[BlazingPedals]

I'm sort of thinking I need one of these:
YouTube - Tim Hicks Leaning Delta Trike HPV
The one shown is apparently 42 pounds, but I bet I could get it down into the mid-20s if I used enough carbon.

[IanHighfield]

My shop makes a hill climbing bike of very thin (.005) steel tubing wrapped in carbon, glued carbon joints. All up weight and ready to go at 7 pounds 11 ounces. And this means everything, saddle, wheels,tyres, etc.

Only assured for hill events. No hard banging or downhills.

[HandsomeRyan]

If I had money to buy one and room to store it I'd jump on that bandwagon. They look fun as hell but at $3,000+ and storage/transport issues it'll probably be a while.

[BlazingPedals]

Originally Posted by IanHighfield

My shop makes a hill climbing bike of very thin (.005) steel tubing wrapped in carbon, glued carbon joints. All up weight and ready to go at 7 pounds 11 ounces. And this means everything, saddle, wheels,tyres, etc.

Only assured for hill events. No hard banging or downhills.

A trike?

[IanHighfield]

Originally Posted by BlazingPedals

A trike?

I see your point. I was off topic. When you spoke of your favorite, I forgot the place and mentioned a 2-wheeler. Sorry.

[BlazingPedals]

Thanks for the idea on construction technique, though. Under 8 pounds seems pretty light, even for an upright. I'm curious how much carbon you use. I presume you're making what amounts to carbon lugs so that you have something to glue? One advantage of carbon is that you're not stuck using tubes, and so far my construction technique has been carbon-over-foam, with the foam likewise left in for structural reinforcement.

[funetical]

Cool Video.

[IanHighfield]

Originally Posted by BlazingPedals

Thanks for the idea on construction technique, though. Under 8 pounds seems pretty light, even for an upright. I'm curious how much carbon you use. I presume you're making what amounts to carbon lugs so that you have something to glue? One advantage of carbon is that you're not stuck using tubes, and so far my construction technique has been carbon-over-foam, with the foam likewise left in for structural reinforcement.

Good we can work a friendly thread.

My man got the idea for carbon over steel while watching archers shoot alloy arrow wrapped in carbon fiber. Easton Alumimum in the USA makes such arrows.

He tried thin alloy with carbon but had stiffer results going to very thin quality steel with linear and fabric CF V-bagged to the outside. He would shoot me for giving exact numbers. You understand, I'm sure. We make our own CF joints to glue into. The tubing is all round because this is easier to work and the bikes made this way are for hill climbing only. In a hill climb aero is not important. You rarely, if ever, go over 15 mph.

In truth, I don't think the result is all that different from all CF or some of the light steel models. Yes, some all steel bikes can be made well under 10 pounds. The wall thicknesses are around .007-.010.

These bikes will break if bounced hard on rail crossings or if abused by heavy riders. They are hill climb bikes for finished and smooth spinners who know how to ride a steady line.

[BlazingPedals]

OK, the construction technique probably wouldn't work for the main part of a trike frame, but the carbon joint idea would be a solution for me to attach the trike rear to the rest of the frame, which I already have. It might be time to talk to my builder-friends and order some more fabric! Thanks!

[IanHighfield]

Originally Posted by BlazingPedals

OK, the construction technique probably wouldn't work for the main part of a trike frame, but the carbon joint idea would be a solution for me to attach the trike rear to the rest of the frame, which I already have. It might be time to talk to my builder-friends and order some more fabric! Thanks!

The concept of wrapping CF on thin steel may still be viable for what you want. We just take it to its foolish extreme for hill bikes. Make test lengths of various alloy and steel tubing. Vary the inside and outside diameters. Vary the carbon. Test on a bend meter. Any device to test deflection. Easy to rig. Test your tubes to destruction. This is all grand fun and you'll learn loads. Again with the bad puns. I'll have to watch that.