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Tribike Gears?
I’m thinking of assembling a tri-bike which I can use for leisure as well as for business. I had seen several Cyclemaximus tri-bike models in the Internet and also the several links available with that website. However, I did not find what I was looking for. What I cannot figure out is how I assemble the following: (1) type of rear hub/gear that will pull the (two) rear wheelsets into motion; (2) the rear derailleur; (3) brakes; and how many set of chains do I need? Thanks in advance and I will appreciate any good advice or any website where I can see a perfect example of the assembled rear gears.
3 Answers
- 1 decade ago
If you're trying to make a high performance racing trike, this info may not apply. Utility trikes are usually setup like this:
On most trikes only one of the rear wheels is a drive wheel and the other just coasts. A solid rear axle would require that one wheel be fixed (drive wheel) and one be free. They can't be locked together because as you turn, the two rear wheels turn at different speeds. When making a sharp turn the inner one can pretty much stand still while the outer one makes a large arc.
The common setup drive setup is a traditional drivetrain with derailleur(s) that drives a spindle instead of a wheel. The spindle has a cog on it, which has a short chain leading to the rear axle. The rear axle has a traditional freewheel on it to allow coasting. That would be two chains total. To have both wheels be drive wheels you would need the traditional drivetrain to drive a full length axle instead of a spindle, and have a cog/chain/freewheel combination at each end driving each wheel. The wheels would have to have their own axle, and not be linked together. That would be complicated.
Most trikes don't go fast or on hills (too heavy, poor rider position to go uphill, dangerous going downhill). Therefore they don't have much in the way of brakes. Many just have a traditional brake on the front wheel and nothing else. You could have a separate brake for each rear wheel, but applying them unevenly would cause the trike to turn.
I'm not as familiar with high performance trikes, but I can tell you that they are VERY expensive, and replicating one would not be simple. Good luck.
- onlyme Mr GLv 51 decade ago
When I first read this I was a little confused thinking tri=triathlon but I assume you mean tricycle.
WOW you have a feat of engineering ahead of you, I must admit I know nothing about trikes but I would be tempted to take an easy option and have a fixed rear axle and a triple chainset, it would only give you three gears but it would be far easier to fabricate.
EDIT: You would of course have to make a chainguide/ tensioner but still easier to make than a rear wheel set up.
Point taken by the poster below re: back wheel differential, but It does work provided, sharp turns at high speed arn't attempted.Otherwise the only problem you will encounter is a high rate of tyre wear.
Good Luck Mate.
