Conference noted::bicycle

    	I haven't made it to any of the IHPVA big events for the last
    few years, so I've missed this vehicle. There has not been a write
    up on it in either Human Power or IHPVA News, so it may be new.
    The vehicle that has won many 'practical vehicle' competitions is
    the 3 wheeled Windcheater from England. It is also enclosed, but
    without the fin.
    	I've got my doubts about commuting with a 3 wheeler. After fixing
    4 flats this weekend, I'd dread the problems with the right front
    of a 3 wheeler. On a two wheeler, if you see glass, you can usually
    pick a narrow path thru or around it. With a 3 wheeler, you have
    3 seperate paths - no wheel tracks another - and if you move left
    far enough to have the right front clear, the whole vehicle is way
    over in the car's path. So, you really need: bike lanes/paths or
    low traffic volume, or very considerate drivers to make a 3 wheeler
    as practical as a 2 wheeler.  A semi-enclosed 2 wheeled recumbent would seem
    to be the best commuter - one where you could put a foot down, be
    protected from wind and rain (mostly, except maybe for your head
    - full enclosure often presents visability problems: rain on the
    outside of the windshield or condensation on the inside) and still
    be light enough to do hills. Most any bike can be outfitted to carry
    lots of luggage, so that's not a difference. - Chris       

    	One more thing re. three wheelers: bike wheels and tires are
    designed to take forces acting on a line from the road contact point 
    to the hubs, not shear forces trying to tear the tire sideways off the
    rims.
    The number of three wheelers that peeled off an outside tire on
    the tight turns at IHPVA races is rather scarey. (mitigating factor:
    most were using tubulars - I'd expect clinchers to stay on better
    under shear loading)  But, the forces going into the wheels and
    hubs just aren't what these were designed for.
         Also, in a hard turn, with a bike you just lean more, with
    a trike, you better have either a low center of gravity or a wide
    track.
    	All in all, something like Brummers Lightning X-1 with the flaps
    that allow the rider to put a foot down, but still have a top speed
    of almost 60 mph seems to be the best commuter bike to me. This
    is the bike that Penseyrs (sp?) set the Seattle to Portland record
    in. [something like 192 miles in 9 hours with some heavy traffic
    at each end, stop lights, stopping at every stop sign, etc] - Chris

>         Also, in a hard turn, with a bike you just lean more, with
>    a trike, you better have either a low center of gravity or a wide
>    track.

    Another way to cope is to lean just your body.  I've seen pictures
    of tricycles going around a corner in a race.  All the riders were
    out of the saddle, sort of sitting next to saddle on the inside
    of the turn.

    -Jeff

    
      Thanks for the info and insights. It certainly has piqued 
    my interest as far as alternate cycle-type vehicles go.
    
      Now if I only had some spare one-hundred dollar bills
    lying around...
    
    
                                                     Steve

>    Another way to cope is to lean just your body.  I've seen pictures
>    of tricycles going around a corner in a race.  All the riders were
>    out of the saddle, sort of sitting next to saddle on the inside
>    of the turn.

Granted, but most of these HPV's have a fairing or canopy that limits
movement.