Topic: RailBike is the new iPhone

[gerhed]

Haven't been on the forum for a while due, in part, to
my new Obsession.
The Rail Bike !
Cruise along comfortably through interesting
surroundings with no traffic.
Unused rail lines suggested.
As shown my rig can be folded up and in and ridden to and from
the railroad siding.
Front electric hub motor to be added soon.
R&D continues.

[Bob Wessner]

Unused rail lines suggested.

 

Pretty neat. Did you develop this yourself? There are a lot of unused lines around Mich. (too bad actually, but that's another story). Ride'm while you can because around here they are starting to remove them to reclaim the steel and ties.

[gerhed]

Bob,

Yes my own design, but I am definitely not the first guy to try this.
Light weight rail riding machines used to be an "active art".

[Bob Wessner]

Keep us posted on the R&D efforts, very interesting.

[Sam Green Racing]

I wonder where he will mount the camera. 

Sam

[miles nowhere]

yours looks a lot lighter than the one we made. probably smart. It takes longer than you might think to pull a 80lb bike off the tracks.

[Bob Wessner]

I wonder where he will mount the camera. 

Sam

Don't know, but I hope he finds a spot.

[boatsdickson]

thats great, Im tempted to show my father but i know it will become his new obsession. Then I have to deal with momma...Maybe Ill mail this to him instead.

Dad used to tell me stories of rail ridin when he was younger. Not fancy built like gerhed, just a high rate of speed on the wooden railroad ties between the rails. He told me how he would pass his buddies between the rails and such. Crazy old coot.

I like gerheds idea better.

[DammitDan]

I always wondered how people actually managed to get hit by trains... 

[gerhed]

Anothe couple images including railbike in "transport" mode.
Large wheel at end of outrigger is used as a counterbalance when
not in "transport" mode.
I did discover that it is possible to tip this baby over !

[Bob Wessner]

You must surely turn heads and get questions when you ride it.

[burmashave]

Gerhed, what's the rolling friction like? Would it help to use high pressure tubular racing tires?

[gerhed]

Gerhed, what's the rolling friction like? Would it help to use high pressure tubular racing tires?

Not much friction except for my metal guides scraping the side of the rail.
Rolling friction could be improved if tires were high pressure tubular.
Do they come in mountain bike sizes-like 2.1 by 24 ?

[BobbyR]

It is a lovely design. As a technical trainer for a Railcar builder I will show this around to my friends. You are probably breaking Federal Law but......
I see you have a double flange on the "rail wheels" which is probably causing someof your friction. Rail wheels are not flat or should not be flat they have a taper which allows them to make curves, the rail is not flat either.
Two words of caution, first there is not such thing as dead track so I would be really careful where I ride that thing, since you really cannot hear a train coming. Second, I would be very careful with my speed, wheels will tend to "hunt" which is a back and forth movement. This movement can become fairly violent quickly and on a vehicle like yours toss you off the bike.
I love this contraption and you can see some really nice scenery along right of ways.

[Bodi]

The front roller system looks very complicated. Does the machine electrically connect the rails and activate crossing signals?

[gerhed]

Two words of caution, first there is not such thing as dead track so I would be really careful where I ride that thing, since you really cannot hear a train coming.   

I was out in DelMar Cal. recently and I was down examining the the tracks (which run along the ocean)
and the "Surf Liner" came by heading south. I probably heard it 5 seconds before it showed up !

[BobbyR]

If his wheels are steel it looks like he would short the track circuit through the frame and activate the signals. If not, then no.

[gerhed]

You are probably breaking Federal Law but......
 

To redo a line from a great movie:
"Gerhed is Federal"
What movie Please ?

[burmashave]

Gerhed, what's the rolling friction like? Would it help to use high pressure tubular racing tires?

Not much friction except for my metal guides scraping the side of the rail.
Rolling friction could be improved if tires were high pressure tubular.
Do they come in mountain bike sizes-like 2.1 by 24 ?

I took a quick look and couldn't find anything much better in a 24" inch size. I didn't see a smooth road tire in that size, but if you looked hard, you might be able to find one.

As for tripping crossing signals, that'd be a hoot to see. ;-)

[BobbyR]

Two words of caution, first there is not such thing as dead track so I would be really careful where I ride that thing, since you really cannot hear a train coming.   

I was out in DelMar Cal. recently and I was down examining the the tracks (which run along the ocean)
and the "Surf Liner" came by heading south. I probably heard it 5 seconds before it showed up !

You learned a valuable lesson. Due to the nature of my work I have to be safety trained and certified by every Rail and Transit Authority I visit. This meant in NYC I had to walk from one station to another through the tunnel with a flashlight. When the subways came I had to stand between two columns as they passed on either side of me 12" clearance front and back.
The best can do deceleration for any Train is 2 Mph per second in full emergency stop. So the Surf limited could have been doing 60 mph, you had 5 seconds. If he hit you it would have been at 55-56 mph. The snow plow on the front would roll your body over the ties and ballast until your remains would fit underneath it. 50% of all Train operators will be involved in fatal accident at some point in thier careers.
Ride your biketrain safely. I would suggest you do not ride over any switches as they are always misaligned and your front wheel guide could derail.
The other boys in Engineering liked your design, but we all think you are nuts. 

[gerhed]

Have had some difficulty with abandoned sidings (which is what I'm using so far).

The steel plates next to the skate board wheels are positioned within 1/4 " from each side of the rail-they extend down 3/4"--As I was going along, the rail got about 1/2 inch wider all of a sudden and stopped me cold.

[BobbyR]

Have had some difficulty with abandoned sidings (which is what I'm using so far).

The steel plates next to the skate board wheels are positioned within 1/4 " from each side of the rail-they extend down 3/4"--As I was going along, the rail got about 1/2 inch wider all of a sudden and stopped me cold.

While the gauge of the rail bed is consistant, the rail is many times not. You do not have the advantage of the normal open flange wheel since you have only 2 wheels. I am sure you will get it figured out. I would stay of active or potentially active roadbed. Many times what appears to be abandoned roadbed is used to bypass or shuttle Trains.

[Rushoid]

Too cool. I have tracks right behind my house, so if you ride by, stop in and say hi! 

I keep getting this image of a crossing gate coming down, all this traffic backed up, and here comes Gerhed! "Ching, ching" goes the bike bell, a friendly wave, and he's gone before the dumbfounded drivers have a chance to throw anything at him. 

[burmashave]

Too cool. I have tracks right behind my house, so if you ride by, stop in and say hi! 

I keep getting this image of a crossing gate coming down, all this traffic backed up, and here comes Gerhed! "Ching, ching" goes the bike bell, a friendly wave, and he's gone before the dumbfounded drivers have a chance to throw anything at him. 

+1