Re: the penny farthing
Originally Posted by
Realist
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Great looking design. Spokeless wheels? How does that work?
Presumably there are a load of bearings inside the only part that contacts the wheel.
Pretty innovative.
This is what occurred to me.
I can understand that the wheels can be strong enough to support the weight of bike and rider without buckling, despite lacking hubs and spokes, but the only way I can see of bearings hidden in what one would call the mudguards working is that they run against the solid tyres or the metal wheels.
If the latter, surely the tyres must be narrower than the wheels. In any event, not only must the bearings support the weight on the wheels, but they must also impart a sideways force against the wheel.
I'm not sure, then, how much wear there must be in order to ensure the wheel is held sufficiently tightly by the 'mudguard' to prevent unwanted sideways movement.
I'd be very interested to have a good look at one in 'real life'.