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Front or rear wheel drive |
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robh24
BHPC Member Joined: 01 April 2015 Status: Offline Points: 15 |
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Posted: 02 July 2020 at 11:23am |
Hi, im starting to build a recumbent after 20 years of not getting round to it. It will be mid to low, mainly track focused
I was wondering what are the pros and cons for which wheel is driven Thanks |
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RoyMacdonald
BHPC Member Joined: 09 March 2007 Location: Rye East Sussex Status: Offline Points: 960 |
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Front Wheel drive loses traction unless you are heavy.
Fell off a lot when I had FWD Wasp. Hill starts are a no go for any FWD. All the best. Roy
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atlas_shrugged
BHPC Member Joined: 03 November 2014 Location: Cambs Status: Offline Points: 1003 |
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Have a look at LBC issue 138 page 12. There is an example of a homemade bamboo bike with FWD. Roy is right about traction with hill starts. At Nandax WC2019 this bamboo bike went very fast and the builder was on the podium. There were quite serious hills to get up at Nandax. Just from memory the other female rider who was on the podium also used front wheel drive.
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RoyMacdonald
BHPC Member Joined: 09 March 2007 Location: Rye East Sussex Status: Offline Points: 960 |
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Yes, I'll bet they were all heavier than me Brian.
All the best. Roy
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robh24
BHPC Member Joined: 01 April 2015 Status: Offline Points: 15 |
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Does front wheel drive effect the steering much or sap power
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RoyMacdonald
BHPC Member Joined: 09 March 2007 Location: Rye East Sussex Status: Offline Points: 960 |
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I think it's very slightly more efficient power wise. Yes it defiantly affects the steering. Causes understeer when you lay on the power. Can be helpful when you want to turn the bike a bit more sharply though.
All the best. Roy
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Balor
Visitor (new) Joined: 25 January 2017 Status: Offline Points: 154 |
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FWD MBB is rather tricky - it has 'double flop' and a ton of steering inertia that require getting used to. Still, 'DF-sized' chain and stiff drivetrain cannot be beat, and if you play around with geometry you can minimise the negatives. |
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robh24
BHPC Member Joined: 01 April 2015 Status: Offline Points: 15 |
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Does front wheel drive end up much lighter? Is there any real advantage? I was thinking maybe chain routing but both have there issues as well
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Balor
Visitor (new) Joined: 25 January 2017 Status: Offline Points: 154 |
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Since chain forces are contained into a smaller structure that is more capable of resisting forces FWD should have power delivery advantage vs RWD. Less weight of the chain, of course, and ease of it's routing.
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