the compliment. The reason for "no trees" is this is filmed in a desert area ... jack rabbits, rattlesnakes and coyotes. Often the "sage brush" grows RIGHT next to the tracks with TOUGH stalks, so part of the challenge with guide-wheels on "desert tracks". We carry pruning shears on all excursions (smile) ! Take care and HAPPY RAILING ! ;-)
it moves very smooth, nice design now two questions: 1) how does it with needles in junctions? 2) what about a small sail? i've been thinking in the patagonian express tracks (0.75 cm), about 80 years old
If you will put the guide wheels on the inside of the rails or the guage side where the flanges are on railcar wheels, You can remove the ones on the outside. This will stop most of the pinching of the "mushroom" effect of the rails. It will help going thru frogs, crossings, and switches. There is a Utube segment on a Russian bicycle with an attachment for rail riding. Find it I think this is what you want. I have a velocipede from about 1900 which RR used for inspections, signal workers, and others. It has 3 regular flanged wheels, 2 on one side and an outrigger. It is pumped like a handcar, only sitting down.
11.Nov.2013 - Hi Roy Reynolds - hey man, thanks for the tips - we have since sorted out our guide-wheel engineering - we still have 1 on each side, 2 front and two rear; but have the angle and elevation JUST RIGHT so we sail through about anything ... we are working towards a "production unit" for "rail enthusiasts", and our "prototype website" is Bikes On Rails DOT com (all one word for bikes on rails) ~ if you care to take a peek. Your classic rail-Kart sounds like fun TOO! ... thanks again for your insights!
I was pretty sure you were in the desert. We carry saws for trees that always seem to fall across the tracks. Although we have no sagebrush vegetation and small trees sprout very quickly. If I was going to remake mine I would but the "drive wheel" in the front like yours.
very nice. I gave up; on the angle guides and use roller skate wheels with good bearings. Main / only problem is you have to watch for crap in the gauge, crossings and frogs. Well done. I especially like the wide open spaces,. Where are all the trees?
Oh I know where you are. It's a few miles up the road. My son and I are heading there in a few weeks to test out our tandem bike. Wanna race? We're building a total of three tandem bikes and our goal is to ride another "super secret" location in the winter. Yes, this desert can get a little hot in the summer.
You're in Southern California. Lots and lots of people know about that abandoned section of track. I don't think you need to be worried about what you're doing. People going thru the old tunnels are in more danger than you are.
A rail bike shouldn't need a tire but just a modified bicycle rim with a one layer rubber inner tube to cut down noise. With the right size rim to fit the track it wouldn't need guide wheels. It would run much more efficient
I think that it is illegal to be on railroad property, weather it is abandoned or not. Plus the danger of a train being on the track someone thought was abandoned. But it would be nice to see different country.
one thing you can do to make sure that a track is abandoned is to look for rust on the top surface of the track because if the track is being used it will have a metal Sheen on the top. also the brush on either side of the track and down the center is an indication that track is abandoned
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wow.. keep au the good work.. one will never know what inventions will make the day...
Thank you for bringing this video. I came up with a real simple solution for my mike. Cotton ball. Tape it or something and it works great. Chears.
Thanks for the interesting video,take one nice cold HEINEKEN bier,greetings from the Netherlands. greetz:Peerke.
awesome concept and great idea. there is only one problem. finding a rail system that's abandoned and is safe to ride. here in Cincinnati. its hard telling, there was a rail system with good 1 inch+ trees on it in my back yard and still had a train occasionally go though
Very interesting idea. :) I've been slowly creating a design or three for a recumbent cycle for a while now, though not for tracks, and I like what you guys have done. One possibility for your dirt encounters, and even some of the sage and other plant life - half plows.
From the various designs of snow plows here (in MN), I was pondering a miniaturized version to add below the rail guides. My thought, and you can vary it as you see fit, would be to take the general design of the V-shaped snow plow blades, cut it where the two halves meet - \ / - and mount one on each side of the rail. My guess is, especially with reasonable speed, the leading edge would trim undergrowth and the plow design would clear the dirt and other debris. I don't know if the track(s) you use are still train-active, but it might actually benefit them, as well.
Keep up the great work. :)
Hello Hal - thanks for the compliment. The reason for "no trees" is this is filmed in a desert area ... jack rabbits, rattlesnakes and coyotes. Often the "sage brush" grows RIGHT next to the tracks with TOUGH stalks, so part of the challenge with guide-wheels on "desert tracks". We carry pruning shears on all excursions (smile) ! Take care and HAPPY RAILING ! ;-)
desertdennis Hi Dennis, do you have plans for this setup? I’d like to make one.
that is pretty cool! wish i had that bike instead of walking the railroad track along the Deschutes river fishing!
it moves very smooth, nice design
now two questions: 1) how does it with needles in junctions? 2) what about a small sail? i've been thinking in the patagonian express tracks (0.75 cm), about 80 years old
If you will put the guide wheels on the inside of the rails or the guage side where the flanges are on railcar wheels, You can remove the ones on the outside. This will stop most of the pinching of the "mushroom" effect of the rails. It will help going thru frogs, crossings, and switches. There is a Utube segment on a Russian bicycle with an attachment for rail riding. Find it I think this is what you want.
I have a velocipede from about 1900 which RR used for inspections, signal workers, and others. It has 3 regular flanged wheels, 2 on one side and an outrigger. It is pumped like a handcar, only sitting down.
11.Nov.2013 - Hi Roy Reynolds - hey man, thanks for the tips - we have since sorted out our guide-wheel engineering - we still have 1 on each side, 2 front and two rear; but have the angle and elevation JUST RIGHT so we sail through about anything ... we are working towards a "production unit" for "rail enthusiasts", and our "prototype website" is Bikes On Rails DOT com (all one word for bikes on rails) ~ if you care to take a peek. Your classic rail-Kart sounds like fun TOO! ... thanks again for your insights!
I was pretty sure you were in the desert. We carry saws for trees that always seem to fall across the tracks. Although we have no sagebrush vegetation and small trees sprout very quickly. If I was going to remake mine I would but the "drive wheel" in the front like yours.
very nice. I gave up; on the angle guides and use roller skate wheels with good bearings. Main / only problem is you have to watch for crap in the gauge, crossings and frogs. Well done. I especially like the wide open spaces,. Where are all the trees?
Oh I know where you are. It's a few miles up the road. My son and I are heading there in a few weeks to test out our tandem bike. Wanna race? We're building a total of three tandem bikes and our goal is to ride another "super secret" location in the winter. Yes, this desert can get a little hot in the summer.
You're in Southern California. Lots and lots of people know about that abandoned section of track. I don't think you need to be worried about what you're doing. People going thru the old tunnels are in more danger than you are.
But how to keep people from jumping on your rear rack at stations?
All you need to add is a giant rear view mirror so one of those pesky freight trains doesn't sneak up on you.
That's the old Zzyzzx railroad in Zzyzzx California :p
Life is beautiful!...
Awesome!!!!!
Your Website is not working. Are you out of business?
It looks like the front wheel is out of alignment because it doesn't seem to be completely on the rail.
If you put a rag over the mic it will stop the wind noise.
A rail bike shouldn't need a tire but just a modified bicycle rim with a one layer rubber inner tube to cut down noise. With the right size rim to fit the track it wouldn't need guide wheels. It would run much more efficient
This line has been ripped up for recycling! A tragic loss. I just drove over it a couple of weeks ago and it was a pile of ties and rails.
KurtfromLaQuinta The recyclers haven't been able to access the southern portion of the line due to such limited access. I drove on it last weekend
We don’t want to see your feet. Camera needs to be off bike, looking AT the bike.
You are in the middle of nowhere
I think that it is illegal to be on railroad property, weather it is abandoned or not. Plus the danger of a train being on the track someone thought was abandoned. But it would be nice to see different country.
one thing you can do to make sure that a track is abandoned is to look for rust on the top surface of the track because if the track is being used it will have a metal Sheen on the top. also the brush on either side of the track and down the center is an indication that track is abandoned
SmOoThYwOoDy
Are you busy scolding hundreds of other video makers too?