Canopy anyone?

[indalo]

Has anyone actually bought one of these?

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D'you know...I can't even be bothered to ask, "Is it any good?" or "What do you think of it?"

Indalo

 

[Scottyf]

This is what I need for my now unassisted bike. It can double up as a sail.

It reminds me of this...

Dont do it!

 

[jerrysimon]

Lol we have been round this loop before, but still very funny second time round

Imagine cycling that on a typical UK gusty winters day!

Regards

Jerry

 

[flecc]

I remember someone trying out a similar but more enclosed once and reporting on it. Apparently he passed a comprehensive school as the kids were coming out and they all fell about laughing, leaving him very embarrassed. Appearance definitely a negative factor.

 

[bigroy]

lol I watched Eddie from TeTs try a bike with one on it. got to say they are not made for tall people,still laugh thinking about it.

 

[KirstinS]

As Scotty points out you'd look like a mobility scooter user - not cool at all. However, I appreciate that there are those in life for whom dry shoulders are far important. The names for such people are many and various

But the main reason such things will never take off is the wind. I live in Brighton and if I tried to use that thing then on 7 days out of 10 I would take off and end up in the sea !

 

[flecc]

How about a canopy that covered the entire upper body front to rear but made front and rear with slats in venetion blind fashion, using fairly wide light alloy slats. That would catch the rain coming straight down or at angles for it to drain off downwards to the road at moderate speeds.

Then the wind drag would hardly exist.

 

[indalo]

In my early teens, I had a very yellow piece of waterproof material which covered all of me and most of my bike from rain. It was called, (get this!) a CYCLING CAPE and very effective it was too as I'm sure some of you might recall.......ok, I know you didn't actually see me wearing it but you get my drift!

Additionally, I had a matching sou'wester so I was able to ride in the rain and the only things that needed drying afterwards were my socks and plimsolls. Policemen of that time also had the use of cycling capes if they had an issue bicycle being as they were more peripatetic back then than now....well, as far as I can see.

It's quite rare these days to spot a caped cyclist, probably because of the advances in textile technology over the years which have given us water-repellent or lightweight, waterproof materials which don't billow about in winds like the old capes did. Having said that, the cape in its time was very useful unlike the silly canopy affair, the subject of this thread.

Indalo

 

[flecc]

Still plenty of capes available and used, but they have hoods now, here's one selection

Sou'westers too, if preferred, here's some

 

[bigroy]

I like this idea better

 

[kitchenman]

Has anyone actually bought one of these?

View attachment 3052

D'you know...I can't even be bothered to ask, "Is it any good?" or "What do you think of it?"

Indalo

Funny. One of the reasons I am considering another "side table" is so that I can explore mounting a bike cover. This would be for when the bike is parked. I got the idea when I arrived at work one day and there was no room in the bike shed. I have some telescopic poles and some tents in my attic which I'd like to make use of.

 

[kitchenman]

As Scotty points out you'd look like a mobility scooter user - not cool at all. However, I appreciate that there are those in life for whom dry shoulders are far important. The names for such people are many and various

But the main reason such things will never take off is the wind. I live in Brighton and if I tried to use that thing then on 7 days out of 10 I would take off and end up in the sea !

Brighton? Excellent. I'm planning to visit a long lost cousin in the coming months and could use some local knowledge to help me plan a route. If you know of any routes out of Brighton towards Alton in Hampshire please PM me ... thanks ...

 

[kitchenman]

Funny. One of the reasons I am considering another "side table" is so that I can explore mounting a bike cover. This would be for when the bike is parked. I got the idea when I arrived at work one day and there was no room in the bike shed. I have some telescopic poles and some tents in my attic which I'd like to make use of.

I'd like to thank indalo for starting this thread. What fun I have been having and what a weekend of joy ahead. Using tent poles in the attic and some bits from one of the cycle rack mounts that I destroyed when I drove into the max head room sign and some threaded bolt, wood and thin aluminium plate I am well on the way to having ...umm .. not sure what yet ...a weekend of experimentation beckons.

 

[funkylyn]

I'd like to thank indalo for starting this thread. What fun I have been having and what a weekend of joy ahead. Using tent poles in the attic and some bits from one of the cycle rack mounts that I destroyed when I drove into the max head room sign and some threaded bolt, wood and thin aluminium plate I am well on the way to having ...umm .. not sure what yet ...a weekend of experimentation beckons.
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You know what Alan.....I cannot WAIT to hear all about your "weekend of joy" with your redundant tent poles ......more photos ASAP please.

Lynda

PS......lovely cats !

 

[kitchenman]

After a bit more drilling, filing, sawing and shortening of tent poles I've done my initial test ride around the block. This was to test the canopy frame and mounts in the event that I ride around with it! ... Heres a pic:


All was ok with the frame and mounts even in the wind which is 11 mph here today. I mounted the CARDVR on the apex and have some camera shake to report to the camera shake interest group! .... gonna try it with the PSP camera next to see how it compares.
Here is a short clip of the view from the apex:
STREET MACHINE/CARDVR CANOPY APEX INITIAL TEST - YouTube

 

[flecc]

Now all you need is a very large polythene bag to slide over that frame, pull fully down once seated!

Certainly not a good place to mount the camera, but it would be good as a test bed for camera manufacturers to test their image stabilising systems!

 

[kitchenman]

Now all you need is a very large polythene bag to slide over that frame, pull fully down once seated!

Certainly not a good place to mount the camera, but it would be good as a test bed for camera manufacturers to test their image stabilising systems!

That wasn't on my list to experiment with. But it is now! ...
What I like about messing about like this is the way that ideas flow from to another ... Do you remember my encounter with Danny Boyle and the "flags in the sand" scene? Thats given me an idea which should please all those people who keep telling me I should have a flag. They want a flag? I'll give them flags! ...

 

[oigoi]

Alan I can see the appeal of a canopy on a recumbent, almost making it into a velomobile perhaps. It would be advantageous if you could do something that had aerodynamic benefit and reduced the recumbents aerodynamic drag.

 

[kitchenman]

Alan I can see the appeal of a canopy on a recumbent, almost making it into a velomobile perhaps. It would be advantageous if you could do something that had aerodynamic benefit and reduced the recumbents aerodynamic drag.

Yes. I have often looked at the fairing that HPvelo make but was always put off by the weight and the price. This work with tent poles was really for sheltering the bike when stationary. I'd like to arrive at work and park in a car space and surround my bike with something splendid. Remember the big balloon in "the prisoner"? .. Something like that would be so cool with "I'm not a number ..." printed on it. ... of course I'll have to park in bay 6

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I hope you've got something to tie it to because it'll blow away if you're not careful. It could even take off - now there's an idea!