maintaining traction on hills (was: Re: [workbike] PIGS (long))

Jim thus spake:

> OTOH, I find pushing a heavily-loaded
> bicycle up a hill almost always harder than riding it up.

If there is a choice I'd also vote for riding.

> Perhaps this is because when pushing a bike, you are not
> standing behind it, but rather beside it, and therefore
> can't get as straight a push.

Yup, that's another truism. Trying to twist one's body
around the bicycle frame doesn't make for good 
ergonomics while hiking. Infrequently, like once a year,
I ride single-track along the Missouri River Breaks. There 
are parts of the undulating trail there the grade far 
exceeds 20%. Carrying or pushing an HPV in those conditions 
is a given. That's just one example, but there exist many 
other situations where hike-a-bike must happen. But as 
infrequently as possible!

The idea that gripped my attention on the Army bike page 
was the suggestion of equipping a bicycle with outrigger 
wheels in back so that it could be *pulled* along as
a cart. 

(I believe one of the BROX web pages a year back or so
showed a similar idea. There was a hand-held tow
bar that could be attached to the front of the 
quad. Daniel, do know anything about that 
accessory?)

One of the few limitations of a single-track vehicle is 
precisely that it is single-tracked. If it doesn't have 
sufficient forward velocity it falls over. On very 
steep hills this means, if we want to continue to ride a 
bicycle carrying a load, our minimum power output must 
continue to increase as grade increases. As power increases 
so goes our time to fatigue, thus decreasing a person's 
maximum daily range and willingness to cycle. Tricyclist's 
have got that problem licked, 0.05 km/h no problem.

Something as simple as a length of rope over one shoulder, and 
one wheel (similar to a training wheel but with a slot to fit the
QR) could give a person a way to temporarily convert a 
single-track vehicle into a dual-track pullable cart. Weld a 
roller blade wheel to a kickstand, or anything to make a 
*temporary* 3-point contact that rolls and allows the bike 
frame to lean slightly for stability. 

Looks like once again it's time to stroll through la' famous 
junque' pyle!

Cheers,

John Snyder

BTW, the correct spelling of the E/T cycle is HANNEBRINK,
"H - A - Double N - E".